How to film a music video on a small budget

Not everyone has access to fancy high-tech recording equipment to make a music video, but luckily you don’t have to. This easy-to-follow guide gives helpful tips and strategies to produce a high-quality music video at a low price.

by Gideon Waxman of Bandzoogle

High-quality music videos were once exclusive to artists who had a large budget to spend, but thanks to the advancements in affordable gear, and the accessibility of editing software, it’s now possible to produce great videos to accompany your songs without spending a small fortune.

In my experience, music videos are an integral piece of the puzzle when it comes to building a fanbase. Not only do they help to draw more attention to you as an artist, but they also make your music more memorable to your audience.

There are many routes that an artist can go down these days in the pursuit of success.

Whether you opt to go down the traditional path of getting your music heard and released by a label or you choose to build your fanbase independently, releasing impressive music videos is vitally important. And the good news is it’s possible to do this without spending a lot of money.

So how can you film your music video while sticking to a tight budget? Which techniques and tricks will you need to use? In this article, we’ll cover everything from the basics to the more advanced aspects of producing budget music videos to a high standard.

How to film a music video on a budget

Filming a music video is an art form that requires a level of skill, creativity, and work ethic. Artists have two possibilities when it comes to shooting a video – they either employ a filmmaker or attempt the project themselves.

There are significant pros and cons to both of these potential methods. If you choose to work with a filmmaker, you will benefit from all of their experience and expertise in filming music videos, and they will likely provide all of the equipment needed to shoot the video.

However, hiring a filmmaker will likely use a significant part of your budget.

On the other hand, taking a more D.I.Y approach and filming the music video yourself or with your bandmates, if you are not a solo artist, will be the most cost-effective approach.

All that you need is a high-quality camera, which most modern smartphones possess, and some editing software to get started.

Finding and hiring a filmmaker

If you are going to hire a filmmaker, there are certain steps that you should take in order to ensure that the person is suitable for the job and that their rates fall within your budget.

Contact filmmakers who have experience filming music videos and find out how much they charge. Most filmmakers will work on day rates, but you may be able to hire them for half a day if the project is simple. 

Looking at examples of previous work they have done will give you an idea of the quality of their video production and whether or not it is suitable for your project.

You can try and negotiate a good price that falls more in line with your budget, but make sure you do this respectfully. Or suggest ways that can make the project more affordable: for example, shooting in one day and using a free location.

In order to protect yourself, I’d recommend that you offer to pay half of the fee before the project begins and the other half once the music video has been completed and you are satisfied with the results.

Filming the music video yourself

The most cost-effective way to film a music video is to take the DIY approach and do it yourself or with your bandmates.

This requires a lot of hard work, but creating a professional music video is possible while keeping costs to a minimum if you’re willing to learn the craft.

I’ve known many musicians who have chosen to shoot and even edit their music videos themselves, and they’ve achieved impressive results. To pull this off, you’ll need to do some research into the gear you need and how to achieve the style you’re aiming for.

This requires you to understand aspects of filmmaking such as lighting, depth, camera angles, and the use of the software. Thankfully, access to the internet has made it incredibly easy to learn these skills by watching tutorials or reading guides.

Establishing the concept

The most important thing you need to do, other than the actual act of filming the footage for your music video, is to come up with a realistic and suitable concept.

Particularly for us creatives, it’s easy to get carried away with ideas of scenic shots and ambitious concepts, but in reality, oftentimes, it’s a better option to keep things simple. The concept doesn’t need to be boring or dull – there’s plenty of room for artistic expression, but it does need to be straightforward and easy to follow.

Start by asking yourself, “What am I trying to convey through this song?” Then you can begin to form the concept around the themes that you want the footage to explore and the emotions that you want it to evoke.

The concept could be something as simple as an underdog story or a fall from grace. Each of these is broad enough to leave you room to fill in the gaps when moving on to the specifics of your music video.

Plan everything in advance

Like most musicians and artists, I often want to get stuck into the fun parts of a project rather than spend time planning. However, as any good filmmaker will tell you, the planning stage is equally, if not more, important than what comes after it.

I’d recommend making a detailed list of every variable, from the weather to the outfits and props you plan to have in your music video. Then, for each thing you think of, come up with a detailed plan so that you leave nothing to chance.

Things like planning how you will get the equipment to the shoot location, timings and logistics, as well as which dates you are going to keep free for editing are all very important.

Owning the DIY style

Rather than attempting to make your music video into something it’s not, I’d suggest celebrating the aspects that make it DIY. Take the approach used by lo-fi rock bands in the early 2000s like The Black Keys or The White Stripes – they used the gear at their disposal and made the imperfections work for them.

These artists were able to record using budget instruments, microphones, and recording gear and turn their limitations into their main selling points.

If you attempt to produce a polished, professional-looking music video on a budget, you’ll probably leave the viewer confused, so owning the DIY ethos is a better approach.

How to find free or cheap props

For a budget music video, using interesting props can add more unique and cool-looking shots to the video, and perhaps even make it more memorable.

Just be wary of using too many props that can clutter up the shots, making the post-production and editing processes more difficult, particularly if you’re doing them yourself.

In the past, I’ve always been surprised at how many great props I have been able to find in my home or by searching online for things that people are giving away for free.

Before buying props, make sure you check your attic or garage to see whether you already own some suitable items that could be used in the music video!

Using the right camera

If you already own a high-end digital camera – great! However, most people looking to shoot budget music videos probably don’t own a lot of filmmaking gear, but one thing that most of us do own is a smartphone.

Smartphone cameras are becoming increasingly sophisticated and capable, and if used correctly, they can create stunning visuals that rival the quality of dedicated filmmaking cameras.

I’d personally recommend investing in an entry-level DSLR camera like the Panasonic Lumix G7. These cameras are relatively inexpensive and still offer excellent results, with an array of adjustable settings to produce the visual effects you’re looking for.

Renting a professional camera is another cost-effective option, as this can offer you a great way to use high-end equipment without blowing your entire budget before you start filming.

Use natural light (it’s free!)

Lighting is arguably the most important thing that can make or break the aesthetics of your music video. I know from experience that no amount of editing and correction can undo poor slighting – so it’s vitally important that you give this some thought.

Although it would be great to use an extensive lighting rig, that’s not realistic when sticking to a tight budget. What is realistic, though, is that you can film the video on a day when there is plenty of natural sunlight – depending on where you live, that is!

Whether you’re shooting the video outdoors or indoors, natural light can make a huge difference. Consider shooting indoor footage in rooms where light can get in through the windows to ensure that everything gets picked up clearly.

Learn post-production and editing

With the wealth of knowledge and information available to us on the internet, it’s easier than ever to learn skills like video editing. If you’re willing to invest a few hours a week, you can become proficient at using software like Premiere Pro in a relatively short time and save a lot of money paying someone to take care of post-production. 

Choosing between performance and story videos

There are three most common types of music videos:

• Performance videos
• Story videos
• Videos that combine both

If you’re trying to stick to a tight budget, the third option will be the most challenging. Combining story and performance videos can work great if you have different cameras and skilled editing teams, but realistically it’s just going to make your life more difficult.

Story videos have the advantage of being more captivating for the viewer, but you’ll also probably need more locations, more props, and potentially more actors.

Performance videos are usually shot in the same location with only the band members or solo performers, but it may be more difficult to keep the video interesting for the duration of the song.

If you do choose to do a performance video, you’ll need to use stage monitors or some other form of speaker to ensure that you play in time with the song!

Sticking to one location

While it may be tempting to film in multiple locations to make the shots more interesting, you’ve then got to think about the consistency of the lighting and the way the footage will blend together without looking disjointed.

If your main goal is to stick to your budget and produce something of good quality, using one location is my recommendation.

As for locations, take a look at what is available in your local area. You might be surprised at the places you can find – parks, empty warehouses, or even just streets and alleyways. All of these can provide interesting backdrops for music videos without spending all of your budget.

Get a little help from your friends

Hiring actors to star in your music video is obviously going to increase the cost significantly. For that reason, you might want to consider either starring in the video yourself, or asking other creatives that you know to help you out.

Your friends don’t need to have gone to a prestigious acting school in order to do a great job starring in your music video. As long as you keep their parts simple, this can save you money and hassle.

Music videos, no matter how they are created, can be an invaluable way to market your music and connect with your fans online. Invest your time and creativity into a few videos and you’ll be happy you did.

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Gideon Waxman is a London based drummer and music educator, who holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Westminster. You can find more of his advice over at Drum Helper – one of the web’s most popular free online drumming resources.