Freelance Multimedia Rates

As Ive only done MM’s for NGO’s, I can only chime in with my rates there…

I am about in the same boat as yourself…

I charge about $2000 for a 3 day gig, plus about 2 days production…. so 3 shoots, plus production time is about $2000 for a non-prof. (including a possible assistant here or there at about $100-$150 but not including expenses) I also charge mileage and everything else on top of that, and charge more if they need lighting work done.

But, also, I am not quite the skilled multimediatician you are, I am more of a hack photog with a mic and soundslides, so I think you may be charging too little my brotha!

Hello Patrick,
Maybe it would help to work out your cost of doing business first to cover your bases – see here for calculator http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/phcalc.html and they also list some going rates although none for exclusively multimedia so you’ll have to work that out from the different things they offer.

You leave me in the dust re: multimedia but I received $1,500/8 hr day plus expenses.
Here’s a survey I found for Day-rates, then add your talent, experience and equipment.
What do you think your expertise etc. is worth ? – that should figure in as well.

Multimedia (Hourly) Low High
Web Designer $45 $100
2D/3D Designer 45 100
Programmer,
Interactive 45 120
Graphic Designer 25 85
Multimedia Producer 45 120
Storyboarding 25 50

Thanks for the info Angela…. very helpful.

I think when it comes to MM, pricing can get very confusing, as there isnt as much of a precedent as there is with other services….

Pat, I think how much future MM producers can earn is going to have alot to do with what we decide to charge now, especially our generation, getting out of university.

We have to set the precedent now.

But also, I think it is important to set a distinction between pricing for NGO, and pricing for corpo world, as you have stated here.

NGO should still be treated as a biz, but we as journalists often get access to communities through them for other stories, as well as being able to help worthy causes through them. So, it is right to give them some discount love, as you have pointed out.

But, I also think we need to start charging alot more for the corpo type jobs.

I recently bid a MM story to a client… and when I named my price, I quickly realized I should have charged way, way more, as they were obviously expecting to pay more. So, we shouldn’t undercut ourselves either.

Thank you both very much for your all’s feedback.

I found this freelance hourly rate calculator that’s pretty nifty..
http://freelanceswitch.com/rates/

After doing the math and hearing your all’s feedback,
I definitely do need to raise my rates.

I will raise them even more when I get some better equipment and start building more of a client base.
I don’t own a high-definition video camera, for example, so for any high-def video work I get,
the client has to cover the cost of the video camera rental.

Just one reason why I can’t charge as much.
As for still photography, I’m still shooting with a 20D, which isn’t the best.

The reason why I’m willing to work up to a 12-13 hour day
is because multimedia takes so much longer.

It’s a standard to pull longer hours for multimedia,
especially when you are just one person and on a tight deadline.

Moreover, a multimedia project might easily take 2-3 twelve hour days to complete,
so taking on a multimedia project may mean you get a guarantee of three days work.

$1000 per day is about what MSNBC pays for freelance multimedia work.
I’m pretty sure they keep all the rights. Somebody please correct me if I’m wrong about this.

NY Times pays less but I think they offer ad revenue profit-sharing. Again, not sure.

Of course, what journalism can pay you is a joke
compared to what advertising and creative work can pay you.

At this point I should probably just set my sights on movie studios for work.