can I charge more for HD editing????

[Walter Biscardi]

In my case, yes we do charge more because we have invested in the HD equipment to support all manner of HD jobs. Pro HD monitors, Pro HD Plasma Screens, DVCPro HD and HDV decks, about 6TB of storage on hand, in-house up and cross-conversion via the Kona 3, fastest Mac Computers available, etc….

In addition, we now have two years experience in handling a lot of HD projects so we know a lot of the pitfalls that many newbie HD editors fall in to. So yes, we do charge a premium for HD projects over SD projects in our shop.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Todd Reid]

Since I don’t have the experience in HD, does that mean I shouldn’t charge more?

I was thinking about raising my hourly rate by $10 for HD projects.
Is this not reasonable?

One client has been with me for over 6 years and we are both newbie to HD.
If I charge them the same, when/how do I make the transisition to a larger rate?

typically how much more do you charge when you hear the words HD?

[Walter Biscardi]

[todd reid] “Since I don’t have the experience in HD, does that mean I shouldn’t charge more?

I was thinking about raising my hourly rate by $10 for HD projects.
Is this not reasonable?”

That’s more than reasonable, but keep in mind, once you set a rate with a client, it’s hard to change it later, at least for a period of one to two years.

I charge a fair markup for HD considering the equipment we have in-house and our overall experience both in Broadcast and HD production.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Mark Maness]

Well… Personally, I think that is very reasonable.

But let me ask. What have you invested into HD? Monitors, computers, capture cards, decks. You have to figure what type of HD are you doing and do you have the equipment or do you have to rent. What are your tape (disc) cost going to be? Has your workflow been increased by doing HD?

If you have already dumped a bunch of money into HD and this is your first, I think a $10 upcharge should be very reasonable to an exsisting client.

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com

[Gary Adcock]

[todd reid] “Since I don’t have the experience in HD, does that mean I shouldn’t charge more?”

Would you pay someone more if they are learning on your dime? I would not.

“I was thinking about raising my hourly rate by $10 for HD projects. Is this not reasonable?”

depends on what your rate was before. I started in HD when there was a real premium on HD production- at that time I doubled my rate and added an equipment charge for working in HD.

That is not the case anymore – now I actually charge a premium to work on SD only projects – it served it’s purpose, I no longer do an SD production.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows

[Dave Jenkins]

I went up $25 a hour over SD. We bought the Kona Lhe, more HD storage, HD monitor and now shoot on XDCAM HD.

[Winston A. cely]

I know this is kinda off topic, but how do you like the XDCAM HD? Any noticeable problems with FCP? Which deck did you go for? I ask, because I’m trying to decide whether I should go for HDV (which is super cheap and a nice transition step for me to go to HD) or just make the leap to a “higher end” HD format.

On topic though, I would be upfront with the client because it sounds like they are in the same boat as far as being new to HD. Cut them a deal and say, we’re new to this so let’s go with our current rate for now. Maybe after a year or so of working in the format (depending on how successful the projects you do in HD for this client are) increase the rate by $10-$20. As far as brand new clients, I would have two different rates for HD and SD. At least that way, you could recoup some of the cost of the new HD equipment sooner.

[Nick B]

‘Can I charge more for projects in HD? ‘

You will have to charge more if you invest money in HD kit

However with no experience of HD you cannot charge more for your HD skills, so perhaps you should charge less on your first HD project.

Maybe set a higher rate for HD then discount it to less than SD in the short term.

But whatever you charge i thnk you should charge a good professional rate .

[Mark Maness]

[Dave Jenkins] “I went up $25 a hour over SD. We bought the Kona Lhe, more HD storage, HD monitor and now shoot on XDCAM HD.”

So how do you like XDCAM HD?

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com

[Andrew Kimery]

NICK B brings up a good point that I see often from others in regards to rates. For example, charging $50/hr but giving the client a 20% discount is better than charing $40/hr. Saying the the discount is a limited time thing is easier than trying to raise your rate after 1 or 2 projects.

-A