I don't know if this has been done before so sorry if it has.

I was interested in seeing budgets that you guys have made and also how much those of you who do weddings or other services charge. Some of us who are just getting into this are not sure what is standard rates. I know lots of it is relative but I am personally interested.

My biggest budget was $550 (not counting $3000 in software & hardware)

I earn money with web design, sites ranging from $500 to $1200 so far

Last movie I worked on was a 24-hour film, which had a budget of $181 mostly because we bought a $180 wheelchair and a $1 hat.
The biggest budget that one of my own movies has had would probably be around $3300, mostly because in the middle of filming my crappy Panasonic Point-and-Shoot DV camera of 8 years died and I bought a GL-2 with a nice microphone to replace it. Not counting the camera the budget was $600-- we bought a blank-firing gun, fake bullets, paid for our actors' dry cleaning and lunch, and lots of strawberry/chocolate syrup. As far as service charge, I've always been sheepish about taking money for editing or shooting stuff, but that's just me. The highest I've gone has been $100, for a job shooting behind-the-scenes footage for a feature. I was a production assistant anyway, so they didn't really have to pay me but I guess they figured why the hell not. That was a fun job. I think BIGMOVIE does contract work, or something to that extent.

I usually classify all the equipment I buy as write-offs because i'll be using them for every production I do after that.

In that sense, my most expensive production was $330. This was for a 10 min 16mm film I made while at the NYFA program 2 summers ago. 90% of the money went towards buying film and processing.

The second most expensive project was $150. Now, if you add up the fact that I used a DVX100, cobracrane, glidecam, and built a $90 track dolly, the cost of the film increases a little bit. (check out "My Angel" on the site).
Granted it took a couple years to acquire all that stuff, but if I had bought everything at the same time the film would have cost $4540. But keep in mind, 97% of that is a write-off.

3 day shoot: $250 on catering.

My biggest budget was $2500, but right now I'm working on getting a local $10,000+ HD project off the ground.

I charge a flat rate of $1000 for weddings and such. I recently shot a huge worker's comp conference in Boston and the whole thing needed to be edited and compressed for the web within 24 hours. That was a $3000 project.

pardon my insatiable curisoty JW - you may have mentioned this somewhere... but are you in college yet, or out? and how old are you? you seem to be involved in some amazing stuff... so I'm curious

Not in college. I try to get involved in as much as I can; like we always hear, it's all about knowing the right people. It's important to make good use of the good work that you do to show others what you're capable of, and letting them come to you. I haven't even finished my Africa documentary, and I'm already getting calls about it and other upcoming projects. Just do good work, meet people, and get the word out when you're working on something cool. Don't just sit on your butt. If you build it, they will come.

I charge $900 for weddings and $800 for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. There's real money in filming Bar/Bat Mitzvahs cause they happen all the time and alot of families don't want to spend the money on a "professional" videographer.

SHouldn't it be if you film it they will come.... or are you talking about your reputation?

Biggest budget... about $100 i think for black shirts and beanies to make a uniform.... and guns too!

Related question, friends:

Is there any site which lists the budget details for the Hollywood movies that were made so far? This might have been covered already, but I could not find it anywhere in the archives. I would appreciate your responses.

I think IMDb shows budgets. Click "Business" or something like that while you're at a film's info page.

mhhh biggest budget so far (me as a director) 700$.

My junior film (production in march) will break the 10k...most of it goes for jimmy jib, steady cam and lights/grip equipment...also costume design.

Besides that, I worked on everything between 10$ and 20K as a DP. Most of them funded by family or student loans...very few with fundraising (actually, none as far as I know)