Motion Graphics, 3D Visualization & Multimedia

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. I am often asked to create motion graphic sequences for marketing and communication videos. Typically, these sequences help visualize, simplify, and explain a very complex or abstract technical concept. I am also tasked with creating animated logos for these videos as well. A lot of times, I design the logo but occasionally, I work with something that is already designed.

A typical logo animation is 10-15 seconds while other pieces usually fall between 20 and 60 seconds.

Sometimes I am asked to create 3D still renderings of products and concepts, create interactive web/kiosk content, and edit video footage.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Chances are, you're looking for a motion graphics professional based on his/her creativity and technical abilities. In addition to this you may want to consider a couple other things:

Respect for Intellectual Property - There's a lot of great work on the web that can be used for inspiration and ideas. The web also makes it easy to illegally incorporate the work of others into new projects. Does your candidate practice due diligence in securing the proper usage rights for source material? Are you confident that when it comes to an ambiguous situation, he/she will err on the side of caution? Will he/she be confident enough to tell you when one of your suggestions may infringe on the copyright of somebody else? You may avoid a legal issue by asking these questions.

Creativity Should Drive the Technical Aspects of the Project - From my experience, I've found that a good motion graphics professional relates to his/her customer through the creative aspects of the project. I've found this to be true at least 90% of the time. When the candidate bombards you with unsolicited technical jargon and details, that's usually a red flag. By keeping the technical aspects of the project under the board, your reviews can focus on the part you're most able to relate to: the creative part! That's not to say that technical restrictions don't sometimes shape the final product but if the designer values creativity over technique, he/she will have more resolve in handling technical issues and the final product will be much better as a result.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Typically, it's very helpful for a client to at least have his/her basic message fleshed out before calling me for a consultation. The message will determine the look, feel, and expectations. This will make it easier for us to choose a direction and it will also allow me to give you a more accurate cost estimate. If I am creating motion graphics to explain a technical concept, it's best to have that concept finalized and worked out to save any costly changes to the end product. I'm always willing to offer my advice and expertise when it comes to crafting your overall message but if you seek me out when you're confident and have buy-in from all necessary parties (for example, your boss, president, CEO), it will make our experience that much easier.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. When I've worked with a client to create a very strong and creative visual, it's always a rewarding experience to watch the finished product. Usually when a project is in its early stages, I'm working on blind faith that it will turn out well. The most exciting part of a project is about 2/3 of the way through when the final piece begins to take shape. It's an excellent feeling to know that all of the hard work and faith have paid off.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. The most common misconception that customers have when consulting a motion graphics / video professional is about how long it will take to convey their message. 99% of the time, I encounter clients who are well served by a video/message that is much shorter and much more concise than they initially planned.

For example, the marketing and communications videos that I typically contribute motion graphics to usually start out as a 10 minute presentation in the mind of the client. In the hands of a skilled script-writer, these video are almost always pared down to 2-3 minutes while still effectively covering all of the original key points.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. First off, I highly encourage you to contact me to set up a consultation regardless of your budget. The first consultation is free and I will be happy to speak with you about your upcoming project and how we may be able to work together. I'm very experienced with working within a budget to meet a client's goals and expectation. The most expensive solution may not always be the right one for you and I'm perfectly comfortable letting you know when that's the case.

Every project is different and that's especially why it's important to discuss your ideas and expectations before offering a quote for your project. In the end, there are three main factors that affect the labor cost of a motion graphics piece: complexity, length, and the number of revisions. The more complexity and detail of a piece, the more labor it will take to complete the project. If the sequence(s) needs to have a long run time, it will also have an effect on the amount of labor spent on the project. If a piece requires many rounds of revisions, it will also be more labor intensive and therefore priced higher.

Creating a motion graphics piece can range from $500 for something basic and short to $2300 for something of medium length and complexity. Obviously, you can spend more than that but these are good baseline numbers to keep in mind. If your budget is less than $500, I'm still willing to meet with you. We may be able to work something out. If you're representing a 501(c)(3) organization we can definitely take that into consideration when it comes to pricing.

In addition to the labor charges, there may be additional material purchased to create your product: audio, images, fonts, etc. I normally bill these items forward at the price at which I purchased them. Typically, these items are not purchased without the cost first being discussed with you.