The Cost of Hiring a Video Production Company in Colorado
If you're reading this, you're probably either budgeting for a campaign or trying to figure out if hiring a video production company in Colorado is worth the investment.
You’re not alone.
Every month, I get emails that start with something like:
“Hey Roo, we’re thinking of shooting something in Colorado and trying to wrap our heads around what it might cost. Can you give us a ballpark?”
It’s a fair question… And a complicated one.
Colorado is an incredible place to shoot. - epic mountains, diverse terrain, four-season versatility - but it’s also home to wildly different production models. Some companies are full-service agencies. Some are boutique director-led teams. Some work lean and nimble with two-person crews; others come with ten people, a truck full of gear, and a PA handing out snacks.
So what should it cost to hire a video production company in Colorado in 2025? What variables move the needle? And how do you make sure you’re not overpaying—or under-scoping a project that deserves more?
Let’s break it down.
First, What Do You Mean By “Video Production”?
It’s helpful to define the scope before we talk numbers.
When most people Google Colorado video production company, they’re likely thinking about one of the following:
A branded documentary or athlete story for their website or YouTube
A product launch or seasonal commercial
A campaign video for a new collection or initiative
A short-form ad (Instagram, TikTok, etc.) with high production value
A multi-use content package (hero video + social cuts + stills + behind-the-scenes)
Each of these comes with its own production needs. That’s why you’ll rarely see “flat rate” pricing unless it’s from a low-end, high-volume shop. Reputable production teams tailor their estimates based on the creative, the deliverables, the timeline, and the terrain.
That said, there are some general pricing tiers and variables that can help you understand what to expect.
1. The Base Cost of Hiring a Professional Video Production Company in Colorado
Here’s a rough breakdown of what you can expect to spend in Colorado in 2025 for a well-executed production led by experienced professionals, not a weekend hobbyist.
➤ Basic Tier – $5,000 to $15,000
1–2 shoot days
1–3 crew members (director/DP, maybe an assistant or drone op)
Light creative development, run-and-gun style shooting
Short-form edits (e.g., 30–90 seconds)
May include 1 location, basic sound and color
This tier is great for scrappy, story-driven content: think solo athlete vignettes, minimalist gear launches, or a moody lifestyle cut filmed on one long day.
➤ Mid-Tier – $15,000 to $25,000
2–4 shoot days
3–6 crew (director, DP, AC, sound, drone op, PA)
Multiple locations, stronger creative concept
Professional-level editing, sound design, licensed music, and motion graphics
A few deliverables (hero video + cutdowns, or a series of shorts)
This is the most common zone for outdoor brands who want beautiful, emotionally resonant content but don’t have bigger budgets.
➤ High-Tier / Campaign Level – $25,000 to $60,000+
Full creative development + production
Larger crew (producer, director, DP, 1st AC, gaffer, grip, makeup, BTS)
Complex logistics (remote terrain, casting, scripted VO, actors or athletes)
Advanced post (colorist, composer, animation)
Multi-platform delivery (hero doc, cutdowns, vertical reels, stills)
At this level, you’re producing a full-scale branded campaign - something designed to live across all channels and act as a creative centerpiece for a product, initiative, or season.
If you’ve seen campaign videos from brands like Arc’teryx, HOKA, or Yeti, you’re likely looking at this budget range or higher.
➤ Flagship / National Campaign Tier – $100,000 and Up
This is where you’re operating at the highest creative and production level often in collaboration with agencies or internal brand teams.
At this scale, you're not just creating a film. You're building an experience.
Typical Inclusions:
Full concept development with brand, agency, or creative director
Multi-location shoots (often across states or countries)
Multi-day or multi-week production schedules
Large crew (15+ people), union or SAG actors, multiple talent days
Professional casting, location management, production designers
Dedicated producers, assistant directors, and department leads
Original score, high-end post (colorist, sound mixer, motion/VFX)
Deliverables across dozens of platforms, languages, and aspect ratios
What It’s For:
National broadcast ads
Global product launches
Flagship brand storytelling projects
Multi-part campaign rollouts across digital, TV, retail, and PR channels
Why It Costs More:
At this level, you’re coordinating large teams across time zones, operating under strict deadlines, and delivering content that will define your brand’s presence across multiple quarters or fiscal years. Every detail, casting, wardrobe, color palette, line delivery, lighting cues, is dialed in. It’s not just about filming in Colorado. It’s about making world-class work that happens to be set in Colorado.
2. What Impacts the Final Cost?
Let’s say you know you’re somewhere in that $12k–$25k middle tier. Why would one project come in closer to $13k and another at $22k?
Here are the biggest variables that affect cost when hiring a Colorado video production company:
🎬 Creative Complexity
Are we filming an interview and b-roll? Or are we scripting a voiceover, choreographing movement, and capturing dozens of cinematic shots?
More creative = more pre-production, shoot days, and post time
🏔️ Location + Accessibility
A shoot in downtown Boulder? Easy.
A shoot 7 miles into the backcountry with horses and a generator? That’s a different story.
Colorado’s beauty often comes with logistical challenges - weather, permits, road access - which all factor into cost.
🎥 Crew Size + Talent
Some shoots can be executed with a DP and a camera assistant. Others require a full crew to handle lighting, sound, talent direction, or production design.
If you’re hiring athletes, actors, or VO artists, those rates also get added in.
✂️ Number of Deliverables
A single 60-second hero film is one thing.
A 3-minute branded doc + 4 reels + 2 vertical cutdowns + a behind-the-scenes piece? That’s a lot more edit time, music licensing, color grading, and exports.
💡 Gear Requirements
Most Colorado production companies (myself included) own high-end cameras and stabilization tools, so you’re not always paying rental fees.
But specialty gear—drone permits, underwater housings, high-speed rigs—can add to the budget quickly.
📝 Post-Production Scope
Do you need multiple rounds of revisions? Color grading for TV and web? Custom sound design?
Don’t underestimate the time and cost of making your final piece shine.
3. How to Get the Most Value From Your Video Production Budget
Let’s be honest: even at $10–25k, content creation is a big investment. And while good video can absolutely drive ROI, through brand lift, product sales, and long-term credibility, it only works if the process is strategic.
Here’s how to make your money go further:
🧠 Plan for Multi-Use Content
Too many brands walk away with one polished video when they could’ve had a whole content suite. Ask your production partner to plan for:
A hero film (90 seconds – 3 minutes)
Multiple vertical cutdowns for Reels/TikTok/YouTube Shorts
Behind-the-scenes moments for community engagement
Still frames for social/email/web
Voiceover snippets or pull quotes for graphics
This doesn’t necessarily require more shoot days, just smarter planning. A strong Colorado video production companyshould help you think in content ecosystems, not single deliverables.
📅 Schedule Efficiently
A lot of budget gets burned in downtime - too many locations, too much transit, poor coordination. An experienced team will plan your shoot to minimize transitions and maximize good light.
If your project involves remote terrain (say, alpine lakes or backcountry trails), timing is everything. It’s not just about hiking fast, it’s knowing when the sun crests over a ridge, or how fast a storm usually moves in.
This is where working with a Colorado-local team is invaluable. I’ve spent years learning this state like the back of my hand. I can tell you where to film in golden aspens, what week the wildflowers peak, and how to squeeze five killer locations into one day without losing daylight.
🔄 Reuse Locations or Athletes Across Projects
If you’re working with a production team on more than one campaign in a year, think long-term. Can you capture library footage now that will serve next season? Can you build a mini-series or a recurring format?
Brands like Yeti, Salomon, and HOKA do this well - building content libraries that grow with them. You don’t need their budget to apply the same strategy.
4. Red Flags to Watch For
Not all video production companies are created equal. And with outdoor content especially, the risks are higher—physically, financially, and emotionally. Here are a few red flags to avoid:
🚩 “We do everything”—with no clear portfolio
If a team claims to shoot weddings, tech explainers, real estate walkthroughs and outdoor commercials, be cautious. You want specialists—people who know your audience, your visual language, and your industry norms.
My film about a group of veterans using nature as recovery was entirely, produced, filmed and edited in Colorado
🚩 Big team, no storytelling
If a proposal is full of gear lists and crew roles but light on creative vision or emotional impact—that’s a sign. Beauty is baseline. Story is what sets your brand apart.
🚩 No pre-production process
Pre-pro is where the magic happens. It’s where we clarify goals, define the audience, nail down tone, and build the shot list. If a production company jumps straight to “let’s book a shoot day,” they’re skipping the strategy that leads to results.
🚩 Vague pricing and deliverables
Your estimate should spell out exactly what you’re getting: shoot days, crew size, number of final deliverables, rounds of revision, music licensing terms, etc. Ambiguity up front almost always leads to scope creep or disappointment later.
5. Choosing the Right Colorado Video Production Company
Alright, so how do you actually choose the right team?
Here’s a cheat sheet:
- They live and work in Colorado
Not just to save on travel—but because they know how to film in Colorado’s unique terrain, light, and weather. They’ve likely scouted your dream location already—and they know how to get permits, prep for elevation, and pivot if needed.
My award-winning and Emmy nominated short film about a blind ice climber in Colorado
- Their portfolio aligns with your vision
Don’t just look for technical skill. Look for storytelling, pacing, emotional resonance. Ask: do I feel something when I watch this?
- They ask good questions
A good production partner will ask about your audience, your platform strategy, and your brand identity. They’re not just trying to make a pretty video—they’re trying to make the right video.
- They’re collaborative but confident
The best teams bring ideas to the table. They’ll listen to your vision—but they’ll also push you toward what will actually work. You want someone who respects your brand and your budget.
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Just Hiring a Crew, You’re Hiring Creative Leadership
In 2025, video isn’t optional. It’s how your brand shows up. It’s how people connect to your story, trust your product, and decide to be part of what you’re building.
So yes, hiring a Colorado video production company is an investment. But when it’s done right, it’s one of the best ones you can make.
You’ll walk away with:
Emotionally compelling content
Stunning visuals that reflect your brand’s identity
Assets that perform across platforms
A trusted creative partner who gets it
Whether you’re filming in Boulder, Breckenridge, the San Juans, Steamboat, or a trail no one’s ever heard of, the right team makes all the difference.
Looking for a Director-Led Production Company in Colorado?
I’m Roo Smith, an Emmy-nominated director and filmmaker based in Boulder, Colorado. I’ve led outdoor shoots across the state for brands like Patagonia, Canyon Bicycles, Outside Magazine, and KT Tape.
I build lean, highly professional teams that are comfortable in the mountains and obsessed with great storytelling. Whether you need a branded documentary, a commercial campaign, or a content strategy that spans all your platforms—I’d love to help.
🎬 See my work
📩 Contact me for rates, availability, or to start a conversation
Why We Should Work Together…
When I’m not on this website rambling on about filmmaking, I’m actually out there making films. From crafting memorable branded documentaries to capturing stories and products that move people, I’ve got you covered. Need a filmmaker who can scale mountains, brave the surf, or just tell a dang good story? Let’s chat!
In case I haven’t convinced you, here are three reasons why it might be fun to work together…
I believe in stories that stick with you - like campfire smoke on your clothes. The kind that makes you laugh, cry, or immediately want to call your mom.
I’m just as comfortable at 14,000ft as I am in front of a timeline. You get me in the mountains, in the ocean and in the editing room, making sure the magic out there really shines in the final cut.
I’ve filmed in some pretty wild places, but the best stories are the ones that bring people together. It’s those shared moments -big or small - that remind me why I love what I do.
Let’s Connect
Roo is an Emmy nominated commercial/documentary filmmaker and production company owner based in Boulder, Colorado but travels all around the world for his filmmaking career. He has directed documentaries for Patagonia in California, produced films for Outside Magazine throughout Europe and Africa, camera operated for Netflix in the Rocky Mountain West, photographed among indigenous communities in South America, and has received notable recognition in his hometown of Orcas Island in Washington State for his work telling uplifting stories in the outdoor space.