Shooter question

[Tom Maloney]

No Offense intended, but why are you posting this in the FCP forum? I would try event videographers. You don’t have a day rate for yourself ? should know your rates before you look for work 🙂

Good Luck
Tom

[Russell Lasson]

Rates range anywhere from around $150-1500/day depending on the project and depending on experience. What camera are you shooting on? What experience do you have? What is your time worth to you?

(You should probably just respond in a more relevant forum)

-Russ

[Danny]

Thanks Tom,
I did post in one of the camera forums. But since there are none that specifically address freelancing, I thought I’d give it a chance here… there are a lot of shooters in this forum. FYI, my rates are $2000/day to shoot HD work. But, these outdoor shows don’t pay anywhere near standard rates.

I’ll take a look in event videographers, as you suggested. But, my guess is that events and network tv don’t fall under the same category.
Thanks,
Danny

[Bill Paris]

Danny,

If your used to getting $2000 per day sounds like you’ve been working on commercials or feature style projects? I’ve been shooting television programming for many years and have found the rates to be much lower. The lowest rates are actually being paid by the networks. If you do a shoot for NBC News, Dateline, etc….. they have a base rate just under $400 per eight hour day. We used to be able to charge them a package rate for yourself, a soundman and gear, but thats been changing over the years. Now they dictate the hourly crew rate and very low rates for the gear.

Reality shows are paying about $600 per 12 hour day. Travel days are often paid as half days. Some guys call a half day 2/3 of their day rate, others a straight half.

Don’t forget to negotiate your per diem if your on the road. I’ve seen it on the low end at $50 per day and $100 on the high end depending on where your shooting.

I hope this helps….have a great shoot!

Bill Paris
Director of Photography
Crew Hawaii Television
http://www.crewhawaii.tv

[Walter Biscardi]

Camera operator without gear typically runs $350 – $650/day depending on the operator.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR
The new Color Training DVD now available from the Creative Cow!

Read my Blog!

[Danny]

Thanks for the info Bill. You’re right about the tv commercials/day rate. The only reason I’m thinking about doing the job for this outdoor show is because they’re generally a lot more fun than they are work…. kind of a vacation for me.
Danny

[Danny]

Thanks Walter!! I knew there were a lot of shooters among all these editors 🙂 In my opinion, a shooter who’s had to edit his own stuff knows why certain shooters get paid more.
Danny

[Walter Biscardi]

[Danny Dodge] “Thanks Walter!! I knew there were a lot of shooters among all these editors 🙂 In my opinion, a shooter who’s had to edit his own stuff knows why certain shooters get paid more.”

I’m not a shooter. I hire them.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR
The new Color Training DVD now available from the Creative Cow!

Read my Blog!

[Danny]

Better yet!