How should I price my first videography gigs in Ireland?

Calculate your direct costs and time, decide between hourly, day or project pricing, and offer simple packages. Include travel and editing time, state what is included, and ask for a deposit. Do not promise income; update prices as you learn actual time costs.

Do I need to register with Revenue as a videographer?

Yes, check with Revenue about registering as self-employed and about income tax and PRSI obligations. Ask Revenue whether you must register for VAT and what the current turnover thresholds and filing requirements are.

What paperwork should I use with clients?

Use a written quote or contract that states scope, deliverables, revisions, payment terms and a cancellation policy. Require a deposit for new clients and issue invoices for payments received.

How do I avoid late or non-payment?

Require a deposit, spell out payment terms on the contract and invoice, consider staged payments for larger jobs, and use a payments provider that pays out to your bank account. For repeated late payers, stop work until payment is made.

Will a Websta profile get me clients across Ireland?

A Websta profile gives you a single page with services, prices and online booking that you can share. It also lets people find you in the marketplace by service and place. It helps with visibility and with converting enquiries, but it does not guarantee clients.

How to make money as a videographer in Ireland: realistic steps

Updated October 21, 2026

Where paying customers actually come from

Paid gigs rarely come from one source only. Expect a mix of local, online and repeat business. Common origins are neighbours and friends who need video for a wedding, a birthday or a local event; workplaces and colleagues who want short internal videos; schools and sports clubs that need match highlights or festival coverage; small businesses that want a promo or a product clip; and private people selling a property or advertising a holiday rental.

Online search and social media bring enquiries too. People will search for "videographer" plus a town or service. Marketplace posts and local Facebook groups produce leads. Word of mouth is important: one good delivery can generate more bookings from the same area.

Neighbours, friends and local events
Workplaces and professional contacts
Schools, clubs and community organisations
Small businesses and property listings
Online search, social media and marketplace posts

How to set a first price and talk about money

Start by calculating your direct costs and the time you actually spend. Include travel, editing time, equipment wear, any subcontractors and taxes. Decide whether you will charge by the hour, by the day or by a fixed project fee. Early on, flat packages are easier to sell and to deliver consistently.

When you talk about money, be clear about what is included. Outline the shoot length, number of edits or revisions, delivery format and whether music licensing or colour grading is extra. Use written quotes and get agreement before you shoot. Request a deposit for new customers and set clear payment terms for the remainder.

Add up costs: travel, time, gear, post-production
Choose hourly, day or project rates - explain what each covers
Offer simple packages with clear inclusions and exclusions
Ask for a deposit and state payment terms on the quote or contract

What the first ten customers usually look like

Your initial customers are likely to be people you already know and small local organisations. Examples include friends and family, tradespeople who want a short promo, a local cafe or shop wanting a social clip, a sports club that needs highlights, and a landlord or estate agent needing property video. Some will be one-off gigs; a few may become repeat customers.

Expect a mix of small budgets and flexible briefs. That makes them useful for building experience and a portfolio, but guard your time so you do not undercharge for longer edits or multiple revisions.

Friends and family - quick video practise and referrals
Local small businesses - social media clips or promos
Community groups and schools - events and ceremonies
Property owners and estate agents - listing videos
One-off events that can lead to repeat work

Practical steps for taking money and legal basics in Ireland

If you work independently in Ireland, check with Revenue about registering as self-employed and about your obligations for income tax and PRSI. Ask Revenue whether you need to register for VAT and what the current turnover thresholds are. If you form a company or want to trade under a business name, check Companies Registration Office (CRO) requirements.

For card payments, confirm how a payments provider routes funds to your bank account and any fees. If you use Websta with Stripe payouts, the payments are paid out to the provider's own bank account through Stripe. For insurance, ask insurers about public liability and equipment cover and state clearly whether you carry your own insurance when you quote. Keep accurate records of invoices and receipts for tax filings.

Ask Revenue about registering as self-employed, VAT thresholds and filing obligations
Ask CRO about business name or company registration if needed
Confirm payment provider fees and payout timing with your bank and Stripe
Get appropriate public liability and equipment insurance and keep evidence

Common things that go wrong in the first months

Early mistakes are predictable and fixable. They include unclear scope leading to scope creep, underestimating editing time, late or non-payment, failing to back up footage, and bad file organisation that slows delivery. Technical issues like poor audio or lighting cause unhappy clients and extra work.

Prevent these by using a simple contract, taking a deposit, stating revision limits, backing up every shoot immediately, and rehearsing critical shots. Set realistic delivery times and communicate delays early. Treat each job as a chance to practice a reliable workflow rather than to perfect every frame.

Scope creep - use written scope and charge for extras
Underpricing - track actual time to update future quotes
Late payment - require deposits and clear invoices
Data loss - back up footage before leaving location
Technical disappointments - check audio and lighting on site

How a Websta profile fits into finding and handling work

A public profile page on Websta functions as a simple website for your videography services. You can list services, prices and photos, show availability with online booking and accept card payments that are paid out to your bank account through Stripe. You can send the page to enquiries and post links on social media or attach it to email replies.

Being on a marketplace also means potential clients can find you by service and place. Use the profile to make decisions easier for customers: clear service descriptions, example videos, and straightforward booking or contact options reduce back-and-forth and help convert enquiries to paid work.

A single page to send to clients with services, prices and photos
Online booking reduces scheduling friction
Card payments routed to your own bank account through Stripe
Marketplace visibility brings inbound enquiries alongside referrals

Next steps and realistic expectations

Start small. Take a few paid projects that match your skills and can be completed within a reliable timeframe. Use them to build a portfolio and a standard workflow you can repeat. Track how long each step takes so your quotes become accurate.

Growth is incremental. Word of mouth, repeat customers and a visible, consistent profile will increase enquiries over time. There is no guaranteed timeline. Keep learning, protect your time with clear agreements, and treat each payment and delivery as an investment in a repeatable process.

Begin with manageable projects to build a portfolio
Record actual time spent to refine pricing
Use clear agreements and take deposits to avoid disputes
Be patient - steady effort builds a sustainable pipeline

Frequently asked questions

How should I price my first videography gigs in Ireland?: Calculate your direct costs and time, decide between hourly, day or project pricing, and offer simple packages. Include travel and editing time, state what is included, and ask for a deposit. Do not promise income; update prices as you learn actual time costs.
Do I need to register with Revenue as a videographer?: Yes, check with Revenue about registering as self-employed and about income tax and PRSI obligations. Ask Revenue whether you must register for VAT and what the current turnover thresholds and filing requirements are.
What paperwork should I use with clients?: Use a written quote or contract that states scope, deliverables, revisions, payment terms and a cancellation policy. Require a deposit for new clients and issue invoices for payments received.
How do I avoid late or non-payment?: Require a deposit, spell out payment terms on the contract and invoice, consider staged payments for larger jobs, and use a payments provider that pays out to your bank account. For repeated late payers, stop work until payment is made.
Will a Websta profile get me clients across Ireland?: A Websta profile gives you a single page with services, prices and online booking that you can share. It also lets people find you in the marketplace by service and place. It helps with visibility and with converting enquiries, but it does not guarantee clients.

About the numbers

Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.

Related guides

All guides