Invoice clients for cinematography, camera operation, and lighting design services. Get paid on time with Tidybill.
A cinematographer invoice documents fees for the creative and technical responsibility of capturing images on a production — encompassing camera operation, lighting design, and visual storytelling. Cinematographers (Directors of Photography) work on feature films, television, commercials, branded content, and documentary productions. They are responsible for managing the camera and lighting crew, choosing lenses and camera systems, designing the lighting for each scene, and working closely with the director to achieve the intended visual look. In commercial and independent production, the DP's fee is separate from camera and lighting equipment hire, which is typically billed through the production budget. On smaller independent productions, the DP may own and bring their own equipment, in which case a camera package hire fee is included in the invoice.
| Service | Typical Rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| DP Day Rate (creative fee) | £400 - £2,000 | per day |
| Camera Package Hire (owner-operator) | £300 - £800 | per day |
| Prep / Recce Day | 50-100% of day rate | per day |
| Lighting Design & Pre-Light | £400 - £900 | per day |
| Media Management / Data Wrangling | £150 - £300 | per day |
| Travel & Accommodation | At cost | per production |
Invoice your DP creative fee and camera package hire as separate line items so the production can easily distinguish between creative services and equipment rental. Collect the deal memo-agreed rate with payment terms typically Net 30 for larger productions. For independent and low-budget productions, Net 14 is more appropriate given the smaller scale. Recce and prep days may be invoiced at a reduced day rate (50-75% of your standard rate) unless otherwise agreed.