Crew size
Crew is usually the largest line item. A one-person shoot is efficient for talking heads, but a lit commercial needs a DP, gaffer, sound mixer, and producer. Each added role typically adds $600–$1,200 per day in Austin.
Guide · Austin, TX
A guide to video production costs in Austin
Real budget ranges for brand films, commercials, event coverage, and social content in Austin — what each tier includes, what pushes a quote up or down, and how long the work takes.
Budget ranges
What projects actually cost
Single-Shooter Day
$1,500 – $3,000
Interviews, social content, event recaps, founder stories
- One director/operator, half or full shoot day
- Cinema body, prime lenses, lighting and audio kit
- One finished cut up to 2 minutes
- Two rounds of revisions and licensed music
Small-Crew Production
$5,000 – $15,000
Brand films, commercials, recruiting and product videos
- Director, DP, gaffer/sound, and producer
- Pre-production: concept, script, shot list, casting support
- Multi-location shoot with gimbal and drone coverage
- Hero film plus platform cutdowns and captions
Full Campaign Production
$25,000 – $100,000+
Broadcast spots, multi-market campaigns, immersive launches
- Full crew, talent, locations, permits, and insurance
- Art direction, styling, and set build
- Color grade, sound mix, motion graphics, and VFX
- Full asset library: 60s, 30s, 15s, vertical, and stills
Ranges reflect typical Austin projects. Every production is quoted after a short brief so the budget goes to what appears on screen.
What drives the number
Six variables behind every quote
Shoot days and locations
Company moves cost time. Two locations in one day means fewer setups at each. Permits, parking, and location fees for downtown Austin or a private venue are billed as production costs, not markups.
Pre-production
Scripting, storyboards, casting, scouting, and scheduling are where a budget is saved or lost. Skipping pre-pro nearly always costs more later in reshoots and edit churn.
Post-production and deliverables
Editing, color, sound design, motion graphics, and captions scale with the number of cuts. One hero film is one cost; the same film in ten platform aspect ratios is another.
Talent, music, and licensing
On-camera talent carries session fees plus usage terms. Music, stock, and voiceover are licensed by term and territory — a one-year web license is far cheaper than perpetual broadcast.
Specialty gear and aerials
Drone aerials, 360°/immersive capture, motion control, and specialty lenses are day-rate add-ons. Austin sits in controlled airspace, so aerials also require FAA authorization where required.
Stretching the budget
How to get more out of a shoot day
- Shoot multiple deliverables in one day — batching interviews and b-roll is the single biggest saver
- Lock the script before the shoot day so edit time goes to craft, not rewrites
- Choose one strong location over three mediocre ones
- Scope your cutdowns up front; retrofitting vertical versions later costs more
- Set a realistic license term instead of defaulting to perpetual buyouts
See the full service page for Austin brand video, compare it with our real estate photography pricing guide or the corporate event videography guide, or browse all services.
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FAQ
Common budget questions
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