Wedding Videography Cost Calculator
Calculate wedding cinematography and videography expenses including filming hours, drone aerial shots, full speeches documentary edits, and raw footage storage.
Calculation Results
Videography Total Package Formula
Total Videography Cost = Base Package Price + Second Cinematographer + Drone Footage + Raw Footage Drive + Full Speeches Edit + Rush Delivery- Base Package: 8 hours of multi-camera filming, professional audio recording, and a 4 to 6 minute cinematic highlight film.
- Drone Aerial Footage: FAA Part 107 licensed drone filming of venue grounds and outdoor ceremony ($300-$500).
- Documentary Long Edit: Separate continuous multi-camera edit of the full ceremony, toast speeches, and first dance ($400-$700).
- Raw Footage Archive: Entire unedited footage and audio files delivered on an external hard drive ($200-$350).
Step-by-Step Worked Example
Calculation Steps:
- Base Package: $2,800
- Production Addons: $500 + $350 + $400 = $1,250
- Total Videography Cost: $2,800 + $1,250 = $4,050
- Effective Cost Per Filming Hour: $4,050 / 8 = $506.25/hour
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter the base videography package quote and coverage hours.
- 2Select any production add-ons such as aerial drone footage or a second camera operator.
- 3Include long-form documentary edits for vows, toasts, and raw footage hard drives.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Cinematic highlight films include licensed music rights and audio sound engineering.
- Drone operations depend on venue clearance and local FAA airspace regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a highlight reel and a documentary edit?
A highlight reel is a 3 to 7 minute cinematic music video telling the emotional story of your day. A documentary edit is a 30 to 90 minute chronological film capturing the ceremony, toasts, and dances in their entirety.
Can our videographer legally use any song we want?
No. Professional videographers must legally license copyrighted music for commercial film distribution through licensing platforms (like Musicbed or Artlist) to prevent copyright strikes on YouTube or social media.
What is the average cost of a wedding videographer in the US?
Standard wedding videography packages range from $2,000 to $4,500, with luxury cinematic production studios charging $5,000 to $9,000+ for multi-day coverage and same-day edits.
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