Videographer Invoice Template
A videographer invoice bills day, lists labour, services and equipment on separate lines and states the terms (50% deposit, balance on final delivery). This template is pre-filled for two-minute brand video for a small company: one shoot day with interviews, then edit and social cutdowns: 8 lines totalling $4,222.00 before tax. Edit it and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for a videographer: two-minute brand video for a small company: one shoot day with interviews, then edit and social cutdowns. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Maple Row Video Production
731 Market Street
Fairview, OR 97024
billing@example.com
(503) 555-0131
Invoice
Bill to
Jamie Ortiz
9 Willow Court
Springfield, IL 62704
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-production and shot listScript outline, location scout call | 4 hr | $85.00 | $340.00 |
| Shoot day, director and camera operatorUp to 10 hours on location | 1 day | $1,200.00 | $1,200.00 |
| Camera assistant and sound recordist | 1 day | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Lighting and audio kit rentalLED panels, wireless lavaliers, boom | 1 day | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Editing and color grading2-minute final cut, two revision rounds | 16 hr | $95.00 | $1,520.00 |
| Licensed music track, commercial use | 1 track | $120.00 | $120.00 |
| Vertical social cutdowns with captions30 seconds each | 2 each | $150.00 | $300.00 |
| Mileage to location | 60 mile | $0.70 | $42.00 |
- Subtotal
- $4,222.00
- Balance due
- $4,222.00
Notes
Thank you for choosing Maple Row Video Production. Terms: 50% deposit, balance on final delivery.
Payment details
Bank transfer or card. Please quote the invoice number.
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Videographer invoice at a glance
| Typical job | Two-minute brand video for a small company: one shoot day with interviews, then edit and social cutdowns |
|---|---|
| Main billing unit | day |
| Usual payment terms | 50% deposit, balance on final delivery |
| Deposit practice | Half the project fee is usually paid at booking to cover crew and rentals. |
| Sample lines | 8 lines, $4,222.00 before tax |
| Largest line | Editing and color grading: $1,520.00 (36%) |
| Labour hours billed | 20 h, $3,510.00 |
| Trade-specific fields | Shoot date, Shoot location, Project name, PO number |
Sample videographer invoice line items
Two-minute brand video for a small company: one shoot day with interviews, then edit and social cutdowns: 8 lines adding up to $4,222.00, split into labour $3,510.00 (83%), services $300.00 (7%) and equipment $250.00 (6%).
| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-production and shot list (Script outline, location scout call) | 4 hr | $85.00 | $340.00 |
| Shoot day, director and camera operator (Up to 10 hours on location) | 1 day | $1,200.00 | $1,200.00 |
| Camera assistant and sound recordist | 1 day | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Lighting and audio kit rental (LED panels, wireless lavaliers, boom) | 1 day | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Editing and color grading (2-minute final cut, two revision rounds) | 16 hr | $95.00 | $1,520.00 |
| Licensed music track, commercial use | 1 track | $120.00 | $120.00 |
| Vertical social cutdowns with captions (30 seconds each) | 2 each | $150.00 | $300.00 |
| Mileage to location | 60 mile | $0.70 | $42.00 |
| Subtotal | $4,222.00 | ||
| Total before tax | $4,222.00 |
What a videographer invoice should include
- Your video production business name, address, phone and email, plus a tax ID if you are registered
- The customer's name and billing address (Jamie Ortiz in the sample)
- A unique invoice number (INV-8049) and the issue date
- Payment terms and a due date: 50% deposit, balance on final delivery
- Shoot date: for example 8 November 2026
- Shoot location: for example 9 Willow Court
- Project name: for example Two-minute brand video for a small company: one shoot day with interviews, then edit and social cutdowns
- PO number: for example PO-4567
- Line items in day or per item, each with quantity, rate and amount
- How to pay you: bank details, card link or cheque payee
How videographers bill
Videographers quote by shoot day or half day and bill editing, crew, rented gear and licensed music separately, because post-production often takes longer than filming.
Videographers commonly use "50% deposit, balance on final delivery". Half the project fee is usually paid at booking to cover crew and rentals.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film $33.08 (employees, not contractor rates). The sample's $85.00 per hour for "Pre-production and shot list" is 2.6 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Videographer invoicing tips
- Keep shoot days and editing hours on separate lines; the client watched the shoot but never saw the sixteen hours in the edit, and that line explains where most of the budget went.
- Spell out the included revision rounds and bill each extra round as its own line, since a request like trying a different song can quietly add a full day of work.
- When a shoot runs past ten hours, bill crew overtime at time and a half and say so on the invoice; crew expect to be paid for it and the client agreed when booking.
- Pass music licences, location fees and rented gear through as distinct lines, ideally with receipts, so the client sees which costs belong to third parties.
Videographer billing disputes to head off
- Clients often ask for raw footage after delivery; stating that raw files are not included, or pricing them as a line, avoids a fight over who owns the rushes.
- One more version for another platform is classic scope creep; itemized cutdowns turn each extra deliverable into a visible, billable line.
Work a videographer can bill for
Core tasks of Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film (O*NET 27-4031.00, O*NET 29.x task statements, CC BY 4.0). Each can become a line on the invoice.
- Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
- Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
- Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
- Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts, such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
- Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
- Confer with directors, sound and lighting technicians, electricians, and other crew members to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, desired effects, camera movements, and lighting requirements.
How to make a videographer invoice
-
Add both parties
Enter Maple Row Video Production (your business) and the customer, Jamie Ortiz, then shoot date.
-
Number and terms
Give it a unique number such as INV-8049 and set the terms to 50% deposit, balance on final delivery.
-
List the work
One line per item: the sample runs from "Pre-production and shot list" (4 hr) to "Mileage to location" (60 mile).
-
Check the total
The 8 lines come to $4,222.00; add sales tax only if your state taxes video production.
-
Download and send
Download the PDF or print it, then keep a copy with the video production records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a videographer invoice?
Add your video production business details, the customer, shoot date, shoot location, project name and po number, then one line per item with quantity and rate. The template above is pre-filled with 8 lines for two-minute brand video for a small company: one shoot day with interviews, then edit and social cutdowns totalling $4,222.00; change the prices and download the PDF.
How do videographers charge?
Mostly day. Videographers quote by shoot day or half day and bill editing, crew, rented gear and licensed music separately, because post-production often takes longer than filming.
When should a videographer invoice be paid?
50% deposit, balance on final delivery is the usual arrangement. Half the project fee is usually paid at booking to cover crew and rentals. Put the terms and the due date on the invoice so there is no doubt.
How much do videographers earn per hour?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film $33.08 (employees, not contractor rates). Self-employed rates are usually higher because they cover overhead and unbilled time.