No, i didn't charge them, it was just new expirience...
My advice is, again, to keep it decent. That means variety of nice still shots, don't dramatize with camera movements. Use tripod if possible. Dont do too much closeups, since people dont like to see themselves crying... I think MX5000 is very good camera to start. Good luck!

The home gets 1/2 or less, depending on what is arranged (just the service, service and burial, etc). Funeral videos are common in Canada and in many other parts of the world. I don't know what's common in the USA---and I assume it's different in different parts. How can I share a funeral video? You'd have to drop by, but then you might end up crying or getting morbid'd-out. I keep all the miniDV tapes with footage just in case "they" what another VHS tape copy; NTSC or PAL.

Low light is always a problem. I can get by with my 2 old JVC DVL9500Us. A VX2100 would be much better---or an XL1s. I don't think that an MX5000 would cut it. It requires too much light. I would look for an older model miniDV cam such as a Optura 100MC or a PV-DV852 (MX8, MX1000 in Japan).

Thanks for the input.

Frank, how much do you usually charge for each funeral video?

I wouldn't worry too much about low-light problems because I now have a noise reduction software, and most funeral homes happen to be well lit. But I'm going to purchase a new cam in two years from now. (the FX1 or the DVCPRO-HD cam from Panasonic)

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : How can I share a funeral video? You'd have to drop by, but then you might end up crying or getting morbid'd-out. -->>>

Can you post one on the web? Living down here in Florida (avg age 57 in my town), weddings are not much of a business, but we have plenty of funerals. I would love to see one to get ideas on how it is done.

If you don't have web capabilities, I would post it for you (WMV?) for a couple of weeks if you like. I have some spare bandwidth right now.

John, I can't post one on the web.My cut is usually $220. That's for the 1/2 hour service (or thereabouts) and the burial (about 15 to 25 minutes).

I start shooting before the sevice starts. I try to get in about 5 to 10 minutes---of the casket, body, flowers, etc etc. There's no need to dub audio because there's always elevator type music being piped in.

Of course you can charge more. For me it's just steady part-time work which help pay the bills.

Frank, So you just do a straight dub to VHS and you are done? No editing, no DVD, no titles, no music added?

That's right. I don't even add titles or anything, but I do make top and spine labels for the VHS tape and put it in a clear cover case. I buy these cases about 50 at a time and they cost me about $0.87 each. Plus all the VHS decks I get for free. I just found 2 more very good ones last week. People keep putting them in the lanes with little signs on them saying, "Works." People keep going cold turkey once they've bought a DVD player, or so it seems. My 2 AIWAS were just under $900 each, though. That includes taxes and extra warranty.

Hi - saw your question, and thought I better answer since funeral videos is over half of what I do in video. Please visit my web site www.memoryvision.tv for more information about what I do, and a sample of my work. Please email me with any questions to: anaumann@mn.rr.com. Thanks for your interst. Alan

Very nice site Alan.

I have to admit that the subject matter is a bit morbid but when I see Alan's site I can really see the value in it for some people.

Quote:t "my cut is $220"

...ummm ...I wouldn't ever want to take advantage of someone who just cashed in a $200k life insurance policy but that being said, I would find it difficult to get out of bed for $220. I'm thinking that not only do you have the funeral day itself but also editing and you must have some sort of consultation with the customer? It doesn't quite add up does it?

Is someone else out there doing better financially providing this kind of service?

hmmm... I guess the lack of responses to my query, sorta answers my question.

The silence is deafening.

I had never heard of doing funerals until I saw this thread. Monday I saw a local funeral director so I asked him what they do. He said a local wedding videographer does theirs for $300.00. This takes about an hour and a half and he does not edit or and titles.

Sam

No editing? What else don't they do? Souds amaturish.

I'm thinking there's a market for a higher-end production that's more polished and professional. That same funeral home possibly could be offered by you, a $1200 version? It's all how they pitch it. They say to the folks, we've got this one guy that charges $300 and we've also got this other company that does a more masterful job and charges $1200. I would think there are plenty of people that would opt for the more expensive production... probably the same one's who chose the $6,000 casket.

Let us know how it goes.

No reflection on anyone else, but I've left strict order to plant me in a plain ol' pine box. Talk about throwing money down a rat hole! In the event my orders are not carried out, I will come back and haunt the person responsible!

I shot a memorial service about two years ago. Very strange. The mom kept changing things and wanting things added (including an animated photo montage). The final bill was over $2,500. That was totally her call.

Jay