How Much Can You Charge For Dit Services

By | Published May 4th, 2016 | in Crew, UPM

What are common rates for photographic camera operators, DPs, & DITs

Movie production piece of work can be a great way to pave your way toward loftier Hollywood dreams or but get your hours on set to join one of the many technical unions.

To brand either of these dreams come up true, you need to know what yous're worth.

Only that'south a tricky question.

Let'due south dig deep and come across what we come up with.

Daily Rates for Camera Ops, DPs, and DITs

First thing's beginning, we need to know what kind of job you lot're working.

There are ii different rates for every chore:

Wedlock
Non-Union

Once you know what kind of job you're working, you can determine the day rate.

Let's start going through who does what and charges what.

Camera Operator

A camera operator is a person that records images, using a photographic camera, for entertainment, news, sports, and more than.

Their chore is to run the camera and capture images that enthrall an audience.

But what does a camera operator charge?

Non-Union Camera Operator

A non-union camera operator'south daily rate is dependent upon the type of product they are working on and that production's budget.

If you lot're working with friends, peradventure you give them a break, only yous should prepare your quote and stick with it, so when people refer you to jobs they'll know ahead of time.

On an independent picture shoot (short or full length), they will typically take in somewhere betwixt $400/$500 per day,

What virtually on something independent simply a picayune bigger, like a non-marriage commercial?

On a commercial production (Corporate/Brand) a photographic camera operator will make somewhere betwixt $550/$650 a twenty-four hour period.

So don't let anyone neat y'all into taking less.

Now let's talk nigh Wedlock jobs.

Union Camera Operator

spousal relationship job usually means a bigger production for a camera operator. These gigs might be for commercials, features, film, television receiver, or news programs.

Piece of work for tin can be lucrative when you're part of a wedlock, because they help set up your rates. That means there'due south a floor to what yous can legally be paid.

And so it's much harder for an outfit to push you lower.

It might exist harder to negotiate because they usually have set budgets, only the pay can exist high no affair what.

Everything relies on the production's budget.

Union Camera Operators typically make more coin an hour and betwixt $750/$grand a mean solar day.

These rates are based upon the industry standard x hour day for any commercial production.

Any overtime beyond 10 hours tends to be paid at 1.five times the hourly rate, unless negotiations are worked out for a different rate.

Standard Contained productions revolve around 12 hour days plus time and half OT.

Cinematographer (Managing director of Photography)

A cinematographer, or director of photography, is the person who is the boss of the camera and light crews on the set.

Directors of Photography assistance determine the look and feel of the project along with the director.

They work on films, television, movies, sports, news, and documentaries.

So what do cinematographers go paid?

And so what do cinematographers get paid?

Non-Matrimony Cinematographer (Director of Photography)

Much similar the photographic camera operator, non-union gigs run the gamut of pay. Information technology all depends on who you are working for and the budget of their project.

You lot're going to hear that a lot today.

Non-union DPs' average rate is betwixt $650 and $750 per twenty-four hour period, for any commercial product.

Independent productions tend to land within the aforementioned range when information technology comes to cinematographers.

So what do matrimony cinematographers normally get paid?

Union Cinematographer (Managing director of Photography)

Again, y'all know the drill. Unions guarantee you lot ameliorate pay by setting a floor.

Union DPs make around $1,200 a day or higher for whatsoever given commercial or film product. OT works the same for the entire coiffure.

An extremely seasoned DP with an impressive resume has the room to negotiate a higher charge per unit and is hard to say what they actually bring in on average.

You can presume people like Roger Deakins and Rachel Morrison tin can make in the hundreds of thousands if non millions for certain projects.

And then get to work!

Digital Paradigm Technician

A digital imaging technician, or DIT, works in tandem with the cinematographer to establish a workflow, systemization, camera settings, indicate integrity and epitome manipulation and so that the highest quality image is received within a digital camera.

So how much does a DIT get paid?

Non-Wedlock DIT

Same every bit the others, not-union depends on the budget simply is open to negotiation.

Non-union digital image technicians make around $550 per day.

Same OT rates apply for the DIT.

You have to pay for the kit fee as well which typically goes for $350 a day unless you're providing equipment, which isn't recommended.

Union DIT

A Wedlock DIT averages a slightly higher rate for both day charge per unit and kit fee.

Normally betwixt $600-900 a day.

Y'all will typically need a video village for producers/stakeholders, that volition run you around $700 on top of the kit fee.

DIT wages are dependent on what they bring to the table. If they have their own equipment, they'll control more than.

If they have to rent a kit, they'll usually be paid less.

Summing up rates for photographic camera operators, DPs, & DITs

When showtime your journeying as a filmmaker and attempting to traverse the landscape and gain your footing, it tin can be challenging.

You want to make contacts and assemble a reputation for hard piece of work and accurateness, only you also don't want to get screwed on pay.

You want to exist house, only non dial in a higher place your weight grade.

The skillful news is that the more experience you become, the higher your rate climbs.

Always hold your integrity and cull wisely when like-minded to a lower rate on a product.

Now you know the boilerplate rates for photographic camera operators, directors of photography, and DITs. Hopefully, this helps yous negotiate any project comes next.

Till next time!

Virtually The Author:

Trenton Massey

Experienced Director Of Photography and Producer with a demonstrated history of working in the motion pictures and film industry. Skilled in Commercials, Telly, Documentaries, Sports, and Motion-picture show. Strong media and advice professional and Co-Owner of Ambience Skies Productions. Proficient and educated screen writer with strong Commercial, Reality TV, and Flick experience. Multi avant-garde photographic camera systems specialist with a Certification focused in Vision Research High Speed Camera Systems Certified from Abel Cine. Knowledgable in Marketing and content strategy.

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