How should I price my first videography jobs in New Zealand?

Start by estimating your time on shoot and edit, travel and basic equipment costs. Use simple package prices so clients know what they get. Require a deposit for new clients and state revision limits. If you are unsure about tax or GST implications ask Inland Revenue what you must charge and report.

Do I need to register for GST as a videographer?

Check with Inland Revenue. Ask IRD: 'At what turnover must I register for GST as a sole trader providing videography services?' They will confirm current thresholds and filing requirements.

How do I get paid securely as an independent videographer?

Use clear written quotes and invoices, require a deposit for new clients, and offer card payments or bank transfer. If you use Websta, card payments are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe.

What should be in a basic client agreement?

At minimum include the scope of work, deliverables, price, deposit and payment terms, delivery timeline, number of included revisions, and who owns the footage. For legal specifics consult a local legal advisor or Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand.

How to make money as a videographer in New Zealand for side work

Updated October 21, 2026

Where paying customers actually come from

Across New Zealand paying gigs come from a mix of local, school and business markets plus online discovery. Expect customers to turn up from neighbours and your personal network, workplaces and colleagues who need a short promo or event coverage, local schools and sports clubs that want match highlights or graduation videos, property owners wanting listing footage, and small businesses wanting photos and social clips.

Online search and social platforms are used by people who do not know you yet. Word of mouth still matters: one satisfied client in a small town can lead to several new enquiries. Local community noticeboards, Facebook groups, and marketplace sites are places people post short tasks and look for providers.

Neighbours, friends and family referrals
Workplaces and colleagues who need internal or marketing videos
Schools, sports clubs and community groups
Small businesses, cafes, tradespeople and real estate sellers
Online search, social media and local marketplace postings

Setting your first price and talking about money

Start by calculating what a minimum viable rate looks like for you: include your editable time, travel, basic equipment wear, and any post-production. For a first price you can offer simple packages so clients understand what they get - for example a short social clip, a property walk-through, or a one-camera event edit - and list what is and is not included.

When you talk about money, be direct and put it in writing. Provide a clear quote or a short service page listing deliverables, times, and revision limits. Require a deposit or full payment before delivery for clients you do not know. State payment methods and due dates. Avoid vague language like 'we can work something out' until you have reached a price you are willing to accept.

Use package pricing to make choices easy
Include time for communication and revisions in the price
Ask for a deposit or full prepayment from new clients
Put price, deliverables and timeline in a written quote

The first ten customers usually look like

Your initial clients tend to be people who already know or trust you. That often means friends, family, neighbours, and small local businesses. You will also get students, clubs and community organisations who need video for events, and businesses that want short social media clips.

Do not expect complex commercial jobs at first. Many early gigs are short, local and lower risk - a product clip for a cafe, a property walkthrough for a landlord, a short wedding highlight for a friend, or a sports montage for a school. These customers help you build a portfolio, refine pricing, and establish delivery processes.

Friends and family referrals
Local businesses and cafes needing social clips
Schools, sports clubs and community events
Property photos and walk-through videos
Small one-off event coverage

What to sort out when taking money as an independent person in New Zealand

There are practical admin steps you should check early. You will need an IRD number to be paid and to file tax returns. Check Inland Revenue (IRD) for details on registering as a sole trader, how to report income, provisional tax rules and whether you need to register for GST - ask IRD specifically: 'What are my tax obligations as a sole trader providing videography services, and when must I register for GST?'

If you are unsure about injury cover or levies, contact ACC and ask what cover applies to self-employed earners in your situation. For business names and trading names, check the New Zealand Companies Office if you plan to register a trading name or form a company. For any contract or consumer law questions, Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand or a legal advisor can help with standard contract clauses.

Get an IRD number and ask IRD about income tax, provisional tax and GST registration
Contact ACC about self-employed cover and levies
Decide whether to trade under your own name or register a trading name with Companies Office
Keep invoices, receipts and clear records for every job

What tends to go wrong in the first months

Common problems are underpricing, scope creep, not asking for deposits, poor file backups, and unclear delivery timelines. New videographers often underestimate editing time and client communication. Another frequent issue is late or missed invoices because there is no clear payment process.

You can reduce these problems by documenting standard terms, setting a minimum charge for any work, stating turnaround times and number of included revisions, taking a deposit, and backing up all footage immediately after a shoot. Test a simple invoicing routine from day one.

Underestimating editing and communication time
Allowing scope creep without updating the price
Not taking a deposit or written agreement
Lack of backups for raw footage
Inconsistent invoicing and follow-up

How a Websta profile fits into your workflow

A Websta profile gives you a page that looks like a small website with services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. It is also part of a marketplace where people nearby can find providers by service and place and post tasks for providers to make offers on. Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe and you set your own prices.

For the practical work of finding and booking customers, a single page you can send to prospective clients and link from social posts is useful. Websta lists professionals under category "videographers" for country "New Zealand" using matrixPath "/marketplace/video" and countryCode "NZ". Use that page to show recent work, clear packages, and your booking terms so conversations start with specifics.

A single URL to send to enquiries
Display services, prices, photos and booking options
Payments processed to your bank account via Stripe
Part of a local marketplace where customers can post tasks

Next steps and finding local support

Start small: pick one or two package offerings, prepare a short sample portfolio, get a simple quote template and try three local outreach methods - message people you know, post in local groups, and list your service page. Track time spent on each job so you can adjust pricing.

For official questions contact the relevant agencies: Inland Revenue for tax and GST queries, ACC for levies and cover, and Companies Office for name registration. If you need contractual templates or dispute advice, a local legal advisor or Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand can help.

Create two clear service packages and a one-page portfolio
Reach out to your first contacts and local groups
Keep records of hours, costs and invoices from day one
Ask IRD and ACC specific questions if unsure about obligations

Frequently asked questions

How should I price my first videography jobs in New Zealand?: Start by estimating your time on shoot and edit, travel and basic equipment costs. Use simple package prices so clients know what they get. Require a deposit for new clients and state revision limits. If you are unsure about tax or GST implications ask Inland Revenue what you must charge and report.
Do I need to register for GST as a videographer?: Check with Inland Revenue. Ask IRD: 'At what turnover must I register for GST as a sole trader providing videography services?' They will confirm current thresholds and filing requirements.
How do I get paid securely as an independent videographer?: Use clear written quotes and invoices, require a deposit for new clients, and offer card payments or bank transfer. If you use Websta, card payments are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe.
What should be in a basic client agreement?: At minimum include the scope of work, deliverables, price, deposit and payment terms, delivery timeline, number of included revisions, and who owns the footage. For legal specifics consult a local legal advisor or Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand.

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.

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