Updated October 1, 2026
How much does a music video cost in NYC?
The honest answer: it depends on a handful of things, and once you know them, quotes start to make sense. Here’s what drives the price of a music video in New York City, what to ask before you book anyone, and exactly what each of our three packages includes, from $1,200.
What drives music video production cost
- Shoot days. Most independent music videos are shot in one day. Each extra day adds crew and equipment time, so it’s the biggest single cost jump.
- Crew size. A solo shooter costs less than a crew with a director, camera operator, lighting and production help. More people means more hands, and a bigger invoice.
- Cameras and lighting. Phones and entry-level cameras are cheap. Cinema cameras, lenses and lighting are what make a video look like a major-label release.
- Locations. Public streets are one thing. Private spaces like studios, apartments, bars and stores often charge their own fee.
- Edit and color. Cutting to the beat and color grading take real hours. This is where cheap productions cut corners and where the film look actually comes from.
- Turnaround. Many productions take four to eight weeks. A fixed, fast delivery date is worth a lot when your release date is locked.
The main ways to get a music video made
- Do it yourself on a phone. Costs next to nothing. Looks like it, too.
- A freelance shooter. Usually cheaper, but the look, the edit and the delivery date vary a lot from person to person.
- A small cinematic production like ours. Cinema cameras, a real color grade, a fixed price and a fixed delivery date.
- A full agency or label production. Large crews, big sets and multi-day shoots, with budgets to match.
Questions to ask before you book anyone
- How many shoot days does the price include?
- Is the edit and the color grade included, or extra?
- When exactly will I get the final video?
- Who scouts and pays for the locations?
- Is the price flat, or can it grow after the shoot?
- When is my date actually locked in?
Music video packages and prices at Deadass Cinema
Our music video price list has three packages. Each price covers the shoot, the edit and the color grade.
Lil Dog: $1,200
- Half-day shoot (up to 4 hours) at one NYC location
- A performance edit, cut to your track
- A color grade
- Final cut delivered in 7 business days
Big Dog: $2,500 ($2,200 launch rate for the first 5 booked projects)
- One full shoot day on location anywhere in the five boroughs
- Concept and shoot date locked together when you book, and location scouting with you
- A full professional edit, cut to your track
- A cinematic color grade
- Final cut delivered in 5 business days: shot Monday, out by Friday
- An Instagram Collab post with you on @deadasscinema
Big Boss: $7,500
- One full shoot day, up to 3 locations
- A second camera operator and a lighting crew member
- A written treatment before the shoot
- A full edit and a cinematic color grade
- 3 vertical cutdowns for Reels, TikTok and Shorts, plus a behind-the-scenes reel
- An Instagram Collab post with you on @deadasscinema
- Final cut in 5 business days, with first pick of shoot dates
Each package is one flat price.
Cost FAQ
How much does a music video cost in NYC?
It depends on shoot days, crew, gear, locations, the edit and turnaround. At Deadass Cinema, Lil Dog is $1,200, Big Dog is $2,500 ($2,200 launch rate for the first 5 booked projects) and Big Boss is $7,500.
What does Big Dog include?
One full shoot day on location anywhere in NYC, the concept and shoot date locked when you book, location scouting with you, a full professional edit cut to your track, a cinematic color grade, delivery in 5 business days, and an Instagram Collab post on @deadasscinema.
Are there extra costs?
Each package is one flat price. Some private locations charge their own fee, which we flag when we plan the shoot.
When is my shoot date locked in?
Your date is confirmed once we both sign the project agreement.