TLDR:Your video production budget isn’t just a number—it’s the key to how deep, polished, and versatile your content will be. Whether you’re working with $5K, $15K, $35K, or even more, this post breaks down what each budget gets you and why thinking beyond social media is essential for creating impactful, long-lasting content.
Quick! What’s the last ad you remember seeing? Struggling to think of one? That’s because social media is overloaded with forgettable, quick-hit content. It’s tempting to think a lower budget will cut it if you’re just making a video for Instagram—but video production is so much more than that. Whether you’re working with $5K, $15K, $35K—or even beyond—each budget opens up different levels of quality and reach for your brand. Let’s talk about what those options really mean and why sometimes, you need to think beyond just the scroll.
$5K Video Production: Short and Sweet
At $5K, you’re in the realm of basics. You’ll get the essentials: a small crew, a single location, and a video that’s focused on immediate, short-form needs. Perfect for social media, but its lifespan might be as brief as the content itself.
• Perfect for Short Bursts: If your focus is social media content—TikTok, Instagram Reels, or Stories—$5K can get you something slick. It’s great for product launches, short testimonials, or quick explainer videos that live and die within your followers’ feeds.
• Limited in Scope: The downside? Don’t expect it to make a massive splash across multiple platforms. This budget usually limits creativity and versatility, so your content is likely to stay short, sharp, and surface-level.
The $5K budget works if you need content that’s fast and easy, but it’s not built to last beyond a viral moment or a social trend.
$15K Video Production: The Sweet Spot
Now you’re getting into the realm of balance. A $15K budget allows for more flexibility, better quality, and a broader reach. With this, you’re looking at professional lighting, additional crew members, and the ability to shoot in multiple locations.
• A Step Beyond Social Media: With a $15K production, you’re not just creating social media content—you’re crafting videos that can double up as website content, marketing materials, or even digital ads. You’ll get more creativity and options with editing, and the overall polish will stand out across platforms.
• More Longevity: This budget gives you the opportunity to produce something more evergreen—a video that looks good not just on Instagram, but on your website, YouTube, and even email campaigns. It’s not just about being trendy, but about being relevant in the long run.
A $15K production gives you the best of both worlds—social media-friendly content that can also be leveraged across multiple platforms with a professional, polished look.
$35K Video Production: For When It’s Time to Go Big
At $35K, you’re no longer just producing content—you’re creating an experience. This kind of budget allows for high-end equipment, multi-location shoots, set designs, and a dedicated post-production team to bring your vision to life.
• Built for Multiple Platforms: With a $35K budget, your content can become the star of any channel, whether it’s social media, a brand video, or a commercial. You’ll have room to play with narratives, sound design, color grading, and even animation, taking your production to new heights.
• Content With Substance: This level of production is where you create something that stands the test of time. You’re not just making an ad; you’re producing content that people remember—whether they see it on Instagram, during a live event, or in a major ad campaign.
At $35K, you’re investing in quality and longevity. It’s for brands that want their videos to do more than just trend—they want them to last.
And Beyond: The Sky’s the Limit
Now, let’s be clear—$35K is by no means a cap. Some productions soar well beyond that, depending on the scope and ambition of your project. Whether you’re launching a new brand, producing a major campaign, or creating a series of videos, investing in a larger budget offers the freedom to go all out.
• Think Beyond Social: Once you’re in the higher-budget realm, your video production isn’t just for social media or short campaigns—it becomes part of your brand identity. You can include everything from aerial shots to multi-day shoots in different locations, ensuring your content stands out not just today, but for years to come.
• Custom Solutions: Larger budgets allow for custom everything—tailored solutions that speak directly to your audience and cover every angle of your message. This means high-end video production, complemented by commercial photography and a social media strategy to keep your content fresh and engaging.
Big budgets give you creative freedom. They let you think bigger, go further, and create content that doesn’t just fill a spot on the feed—it creates impact across all channels.
Why Think Beyond Social Media?
Social media is just one piece of the puzzle. It’s easy to think a $5K budget will do the trick for Instagram or TikTok—but what happens when you need your content to be seen across platforms, or even in a high-stakes presentation? A video production budget is about more than quick hits; it’s about creating content that lives beyond the scroll. Whether you’re starting at $5K, shooting for $35K, or going beyond, the key is to invest in content that stands the test of time.
Video production budgets aren’t one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re working with $5K or $50K, the focus should always be on creating content that resonates and works beyond social media.
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Raised Media Co. is a NYC-based commercial photography and video production agency specializing in experiential visual content. We help brands and personalities tell compelling stories through high-impact photos and videos.
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