How to hire a music video director

With AHP, music video packages start at $1,000, and our director add-on (concept, location scouting and the shot list) works with any of them. Here’s how it goes, step by step, from a team that has made over 1,300 music videos.

The seven steps

1. Set your budget. Our packages are priced by film time: $1,000 for up to 2 hours, $1,800 for a half day, $3,000 for a full day and from $5,000 for virtual and XR. Plan for travel ($1 per mile from Stanhope, NJ) and any studio or location fees. Here’s what a music video costs.
2. Bring the idea. Most artists come with a concept, and we film it. If you want help with the idea itself, the director add-on covers concept creation, location scouting and the shot list.
3. Send the song. A WAV or MP3 of the final mix. We plan the shots around it, and on the day we play it on a Bluetooth speaker so you can lip sync.
4. Pick the location. A recording studio, an LED room, a rooftop or a beach. Some locations charge for productions and some need permits, and we’ll help with both. Here’s where to film a music video in NYC and NJ.
5. Shoot day. We bring cinema cameras, basic lighting and a crew sized to the shoot: 1 or 2 people for a simple performance video, 3 or more for bigger productions. Bigger lighting setups get planned ahead, and we love natural light when the location has it. The director runs the set and guides your performance. You come rehearsed and ready to have fun.
6. The edit. We cut it to the music and color grade it in DaVinci Resolve. Your first cut usually arrives two to three days after the shoot, and always in under a week, as a private YouTube link.
7. Revisions. Your revision round is a one-hour session over Zoom or in person, where we make the changes live, together. Extra time is $250 an hour. Then your full 4K export and 25–⁠100 edited photos arrive through a private Dropbox link.

What a music video director does

The director is responsible for how the whole video looks and feels. Before the shoot, that means the concept, the locations and the shot list. On the day, it means running the set and helping you give your best take. Afterward, it means making sure the edit and the color grade tell the story you had in mind.

Director or videographer?

You don’t have to choose. Most of our shoots are performance videos in a studio, filming a concept the artist already has, and we can help direct on set. If you want help with the idea itself, add the director add-on to any package. More on our music video director page.

Already working with a director? Great. We’ll work out the pre-production details with them before the shoot.

What to look for

• Videos like yours. Watch whole videos, not just a reel. Performance videos, band videos and story videos take different skills.
• A plan you can see. A good director can walk you through the concept, the locations and the shots before anyone picks up a camera.
• One team from the idea to the final grade. When the same people film, edit and color the video, the look stays the way you planned it.
• What other artists say. Read their reviews. Ours are 5.0 stars from 39 reviews on Google.

What it costs

• 2 Hour$1,000Up to 2 hours of film time. Perfect for a one-location performance video.
• Half Day$1,800Up to 4 hours of film time. Ideal for a multi-location video.
• Full Day$3,000Up to 8 hours of film time. Best for concepts with a story or multiple locations.
• Virtual / XRfrom $5,000Custom scope. Extended-reality music videos unlock a whole new level of creativity.

The director add-on is quoted per project. Pick it on the booking form and we’ll include it in your quote.

Questions to ask before you book

• How much film time do I get? With us it starts when we arrive, and travel between locations counts toward it. Extra time on the day is $500 an hour.
• Who edits it, and how fast? The same team that films it. The first cut usually arrives in two to three days.
• What do you need from me? A WAV or MP3 of the song, your logo if you have one, and you, rehearsed and ready.
• How do payment and booking work? We take 50% to reserve your date. The rest is due 7 days after the shoot or when your video is finished, and before the final files are sent.

Comparing teams? Read how to hire a music videographer, or see music video production in New Jersey and in NYC.

Questions first? Call or text 440.265.4481, or send us a message.