How much does a video cost? And why that’s the wrong question
- Jul 11, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 3
“How much does a video cost?” is one of the first questions people ask us.
It makes sense. But on its own, it is the wrong place to start.
Asking the price of a video without context is a bit like asking the price of a car. The answer depends entirely on what you need it to do.
Video cost is driven by purpose, not production
The biggest factor in any video project is not cameras, crew, or kit. It is intent.
Before we talk about budgets, we want to understand:
What the video needs to achieve
Who it is for
Where it will live
How it supports your wider business goals
A video designed for internal use is very different from one built to win customers, attract investment, or represent your brand publicly.
That difference shapes everything.
Why we start with insight
Duck Creative is an insight-led video production company. We take time to understand the people behind the brief, not just the brief itself.
We talk to founders, marketing teams, and stakeholders because conversation reveals things websites never do. Clients often already have a strong sense of how they want their business represented. Those instincts are valuable.
Our role is to challenge, refine, and translate them into something that works on screen.
Talking about budget without awkwardness
We will always ask about budget early on.
Not to push it. Not to upsell. But to make sure we design something realistic and effective.
Knowing the parameters allows us to:
Propose ideas that genuinely work
Suggest smarter creative approaches
Sometimes recommend multiple films rather than one
We would rather create something that delivers real value than sell something oversized that does not.
What actually goes into making a video
Once the direction is clear, production is shaped by a combination of planning, filming, and post-production.
That includes:
Pre-production such as scripting, planning, logistics, and scheduling
Filming with experienced crew who know how to capture the right moments efficiently
Post-production where the story is shaped through editing, sound, colour, and animation
The level of involvement at each stage depends entirely on the brief and the outcome you want.
What matters more than cost
A good video should earn its place.
If it helps you explain your product faster, connect with your audience, or move people to action, then the value is in what it delivers, not how it is itemised.
That is how we approach every project.
A better question to ask
Instead of asking “how much does a video cost?”, a better starting point is:
“What do I need this video to do?”
Once that is clear, everything else becomes much easier.
If you are thinking about a video and want an honest conversation, get in touch with Duck Creative at hello@duckcreative.co.uk.
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