To put it simply, my value isn’t in the time it takes for me to make a video, but in the years it’s taken me to learn what I know.

I may charge $200 dollars for a project that takes me 15 minutes to complete. Does that mean I charge $800 per hour?

Of course not. For another 15-minute project, I might charge $15. For some multi-day projects, I’ll charge only $200.

What matters isn’t even the amount of time dedicated to a specific project. It’s more about how much went into mastering this particular skill.

For example, a ton of people can edit clips to some music. It’s a very saturated market so even if it takes me time, I must charge less for this simple service.

But I can charge more if I work with motion graphics or advanced titles because my skills in these area are much more rare and difficult to acquire.

Likewise, correcting color or fixing bad audio are “premium” services. They’re more scarce in the market of services (because they’re more difficult), leading to their higher cost.

There’s another element as well. The creative nature of video means that some projects can be done in an instant and others require me to think for long stretches and just brainstorm and experiment. I only work on things I take immense satisfaction in, so some projects end up with me experimenting until 2 AM.

The project could have been “done” earlier, but if it’s before the deadline and I have the time to satisfy my love for the creation, I will, and I have no reason to charge more for my rampant experimentation.

I prefer charging by project. It’s simpler, cleaner, and carries less potential for controversy.