Videographer Prices in Dubai: All Secrets You Must Know

On average, it would cost approximately between $750 and $1000 to have a professional videographer cover a corporate event.

Videos deliver value and clarity to brands. But do you know how much a video costs in Dubai? Or maybe how to make sense of a videography pricing mechanism?

As a videographer, Dubai offers varying earning potentials, and as far as we talk about prices, there can never be a set limit. Everything depends on what the video is meant to achieve, the videographer’s creative approach during production, and additional effects like visual effects or better graphics needed for that video shooting.

Moreover, the location of the production also plays a crucial role in videographer charges. For instance, Dubai and Abu Dhabi may be expensive due to additional permits required on some video types.

We have looked in thousands of video production studios, freelance videographers, and media companies to estimate how much a videographer would charge in Dubai. The answer we found is that prices vary. Some video production studios deal with larger projects that require extensive research and planning before producing a single video. This makes their charges relatively higher than other freelancers and organizations.

Accordingly, videographer prices in Dubai vary based on other factors, such as:

• Hours of raw footage
  
• Size of crew required
  
• Editing and retouch requested
  
• Length of the final video
  
• Type of video
  
• The location
  
• Additional services requested
  

Every photographer may have a unique pricing mechanism based on the above-listed factors.

How videographer prices in Dubai vary

According to Orebro, 87% of marketing professionals use videos to promote their brand and products. This means that videography has become an essential corporate tool in the world. Statistics show that videographers have been requested to cover different events over the past ten years, and the numbers continue to grow by the day.

Hiring a videographer is something that most corporate entities have to consider.  Accordingly, the United Arab Emirates has many videographers with varying skills, experience levels, and pricing. Working with such professionals guarantees high-quality videos for company projects and individual footages.

Fortunately, Dubai videographer prices have not gone up by larger margins than other countries and locations, like the United States and the United Kingdom. While the demand for videographers has increased tremendously, it is essential to look at how videographer prices in Dubai vary.

Videographers in Dubai usually charge per hour or on a daily rate basis. A few videographers may charge half-a-day rates. However, if you are looking for a videographer in Dubai, you have to consider other factors (discussed later on) regardless of the type of rate used.

Dubai Videography Full Budget

Some factors will impact the cost of videography, whether you want a videographer for your events or internal marketing. Therefore, you should always ask yourself the following questions when budgeting for a videography project.

• What will the video do? Will the video be required to highlight products?  What about highlighting a live event? A video meant to cover a product requires a different crew number and equipment than the one used to cover an event.
  
• What do you want the video to capture? Explainer videos or employee training videos must include voice narrations. The narrator may be an additional cost on top of the videographer charges.
  
• Where will the video be filmed? If you do not have a specific location to film the video, the videographer may offer an expert opinion based on your projects. However, studio films and other locations may require permits that add to the project’s final cost.
  

These three questions are essential for people planning a videography budget in Dubai.

Standards Videographer Rates In Dubai

As suggested, prices vary according to different elements. However, we have compiled prices based on data we collected from various videographer websites in Dubai. You should expect these rates from Dubai videographers. The rates cover pre-production, production, and post-production videography stages.

Dubai Videographer Pricing Sheet:

• Video directing: between $21 and $251 per hour
  
• Scriptwriting/marketing: between $62 and $152 per hour
  
• Video editing: between $63 and $178 per hour
  
• Cameraman charges: between $104 and $404 per hour
  
• Equipment: between $25 and $105 per hour
  
• Narrator/voiceover charges: between $106 and $406
  
• Audio file: between $37 and $1,007
  
• Video rendering: between $38 and $83 per hour
  
• Other miscellaneous charges: between $109 and $1,009
  
• B-roll: between 20% and 70% of the additional shooting cost
  

Factors Affecting Dubai Videographer Prices

You have probably heard of event videography. However, there are many videography types you can offer as a freelance videographer for a fee. For instance, you may be hired to cover events such as weddings, birthdays, graduation parties, soccer tournaments, or block parties.

Additionally, event videography can capture office parties, corporate events, community fundraisers, and conferences. Every videography type requires different equipment and crew, no matter the location and time.

Most common client requests include taking raw event footage, recording, and editing. Some customers also request reel or short videos. For professional purposes, short videos are used for training and product promotion. In this case, you can expect a client to ask for additional packages such as DVD copies, musical overlays and soundtracks, after-effects, still photos, and many more. Here are factors commonly used by videographers in Dubai and worldwide to set prices.

1. Length of the event

The duration of the event may affect the cost in many ways. For instance, a videographer may be required to be present for an entire session or some crucial part of the event. The longer the event, the higher the fees charged.

Accordingly, if the raw footage’s length is high, the videographer may be required to charge more as more editing would be required. With such editing, more materials and overall extended time are required.

2. Hourly rate

Some videographers may charge per hour as they double as film directors. The rate may include consultations with the entire production team about goals, setting up, and filming the vent. Some videographers charge a standard hourly rate for everything they put into the final production, while others consider every aspect of the production separately.  Accordingly, some footage may require an outside production team to create the final video. The pricing may vary in this case.

For instance, we identified that most videographers in Dubai charge approximately:

• $50 per hour for everything required to produce the final video.
  
• Some variable hourly rates include $90 per hour for on-site video shooting,
  
• $70 per hour for post-production tasks, and
  
• $40 per hour for web uploading, compression, rendering, or DVD package.
  

The hourly rate may also vary according to the location, level of experience, and training. For instance, wedding videographers in Dubai tend to charge more due to logistics issues required to ensure that the video is produced precisely how the client wants.

3. Project complexity

Larger events and detailed vision may call for a larger crew and more than one camera on-site. The more equipment and staff used for the project, the higher the fee. Some professional videographers set a rate after determining what they need to produce the video through all stages. The rate may cover hours taken to complete the project.

For instance, most videographers in Dubai have the following rates for an average event based on project complexity.

• Between $300 and $1000 for personal event videos (basic package), such as birthdays and anniversaries
  
• Between $300 and $1500 for professional documentaries, this includes interviews, photos, and post-production.
  
• Between $300 and $1500 for creative artist videos and theatrical
• Between $250 and $2000 for corporate videos

4. Packages

Some videographers in Dubai have standard rates for various events such as soccer matches, birthday parties, etc. This primarily because the number of staff and equipment tend to be the same for these events. Here are some rates we came across:

• Average sports coverage: the package includes filming the event, traveling for up to 50 miles to the event, and a flash drive with the complete video and still photos for $400.
  
• Average birthday party: the package includes three hours of on-site filming, custom theme matching the party, soundtracks and musical outlay, music video-style highlights, and still photos for $400
  

5. Travel

Travel is a requirement of event videography. Therefore, various professional videographers in Dubai have a service range that attracts an additional charge to cover travel expenses. According to our research, most videographers charge a fixed rate plus 50% additional costs beyond 50 miles. In some instances, videographers may request clients to cover transport costs on top of the standard videography charges.

6. Seasonal charges

Some festive seasons tend to attract higher charges due to demand hikes. For instance, many videographers in Dubai charge more to cover events over holidays like the New Year. Some even have standard rates for weekends and weekday events. This trend is primarily because of the competition for services during these seasons compared to regular days.

7. Extra costs

Additional costs come up according to features required in a single video. If the customer asks for many features, the videographer will request more money to cover the entire project. Pricing for add-ons varies significantly according to the company or the nature of the event. For instance, wedding add-ons may be costlier compared to birthday event add-ons. Here are some standard rates we compiled for videography add-ons:

• Trailers covering three to five minutes: $500
  
• Drone footage: $300
  
• Raw footage: $500
  
• Same-day edit and delivery: $1500
  
• 3 DVD copies: $300
  
• 4K delivery: up to $1500
  
• Extra cameraman for the entire event (wedding): $500
  
• Extra shooting hours: $300 per hour
  
• Save-the-date video: up to $1500
  
• Jib/crane: $500
  
• Instagram edits: $300
  
• An entire edited event only: up to $2000
  

8. Deposits

It is a common trend for videographers to request deposits before accepting to cover an event. This may be a percentage of the total amount or a flat rate, depending on the project and videographer’s business terms. For instance, some videographers charge a flat rate, a non-refundable deposit of between $100 and $200 for corporate events and weddings.

Percentage-based deposits often range between 10% and 20% of the total videography costs. Some wedding videographers in Dubai request a 50% deposit to book their services.

Deposits are meant to protect the videographer and the client. For instance, a client pays this deposit to secure the videographer’s services and ensure that he does not take a different job. On the other hand, a videographer requests a deposit to assure that they will be working on the day a client requested. This ensures that the videographer is not left without a paying job, should the client change his mind.

Not all videographers in Dubai request a deposit. However, a majority does. If this is the case, they offer a written contract that outlines the total fee, including deposit paid, event date, turn-up time, and the final video result.

Pro tip: go through client reviews and follow up with different references to ensure you are dealing with a reliable client/videographer.

How to Set Your Fee as a Videographer

As a videographer, finance should be an essential topic because you work to get paid. If the ultimate goal is to make a living from your videography job, you must know your work’s business side. Additionally, you must be very clear about your expectations. You can watch this video for some tips on setting videography prices, communicating with customers, and what you need to know about the business part of videography. Here are some tips:

• Do not be afraid to have the money conversation.
  

You are offering a service that should pay you at the end of the day. Therefore, you must be ready to talk about the fee that reflects your input and output. Your clients will also want to talk about the costs to see if it suits their budget.

• Assess your rates accurately
  

This might be the trickiest part because some videographers think of themselves as the best in the industry and end up charging too much. On the other hand, others undervalue their services and charge too little. Consider your level of expertise and experience in the game, your equipment, travel expenses, per diem, and how long the project will take.

In other words, you should consider your input and investment into the project. Depending on the project’s nature, you may want to charge per hour, day, or by the project. For instance, an editing task may require an hourly rate. Events such as weddings and corporate meetings may be fair if charged a flat rate.

• Do not deliver the final project until you are paid fully
  

You may not want it to come to this, but sometimes clients tend to find it hard to pay if they already have the final video. That is why you need to ensure you are compensated fully before delivering the product.

Requesting for a deposit is excellent security in such instances and asking for your full payment before handing over the video is another excellent motivator for clients to pay.

However, your tactics should depend on your level of engagement. You may not need to be so hard on your loyal clients, especially if you’ve had similar deals before and they prove to be reliable and honest.

• Name your charges
  

Never give a client an option to name the price because they will go as low as possible or deem you unprofessional. Name your price and set the ball rolling, leaving the client with three options; agree, negotiate, or walk away. Finally, never be afraid to walk away from deals that do not reflect your worth.

• Videography pricing mechanism to explore
  

Now that you know how to set your prices, which pricing mechanism options can you explore? Here are some of the most common pricing use by videographers in Dubai.

1. Pricing by project

Pricing by a project is the best opportunity for you to increase your earning potential. This strategy shifts the clients’ focus from how much attention you put into the project to focus on the complete production value. It revolves around how you meet targets and help your customer meet their goals. This is the best mechanism if you are skilled and can produce a video that improves your client’s earnings if it is a corporate video for product promotion.

If the quality is exceptional and the video targets the right audience, your client may not look at your input but concentrate on the final output.

Pricing by a project is essential if you want to go the corporate way. You can start by creating one-minute videos in your style and sell them to other brands for a flat rate of $400. This is a practical approach to marketing your brand because you can create samples as templates for future projects.

You can raise the rate as you create more samples and improve your quality. For instance, the same work may be more expensive in a year if you give it a different touch that enhances its quality and appeal. If you find the right client, you will not have to worry about the price as long as your work is worth it.

You should also know that there is no pricing limit for videography pricing by a project. It is common for a videographer in Dubai to pitch and close a deal on a corporate video for $1000 while another does the same for $2000.

Pro tip: determine a price you want from your client. Double it and quote the doubled amount to the client. The customer will likely negotiate somewhere slightly above what you wanted in the first place.

2. Pricing by retainer

Retainers are very scarce but lucrative if you happen to get one such deal. If your work shows industry-best qualities, you can quickly develop an ongoing relationship with a client and explore this pricing method. Underpricing by retainer, you arrange for monthly payments.

The monthly pay (retainer) allows the client to access your services on a rolling basis for a flat rate premium fee. As a videographer, you should strive to keep such close relationships with a client to avoid being stuck on a corporate deal that hinders your control and power over what you do.

Monthly retainers should have clear limits. For instance, you cannot guarantee unlimited access to all services for one price because the customer will take advantage. Set up time limits, such as the number of weekly working hours or projects completed every month.

Additionally, set expectations you can deliver. For instance, you can agree that you will produce three different videos every month. When the videos are delivered, the deal is closed for that month; anything on top of it should attract additional charges.

An example of a perfect pricing structure under this category is three five-minute ad videos for $2000 every month. If the client wants you to upload the videos to different sites, you can charge an extra $500 to re-edit and reformat the videos or for every site.

• Hourly Rate Vs., Fixed Rate: Which Way to Go?
  

Now that you have a rough idea of how different rates work; let us look into them in two categories. The hourly or daily rate is similar because your charge is based on your work’s direct time. When charging a videography project fee, you need to estimate how long it will take you to complete the task but charge for the outcome. This means that any overtime work may not be paid.

3. Charging an hourly rate

Charging an hourly rate may be perfect if you are working on a freelance basis. You are guaranteed a paycheck for every minute of your work. Sometimes it is difficult to estimate how long the project will take. Accordingly, some projects may take more time than initially thought. Therefore, an hourly rate allows you the freedom to not worry about working overtime on a project.

Being locked into a fee per project takes power and control off your hands and may allow the client to change the project scope. However, the hourly basis makes the client understand that time is money and that they cannot afford to waste yours to test their theories as they will be charged for every second.

4. Charging a fixed rate

First note, a fixed-rate guarantees a certain amount of earnings, but the client may reconsider some aspects to make the project shorter if you go for an hourly rate. Accordingly, you might finish the job faster than you expected. Either way, a fixed rate ensures that you know how much you will earn at the end of the day. This surety is essential for a freelance project.

Accordingly, working on an hourly basis may encourage laziness, as you want to extend the project duration as much as possible for maximum pay. This can take a toll on your quality and relationship with clients. On the other hand, a fixed rate will force you to finish up the project as quickly as possible to focus on the next one.

An hourly rate may also seem expensive to some clients. For instance, some customers may find it hard to swallow if you say you will charge them $50 per hour. However, most people don’t understand that part of that amount goes into taxes and equipment maintenance.

But if you choose to charge $500 for an entire project and take 10 hours to complete, you will have charged the same as the hourly rate though some clients may deem price by project a fair valuation.

Depending on your contract terms, you can also charge for overtime, especially if the client is at fault necessitating the overtime work. For instance, you can offer two rounds of edits for every video after the initial and fine cut. If the client walks in with additional instructions after the two edits, you are allowed to charge an additional fee for their failure to follow laid-down processes.

So, of the two rates, which one would you opt for?

Honestly, the correct rate will depend on the project you are working on. Let us look at the following examples to find out why. You can also use your examples, depending on the services you offer.

Editing a documentary

It takes a long time to edit a documentary. You need to do more rounds of edits compared to a short commercial video. You may also spend many hours re-editing the project depending on your director and how the project scope changes.

Therefore, you can charge by an hourly rate in this case. You may not want to spend days editing a documentary for a fixed rate. For longer projects that take more than a week to complete, go for the hourly rate,

Videography, Cinematography, and related Set Works

Production works are best if charged a day rate because you may need to put in extra work on some days or be hired for two or three hours on other days. Therefore, a fixed rate would do for these production works.

Going for an hour event may not be worth your hustle if you are only paid for the one hour you worked. In some cases, some professional videographers may not accept projects for less than $300. Therefore, if you estimate that a project will take a day to complete, it is wise to stick to a fixed rate.

Corporate videos and product promotion

As a new videographer, you can expect a lot of work from the corporate world. For instance, you may be required to create actual commercials for businesses, internal coverage for a company’s functions, and online tutorial clips or conferences. These types of solo projects require a project fee.

Businesses prefer to have a budget, and they may want to know how much the project will cost them before they enter into any agreement. Typically, you may have to submit a proposal or bid for the project, and you might not be the only person bidding. Therefore, if a company wants a three-minute promo video, it best you quote a project fee.

Additionally, you have to be very careful when dealing with businesses. This is mainly because companies like to invite different people to submit bids that have to be weighed to identify the one that offers the most value. If you overquote, you might lose the project to a competitor. On the other hand, if you underquote, you may be deemed unprofessional. Therefore, you need to assess your pricing and accompany your bid with a sample that indicates your quality.

Take-Home

Videographer prices in Dubai may be the difference between landing a top job or remaining at beginner levels. Suppose you are an experienced videographer Dubai. In that case, you should understand how the market responds to different prices, the standard rates for every category, and expected results for every price range.

On the other hand, if you are a client looking for a videographer, finding one that suits your budget should not stress you out. Visit Bawabba and choose a freelance videographer that will produce the video you have in mind and according to your budget expectations. Additionally, Dubai has very competitive videographer prices, so you shouldn’t worry about finding the right one for your needs.

from Bawabba Blog https://blog.bawabba.com/freelance-photographers/videographer-prices-in-dubai-all-secrets-you-must-know/