The Pricing Trap: Why Your Rates Are Keeping You Broke

We’ve all been there. You’re starting out, you need portfolio material, so you look at what the videographer down the street is charging. They’re at $3,500, so you figure, "I’ll charge $3,200 to be competitive."

It sounds logical, but it’s a trap.

Copying someone else’s pricing without knowing their overhead is the fastest way to burn out. You might be shooting on a Blackmagic Pocket 6K while they’re renting Arris. You might be working out of your bedroom while they have a studio lease.

If you feel like you’re working every weekend but your bank account isn’t growing, it’s time to stop guessing. It’s time to talk about your "Survival Number."

Real Life Example: The $4,000 Illusion

Let’s look at a realistic scenario. Meet "Alex."

Alex books a wedding for $4,000. On paper, that looks like a great payday for a weekend's work. But let’s look at where that money actually goes:

• Second Shooter: -$600
• Music Licensing (2 tracks): -$120
• Travel (Gas): -$100
• Hard Drive & Delivery Costs: -$50
• Taxes (30% set aside): -$1,200

Leftover Cash: $1,930.

Now, let's factor in time. Between meetings, the 10-hour shoot day, travel, culling, editing, grading, and revisions, Alex spends about 50 hours on this project.

Alex’s Real Hourly Wage: $38.60.

That’s decent, but it doesn’t cover health insurance, gear upgrades, or marketing. Suddenly, that "$4,000 wedding" barely keeps the lights on. This is why you can’t just guess your prices.

The "Hidden" Costs of the Cut

When you’re in the middle of a heavy edit, the last thing you’re thinking about is the depreciation of your camera body. But that gear doesn't last forever.

Your true cost isn't just your rent and your Adobe subscription. It includes:

• Gear Replacement: That gimbal won't last 5 years.
• Insurance: Liability and gear coverage.
• Software: CRM costs, plugins, subscriptions.
• Self-Employment Tax: The 15.3% (or more) that vanishes before you see it.

If you don't factor these into your hourly rate, you are essentially paying your clients for the privilege of filming their wedding.

Stop Guessing, Start Calculating

You didn't get into this industry to be an accountant, but you have to think like a CEO if you want to survive.

We built a tool specifically for this. You don’t need a complex spreadsheet; you just need to plug in your numbers. Our Profit Calculator will tell you exactly what your "survival number" is—the amount you need to charge just to break even—and help you set a target for actual profit.

Tracking it All Without the Headache

Knowing your base cost is step one. Step two is keeping your finances organized so tax season doesn't feel like a horror movie.

Using the Financials Dashboard in Lemlii, you can track expenses and income in real-time. We don't take a commission on your bookings (0% transaction fees from us), so you keep more of that hard-earned cash.

Lighten Your Load

You are a filmmaker, but you are also a business owner. Charging what you’re worth isn’t greed; it’s sustainability. It ensures you’ll be around to tell stories for years to come.

Run the numbers. Fix your pricing. And get back to the edit bay with peace of mind.