Contents
I. How to Shoot a Music Video for Cheap: Our 7 Tips
1. Be Creative
2. Plan Your Project Meticulously
3. Leverage Local Talent and Crew
4. Engage Your Community
5. Use Free or Low-Cost Locations
6. Select Inexpensive Equipment
7. Optimize Post-Production Expenses
II. Cheap Music Video Ideas to Inspire Your Project
III. Summing It Up
As a music video production company, YOPRST enjoys sharing insights and useful tips with both established and aspiring musicians. It can also be useful for videographers, music video directors or directors of photography who are faced with questions in their work. We’ve already told you how to make a music video step by step and discussed the perks and potential pitfalls of filming music videos in public locations without permission. What we haven’t told you yet is how to shoot a music video on a budget. Let’s find that out right now!
How to Shoot a Music Video for Cheap: Our 7 Tips
Before we provide practical advice for cheap music video production, it’s worth highlighting some of the key factors that may increase the cost of a music video. These include a complex storyline, the length of a song you’re filming a cheap music video for, the number of locations featured in the video, the size of the production crew, the use of high-end equipment, and visual effects, to name a few. A low-budget music video may still incorporate some of the elements listed above, as long as you follow our recommendations closely.
Tip 1: Be Creative
Unleash your creativity, and your low-budget music video will be as fascinating to watch as its expensive counterparts! Some effective yet cheap music video ideas include filming the clip in one shot, centering your video around a compelling, emotional performance, or using symbolism and creative camera work to tell your story. By following one of these routes, you can significantly speed up video editing and reduce the associated costs, while also getting rid of expensive props and set designs.
Another way to improve your low-budget music video is to use simple but effective visual effects. You can achieve this by playing with slow motion, time-lapse, or even reverse footage techniques, all of which can be done with basic editing software. If you’re wondering how to shoot a music video without breaking the bank, experimenting with these creative filming techniques can provide dynamic and engaging results without the need for expensive equipment or complex setups.
Tip 2: Plan Your Project Meticulously
The first and most crucial step in producing a low-budget music video is thorough planning. Having a mood board, storyboard, and script are key to keeping your project on the right track. You should also calculate all the potential expenses of cheap music video production, including props, costumes, equipment, and transportation costs. You should schedule your activities efficiently, too. For instance, shooting multiple scenes at the same location can save time and money.
When figuring out how to shoot a music video for cheap, creating a detailed shot list can also be incredibly beneficial.This list will assist you and your team in understanding the sequence of shots and ensuring that nothing is missed, thereby avoiding costly reshoots. It can also help identify opportunities to combine shots or use the same setup for multiple scenes, further optimizing your shooting schedule.
Next, use free or low-cost project management tools to keep everything organized. Apps like Trello or Asana can help you track progress, manage tasks, and coordinate with your team, making the process of making a cheap music video smoother and more efficient. By meticulously planning every aspect of your shoot, you can optimize your resources and ensure a successful low-budget music video production.
Tip 3. Leverage Local Talent and Crew
In case you’re wondering how to shoot a music video by yourself, we have to disappoint you: you aren’t likely to achieve great results unless you partner with a video production company. Sure, you can still pull a Lana Del Rey and go viral with a low-budget DIY clip like Video Games. However, your chances of standing out from the content creators’ crowd will increase manifold if you enlist professional help.
If you’re curious about how to shoot a music video on a budget while working with a production company, consider partnering with local professionals or outsourcing the project to Central or Eastern Europe if you won’t be in the video yourself. Sometimes it might even make sense to fly music video makers to your location if their fees are considerably lower than those of nearby music production companies.
When it comes to actors, dancers, and models for your cheap music video, you can hire students from film and choreography schools, as well as young people who are just starting out in the fashion industry and want to build their portfolios. The same goes for up-and-coming fashion designers, who may agree to lend you costumes or design the set in exchange for the opportunity to showcase their products in your music video. Alternatively, you can look for inexpensive costumes and props at local thrift stores and second-hand shops.
Tip 4. Engage Your Community
Sometimes the best resources for cheap music video production are right in your backyard. Engaging your community can provide unexpected opportunities to make a music video on a budget. For instance, you can use social media to invite fans to participate as extras. Small businesses might be willing to sponsor your video in exchange for promotion. If your video supports a social cause, you can collaborate with non-profit organizations or crowdfund your project.
Another aspect of engaging your community is to tap into local talent pools. Artists, musicians, and performers from your area might be willing to collaborate on your project for mutual exposure at little or no cost. This can be a great way to add variety and talent to your video without increasing your production budget significantly. Hosting a casting call or talent search within your community can yield fantastic results and help optimize your expenses.
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of the local media. Newspapers, radio stations, forums, and online community groups can all be great places to promote your project and solicit support. Whether it’s looking for locations, props, or even additional funding, the local community can prove to be a goldmine of resources when making a cheap music video. By involving this community, you not only reduce costs but also build a network of support that can help bring your creative vision to life.
Tip 5. Use Free or Low-Cost Locations
One of the key obstacles to cheap music video production can be locations, especially if you need to rent a studio or obtain a permit from local authorities. If you’re investigating low-budget music video options, parks, city streets, and public buildings can serve as excellent backdrops. You can also use homes, offices, or coffee shops owned by family and friends or organize your shoot in natural settings like forests, open fields, or stranded beaches.
If you’re planning a low-budget music video, public and historical sites can provide visually stunning settings without the high expenses. Just ensure you check any local regulations or requirements for filming in these areas to avoid unexpected fines. For indoor scenes, consider spaces you already have access to. A garage, basement, or attic can be transformed into a compelling set with a bit of creativity and resourcefulness. Rearrange furniture, use simple props, and play with lighting to create a variety of looks without ever leaving home.
Abandoned buildings, empty warehouses, and unused public spaces can provide an edgy, raw backdrop perfect for certain music video styles. Make sure to prioritize safety and legality when using these locations, but feel free to think creatively when exploring cheap music video ideas. Opt for free or budget-friendly locations to achieve high production standards without breaking the bank. The key is to be resourceful and imaginative, turning everyday environments into captivating scenes for your low-budget music video.
Tip 6. Select Inexpensive Equipment
Those wondering how to make a music video on a budget must make do with less. At YOPRST, we usually talk clients out of using smartphones or entry-level DSLRs; however, you can rent a cheap music video camera and still achieve admirable results. Such cameras include the Fujifilm X-T4, Panasonic Lumix GH6, Sony A7s III, and Blackmagic Pocket 6K. You can further optimize production costs by creating your own lighting setups and camera rigs. For example, a white bedsheet can be an effective light diffuser.
When considering how to shoot a music video for cheap, it’s also worth exploring second-hand or refurbished equipment. Online marketplaces and local camera shops often have deals on used gear that is still in excellent condition. This can be a cost-effective way to obtain high-quality equipment without paying the full price. In addition to cameras, think about other essential gear like microphones and stabilizers. Affordable options such as lapel mics or shotgun mics can significantly improve your audio quality without requiring a large investment.
Lighting is another critical aspect where you can save money by being creative. You can take advantage of soft, flattering natural light by shooting during the golden hours—i.e., early morning or late afternoon. You can also create various lighting effects by using versatile and energy-efficient LED lights. Selecting cost-effective equipment and using the available resources creatively will help maintain high production standards for your low-budget music video. In the end, it’s all about making smart choices.
Tip 7. Optimize Post-Production Expenses
Post-production is where your footage comes together to create the final product. There are several ways to keep these costs down. For instance, your production company may utilize low-cost editing software like Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve, which boast powerful capabilities without the high price tag and help polish the video faster than more complex alternatives. Reducing the number of special effects can be helpful, too; focus on strong storytelling and good cinematography to carry the video instead.
For those making a cheap music video, leveraging stock footage to intercut scenes of your performance can also be a cost-effective strategy. Websites like iStock, Storyblocks, and Pexels offer high-quality footage at no cost or for a reasonable fee, which not only saves money but also brings in creative flexibility. However, we would not recommend searching for video editing talent on platforms like Upwork and Feverr, even if you’re using readily available footage in your low-budget music video. Instead, discuss this idea with your production team.
Lastly, don’t overlook the power of simple visual techniques like basic transitions and clean cuts. Focusing on the core elements of your video—like strong performance and compelling visuals—can reduce the need for costly enhancements. By optimizing your post-production process and leveraging affordable resources, you can create a polished, professional-looking music video without exceeding your budget. Strategic planning and resourcefulness are key to ensuring your low-budget music video stands out and effectively communicates your vision.
Cheap Music Video Ideas to Inspire Your Project
Now that you know how to shoot a music video for cheap, it’s time to give you some low-budget music video ideas you could use for your project. For this, we’ll select several inexpensive music videos from our portfolio and explain what we did specifically to help our clients meet their budgeting objectives. Remember that we take great pride in our work and do not discriminate against projects based on cost; instead, we strive to show that with a great idea and a skilled crew, even a small budget can suffice.
- Dad Got Fired is an excellent example of a low-budget music video, costing only $600 to create. We shot it for ZUI, an independent artist from Belarus who is also a close friend of Alex Aleinikov, YOPRST’s Director of Photography. This concept video shows a father’s moral and social decline through the eyes of his children. We cast ZUI’s friends’ children as the lead actors and used their summer house and its surroundings as a primary location for making a really cheap music video that nevertheless looks atmospheric and mysterious.
- Gebroulaz is an experimental track by Nate, a young rapper from Warsaw. Lacking a large budget, the performer tasked YOPRST with creating a simple yet powerful concept for the accompanying music video. We chose public urban locations and enhanced the video with stylish video effects created by a member of our team in Adobe After Effects, which consumed up to 70% of the video’s $1,900 production budget. If you want to create a futuristic low-budget music video like this, let us know!
- Michelle is another low-budget rap music video from our portfolio. YOPRST shot it for ICEON, who recently relocated to Warsaw. To cut production costs, we filmed it in a public place without formal permission from city officials. To avoid being noticed, we kept the production team small. ICEON borrowed the expensive car featured in the music video from a friend and cast an acquaintance to play the lead female role. Parts of the music video were shot using a drone in areas where UAVs can be operated. This video cost only $2,500 to make.
Summing It Up
Making an impressive low-budget video is entirely possible with proper planning, creativity, and resourcefulness. You can create a professional-looking music video without breaking the bank by leveraging local talent, using free or low-cost locations, optimizing equipment, and involving your community. Remember that what matters is not how much you spend, but how effectively you use your resources to realize your vision. Contact us for more cheap music video ideas and collaborate with our team on your next project!