I’m going to tell you some pricing secrets regarding video biographies, or “family history documentaries” as they are sometimes known. How much should you expect to pay and what can you expect to get for your hard-earned video biography money?
Video biographies are gaining prominence as a highlight for an anniversary, reunion, or milestone birthday. There is often no such occasion, just the desire to capture the stories of mom or dad, or some family genealogy, before it’s too late. As a recent Allianz Insurance survey found:
“Eighty-six percent of boomers (ages 47 to 66) and 74 percent of seniors (ages 72 and older) agree that family histories are the most important aspect of their legacy, ahead of personal possessions (64 percent for boomers, 58 percent for the elderly) and the expectation of inheritance for financial well-being.”
So if you’re reading this, you probably don’t need convincing about the importance of a video biography (or “family documentary video” if you prefer that terminology) and you’re starting to take yourself seriously. But how much does a video biography cost? There’s no point in ordering something you can’t afford, right?
The price of a video biography? More or less what you want. (Wait! Don’t run away. I’m going to blow up the video biography) “omerta” and we’ll give you real market prices, just hang in there). But I must say that the price or cost of a video biography will depend on the features you hope to include. Makes sense, right? But even better than that, it’s there’s no need cost a penny.
The Zero Dollar Video Bio Pricing Option
The most important part of any family history project is getting started. And you should never let funds stop you from getting started – these are passion projects, not cash (if you get my drift). And you can actually do a good job on your own.
You’ll need a decent video camera (promise me you won’t use your phone or laptop unless you really, Really they have no other options); also the owner’s manual; a lavalier microphone; and a tripod. Oh, and a bright room with no direct sunlight on the subject. There’s an extensive guide on the web, just try Binging “DIY Family History Video” to see some of the advice I’ve given elsewhere and then try “video bio questions.” You are on your way!
You may not have a family history documentary with this free option, but you have saved a life through video.
Real Dollar Video Biography Cost Options
OK, I suspect that if you are still reading then you have in mind to contact a professional video producer. How much will that cost you?
First, let’s distinguish between an amateur or a friend; a wedding videographer and a family history professional.
Family history videos from friends and relatives
A hobbyist or friend fits into the “Zero Dollar Video Biography Pricing Option” but may be charged three or four hundred dollars for their equipment and time. Or else you should think about paying them anyway. This should be especially so if, in addition to interviewing and filming, you are going to ask them to ingest the video, edit it a bit, and send it somewhere.
These things are complicated and time consuming, and it really isn’t fair to ask them to do all of that for free. Also, if you choose to trust your best intentions, the delivery of the finished product may be slightly delayed.
Family history videos made by wedding videographers
This can be a very good option, especially if you are prepared to work closely with the videographer regarding setups, questions, images, and the like. Many wedding videographers are drawn to family history video work because it allows them to shoot during relatively quiet weekdays (weddings are almost always filmed on weekends).
Most of the big name wedding videographers who have been in the business for say 5 years really know their stuff. They can shoot with multiple cameras, they know all about lighting, they often have dollies and cranes, a modern editing suite, and they are almost always excellent still photographers and usually do great audio.
Now, you may not need all of your core talents (intimate knowledge of the tried and tested stages of weddings and receptions, slow wedding pans, rack approach from flowers to mother of the bride, etc.). And them May not having read, miked, or filmed a biographical video interview before. Maybe check to see if they have a lot of training in oral history and if they have access to the institutional resources and knowledge base of a group like the Association of Personal Historians. But they’ll almost certainly be nice (hey, they’re still in business at a very tough industry) and won’t scare Grandma! And like I said, they really know their team and can be highly trained.
My best advice? Try to get the main person who owns the store to do the work. And note the features and options I’ll cover below. Also keep in mind that wedding videographers often have a decent-sized crew of part-time wedding workers, and sometimes use good people like firefighters for the “second or third camera.” No disrespect to firefighters, but for something as important as a video biography, you want the best they’ve got (which maybe actually be the firefighter).
You can expect to pay around $3,000 or $4,000 for a decent wedding videographer who shoots for most of the day and does solid editing, image work, and delivery to BluRay, DVD, or hard drive (maybe more, or even less). , depending on the features you need). And here’s the thing: It’s almost guaranteed to look absolutely fabulous (the mother of an unhappy bride is an unhappy customer!).
Family History Videos by a Video Biographer
Specialized video biographers are no more or less expensive than a wedding person, after all, we are all professionals with cost and overhead structures and the expectation that we can feed our children. In general, for the same job, our charges should be similar.
But where video biographers can separate themselves from wedding videographers is that they likely include quite a bit more. Some of these features include:
Length of the final fully edited product: The longer the finished product, the higher the price. Editing and creating content other than an interview is time consuming. Also, video biographers tend to prefer a longer finished product, reasoning that this is an important family story!
Time spent on pre-production: The more time, the more you will pay. Serious video biographers like to spend 10 hours or more on pre-production: meeting the client; encounter with the subject; talk to all the kids (to make sure we get the stories they like and remember); do basic family and ancestral research; unearthing artifacts and sounds; scanning locations and the like.
The number of historical photos to be included and the work to clean up and repair those images. Not all videographers are formally trained in Photoshop and know how to get the best out of footage to create a truly personal documentary (as opposed to just showing off a “talking head”).