Time-lapse photography – Pricing and Fees
These are the types of time-lapse photography services I offer:
- Short-term time-lapse:
With short-term time-lapse, the sequence of events take place in a day or less, often just a few hours. But sometimes these projects can take 2 or 3 days. There are examples in the Projects section in the main menu.
Short-term time-lapse is where I set up the cameras (often on a motion-controlled dolly), and stay with the cameras and monitor it during the shoot, and then break it all down afterwards. The cameras are the larger DSLRs which allow us fine control over the image quality and how the movement in the scene is rendered.
- INDOOR Long-term TL:
With long-term time-lapse, the cameras run for periods of weeks or months. Again, this can be a single or multiple cameras. I use DSLR cameras (which offer us more control), rather than simpler options like GoPro cameras. Please check this article for the difference between the two options: GoPro timelapse vs DSLR cameras.
The cameras need to be indoors, where they are sheltered from the elements, and they also need to run off AC power since it is a long-term installation. The cameras are mounted in a static position with clamps – there is no cinematic motion involved. Since Long-term time-lapse shooting implies that the cameras are used in a dedicated way just for the single project, it does push up the cost.
- OUTDOOR Long-term TL:
Then there is outdoor long-term time-lapse where the camera is mounted securely in a weather-proofed housing, and is powered with a solar-powered battery. The camera then runs for weeks, or months, or even years. The camera is frequently monitored and the footage checked.
Long-term time-lapse involves a dedicated rig that is mounted somewhere safe on location. This means the camera (and related gear) are used just for this one purpose – and I can’t use it for anything else for the year (or whatever duration.) Hence the costs for the long-term time-lapse photography is higher – it involves a dedicated camera system.
Fees for short-term time-lapse
Short-term time-lapse are shot with DSLR cameras. The fees mentioned here are tentative, due to the variables mentioned above. But it should give a good ball-park figure.
The structure is based on a Day Rate of $1600 for northern New Jersey; and $2,000 for New York. Larger projects which need subsequent days of shooting, are priced on a sliding scale.
The deliverables are usually 1 to 3 short video clips in 1080p, but 4K video is also possible.
Contact me for more info, or to discuss your project.
Fees for INDOOR long-term time-lapse
For this kind of time-lapse project, I use full-frame DSLR cameras are used which offer a high image quality, and superb video quality. Please check this article for the difference between the two options: GoPro timelapse vs DSLR cameras.
The fees mentioned here are tentative, due to the variables, but should give a good ball-park figure.
There is an installation fee of $400 to set up the 1st camera and timing controller, and to mount the camera and run AC to the camera. Each additional camera has an installation fee of $100 per camera.
Then there is the creative fee in shooting and generating the timelapse video(s).
This creative fee depends on how long the timelapse setup needs to run – days / weeks / months or longer. The creative fee is also on a sliding scale, where the subsequent days / weeks / months are priced at a lower rate than the initial period.
1st day — $900
2nd day — $300
each additional day — $100
1st week — $1,600
2nd week — $800
each additional week — $400
1st month — $3,200
2nd month — $1,600
each additional month — $800
This is the creative fee for the 1st camera. The creative fee for each additional camera is 1/3rd of that, per camera.
The billing structure:
For timelapse projects, the payment structure is divided along these lines:
— The first day/week/month as deposit.
— The rest of the payments are structured according to the length of the project, with a final payment of 30% of the total fee upon completion of the timelapse videos, or on delivery of the RAW images.
The deliverables will be either:
a.) The video footage compiled from the individual images.
The specifics of the final videos (duration, resolution, etc), will depend on your requirements.
b.) Some clients only need the unprocessed RAW files.
In that instance, there is a 25% reduction of the creative fee.
Fees for OUTDOOR long-term time-lapse
The fees mentioned here are tentative, due to the variables, but should give a good ball-park figure.
There is an installation fee of $600 to set up a camera & timing controller, and mount the waterproof housing & solar panel.
Then there is the creative fee in shooting and generating the timelapse video(s).
This creative fee depends on how long the timelapse setup needs to run – days / weeks / months or longer. The creative fee is also on a sliding scale, where the subsequent days / weeks / months are priced at a lower rate than the initial period.
1st day — $900
2nd day — $300
each additional day — $100
1st week — $1,600
2nd week — $800
each additional week — $400
1st month — $3,200
2nd month — $1,600
each additional month — $800
The billing structure:
For timelapse projects, the payment structure is divided along these lines:
— The first day/week/month as deposit.
— The rest of the payments are structured according to the length of the project, with a final payment of 30% of the total fee upon completion of the timelapse videos, or on delivery of the RAW images.
The deliverables will be either:
a.) The video footage compiled from the individual images.
The specifics of the final videos (duration, resolution, etc), will depend on your requirements.
b.) Some clients only need the unprocessed RAW files.
In that instance, there is a 25% reduction of the creative fee.
Fee structure
This is a rough guide to the fees involved in shooting a project or event, using time-lapse. There are too many variables to immediately give a fixed rate, so please call me or email me so that we can discuss your project, and figure out what is possible.
To give you an idea of what is involved, and why the actual fee might vary – the pricing depends on:
- The scale of the event.
Some events need multiple cameras. Other events can be captured properly from just one camera viewpoint. Would dollies be needed to create cameras movement? Is a single static camera good enough? These are some of the considerations.
- Would an assist would be needed?
This would depend on how much gear is needed to capture the event. Then the security of the cameras if we shoot out on location, are also important. For example, if we shoot out on the streets of New York, then I will most likely need an assistant per camera.
- The deliverables after the project or event.
The deliverables are usually video clips in 1080p or 4K format. Some clients prefer the individual RAW files, without editing. Most clients want a finished video that includes music and title & credit slides. We would also have to figure out beforehand how long you need your video to be, because this will affect all kinds of technical decisions down the line such as the time-lapse interval and other camera settings.
- Some clients only need the unprocessed RAW files. In that instance, there is a 25% reduction of the creative fee.