Thanks for checking out my music video work. If you’d like to hire me or my crew for a production please fill in my contact form below. It will automatically send you some basic information based on your answers including pricing on my packages. Depending on the package you select there will be a different level of payment needed but all booking will require a deposit.
I’ve put some of my previous music videos below my contact form. I've lost count of how many music videos I’ve actually made, having worked on music videos professionally since 2008 (so long ago, some of them went on TV!). I’ve a fairly extensive FAQ at foot of this page, so please check this out encase there’s anything you want a quick answer on.
All music video projects are subject to my music video terms of service which can be read here.
Interested in working together?
Please fill in your details below if we haven't already spoken and let's talk about your project!
Where are you based?
I'm based in Birmingham but do travel provided travel costs and any overnight stays are needed for anywhere more than a 3 hour journey (factoring in traffic). As a younger filmmaker I would have done a 12 hour day then driven for a further 8 hours, but I no longer consider this safe. If you're budget conscious there's a range of venues and studios near me considerably cheaper than those around London and would save some of those other fees.
What’s better to film in a studio or location?
First off, in the UK I would recommend shooting inside! There’s a very good chance your shoot gets hit with rain. In some cases you can lean into this (like Subtle Glow linked above) but a lot of the time it’s not really what anyone’s after and it can be hard to light and shoot in those conditions. Studios are amazing and come at all sizes and configurations and there’s usually one to suit most modest budgets - but they are a blank slate, and without additional visual interest can be a bit boring if it’s just one or two people on screen. If you “dress” a set, and have props etc you can then build up to something great. If you have a band you may have enough going on visually any way and there’s a lot that can be done with lighting in a light controlled studio. However, if you use a location you will have a lot of the visual interest already there. It’s often work hiring a visually interesting location just for this reason, and in most cases that saves money over buying in props and set dress for a studio production. Venues aren’t set up for filming most of the time and may not have makeup areas or make it efficient to get lighting into. Ultimately it really comes down to what you want your video to look like within the budget or resources you have. I’ve had great experiences with both.
Why do you cap at 5 minutes for a song's runtime?
I've had some experiences in the past where people were trying to hire me for 14 minute videos for the cost what others were paying for 3-4 minute videos. It's not realistic to get coverage for a video that long without multiple days of filming or additional camera ops, and the edit and the post time obviously increases, with more run time that may need further changes. As a format, music videos work well if they can hold an audience's attention, so shorter is better whilst still getting your music and vibe across. They should be fun to make and if at any point in the process it's feeling like a drag to make or watch, the audience is going to feel the same. Some bands and artists I've worked for in the past that have longer songs do a "radio edit", meaning that true fans wanting to buy the music still have something additional to look forward to without unnecessary costs in making a video that may be just too long for modern audiences.
What’s easier to film a band or a solo artist?
Weirdly it’s easier to film a band. The term “coverage” means the number of shots you have to literally cover the length of your track. Cutting to drums is always dynamic and if you have other guitars or musicians in the mix alongside your singer there is always something to cut to. The issue with filming a singer on their own is you will then need to find other shots, especially in instrumental parts of the song. This then means you have to add in another few elements as shooting purely in a blank studio tends to fall apart without other people. You need to find a location with at least a few other interesting things to cut to. Some artists I’ve worked with have literally brought or hired in a backing band, as is the case for Louise Aubrey or Koburg. Koburg plays all her own instruments on her recordings but will then have band for the visual impact this then has. I think this is a good solution if you can do. Alternatively a lot of solo artists will then have more story elements or other visuals. Obviously that can cost a bit more to producer, with locations, actors, extras and other elements needing to be covered.
Why isn’t your pricing online?
When I work for other studios and production companies they are often adding a margin to my actual fees and aren’t super happy about clients seeing how much I actually cost. But if you’re hiring me through here, you’re getting me directly. If you use my contact form you’ll quickly get a quote with some pricing on there. I have a range of different out of the box prices, however can discuss more custom or high spec projects. I try to package my videos to make them affordable, but these will be my final price when I quote. The only thing I will note is that any animated project will likely be over £10,000 at a minimum given the amount of time and resources needed. Unless you have significant backing, please note animation is not a cheap option. I would regard a band hiring a practice room and filming a bunch of angles over the course of a day with minimal edit time to be the most cost effective strategy and simplifies some of the issues that can come up on location. In many cases, where there’s a story or creative idea behind a video I may need to give you a more specific quote as there can be big difference between projects.
Do I need to hire actors or extras for a story based music video?
Having done this for a few decades, one of the things I’ve seen repeatedly is artists being let down by their mates. That big crowd scene that was planned turns out to be one man (and his dog if we’re lucky). If you hire people and pay them properly they tend to turn up. This isn’t to say you can’t strike it lucky - we had some amazing luck with Benjamin Peter’s Subtle Glow but the reliability factor came down to most of the cast being part of his family. The other issue with mates versus a professional actor is they can be cast to check how good they are and if they look right for the part. It’s a big roll of the dice bringing that friend in. If you haven’t got the budget to make something bordering on a movie, don’t plan to make a music video that operates in the same way as a movie, you may make something you’re not happy with versus a much simpler option.
Do you film on green screen?
I used to, but given the post time involved I generally don't offer this service any more as it can take over a month to make all the visual effects for a video and the cost of that with my day rate based pricing means you would be better served putting that money on screen and getting a really good location or dressing a studio space to get what you want. I can quote for green screen and VFX projects but I just want to caution this isn’t the cheap option some people think it may be.
How many music videos have you made?
I’m not sure. I used to keep a list of productions I’d worked on and there was over 400 a one stage, and this was ten years ago. Of this at least 100 would have been music videos. I have had gaps in my career where I’ve gone and worked on projects that aren’t music videos, but music videos always come back. Some of the animated music videos take 3 or 4 months so obviously I can only make a few other those in a year, whereas sometimes I’ve shot 3-4 videos in a week and then been buried in post. At a guess, around 200 music videos.
Can I shoot more than one track in a day?
I've created a package specifically for this and gathering a ton of BTS and extra content. It's not necessarily a cheap option as it requires a fair bit more crew to do properly, and I do insist on doing things to a decent standard.
Do you shoot on weekends?
I have children, so I generally like to avoid this so I can spend time with them. I’ll charge a small uplift for weekend working but most of my package quotes will be based around weekdays.
Do you make music videos for free for charity fundraisers?
I don’t work for free. I have my own non-profits that I support, including a charity I founded. I generally find that artists are still getting a level of promotion for themselves through any video they release and can monetise these after a certain level of viewership. I have no way of auditing the benefit to the charity without direct involvement in that organisation. This isn’t to say charities don’t benefit from creative ways to fundraise, but the time I’d spend making a single video could be used to write a grant application in the region of 5 figures for my own charity and therefore for making my time more impactful that way.
Do you give discounts?
No, but I structure my packages in a way that are as affordable for artists and bands as possible, whilst being realistic in covering my time and the cost of holding the equipment. I can do custom quotes, but it’s not a sustainable business trying to “fit” and idea into a limited budget. If you’re on a limited budget I can recommend what you can afford or point you in the direction of DIY resources if time allows.
Do I need a makeup artist or makeup?
I think if I have a crew on set, the first minimum hire is usually a makeup artist. It's always money well spent.. If you have any amount of lighting, you need to matte your skin even if this is just some basic powder. This makeup won’t be visible but if you have shiny skin on screen you’ll regret it. Unless you specifically want a very shiny effect on your skin with more elaborate makeup looks, I would recommend matte makeups as much as possible. You can do your own makeup, but equally I’ve worked with some very good makeup artists over the years and they make a significant difference to the overall look of a video, just as much as anything I might be doing with light or cameras.
Do you supply playback/PA?
No. I don’t personally bring a PA to my shoots. Generally either the studio or venue I film in has some or the band/artist brings one. Do talk to me about this. Even with a solo artist moving around, using a phone that isn’t all that loud may not be enough for play back.
Do you record sound with a music video?
No, I usually edit the song to that used with playback. I have filmed live videos but this will need to be done in conjunction with a good recording engineer. Generally speaking this is a custom quote, my packages are geared towards pre-recorded music. Whilst I am decent enough on recording interviews for that type of client, I wouldn’t promise the level of skill needed to capture live music which is a specialised skill. I can still get you great visuals to go with that sound if that can be arranged for you.
What happens if the weather looks bad?
Firstly, I try to avoid filming outside in the UK. With enough notice things can be rescheduled, however if you’ve booked a venue, crew or other items that can’t be rebooked without a cancellation fee. I’d urge keeping any outdoor shoots extremely simple and factor in rain if possible creatively. It’s possible to film in light enough rain if someone is prepared to hold an umbrella over the camera, and can be quite a cool effect, but drum kits in the rain with power cables is probably a bad idea. I can usually be flexible within reason, however it will come down to the context of what you are trying to do. If I have already arrived on location, then that is chargeable. I will generally try and talk about this in advance. If it’s likely to be start-stop rain, it’s possible to duck inside a venue to do filming and then get outdoor shots in the gaps - but if you really want to guarantee you get the most out of your video, just shoot indoors in conditions we can control.
How come you’ve worked with so many female artists?
People find me. I think when I was working in London a lot more I stood out because I wasn’t some creep with a camera, which can be the case with other men working in music videos. So female artists saw me as a safe option, which I’m proud to be. I’m autistic, so I just kind of treat everyone the same, and hope that respect follows through everyone in any team I’m in, including when I’m working with crew and musicians.The only time I’ve ever fired a crew member was due to sexist language on a female client's production used whilst I was out of the room. I never want that situation again and regard my productions as a safe space for people of all backgrounds, both on screen and off.
Do you make music?
Sometimes, but as a busy Dad that also runs a charity it’s sadly not always getting the time it needs. Throughout my teens and early 20s I was in metal bands. I also spent a significant amount of time hanging out with musicians on the Alternative Electronic scene and learnt a lot about music production whilst making a lot of music videos, especially between 2010-2020. My own writing veers between Alt Rock, electronic and acoustic, I don’t really like sitting in a specific genre and I’ve very broad tastes in music. I’d like to make an animated project called “The Dead Lenses”, and there’s a few of my tracks on streaming platforms if you are at all interested.
How did you get into music videos?
I used to put on gigs as a teenager, and my earliest music videos were for some of the people I met during that time. My very first music video was to promote the last one of these school rock concerts and helped it sell out. I’ve always been around musicians and different music scenes. I spent some time in the 2010s covering gigs in London, especially on the Alt Electronic/Industrial scene and ended up working for a lot of those bands, and that fanned out from there. Social media did bring in a lot of musicians at one time, but due to the algorithm and online saturation I find I now mainly work with people who know the other artists I know. I love making music videos as it allows me to work with other creative people on a lot of really fun projects. Whilst I do need to charge enough to make a living, it’s not a massive money spinner given the cost of equipment. I do them because I love working with the types of things it allows me to create with the best possible collaborators.
Do you work with the same musicians again and again?
Apparently so! I think there’s some turn over as bands and artists start or end their project - however I think I’ve made over ten videos for some artists I’ve been working with over a decade, most artists I’ve worked with have hired me again for further videos. I’m super proud of this.
Is there anyone you wouldn’t work with?
Not many, but there’s a few red lines I keep. I do turn down offers where the music isn’t of great quality - I want people to succeed with their music, and if their music isn’t ready, spending money on a video could be a waste, and that’s an ethical line for me. I won’t work on music that has threats of violence or promotes criminal activity - as you may have read above I’m a trustee of a charity, and I have to be upstanding. For similar reasons I stay out of politics as I have to remain neutral, a fact that does grate on me at times. I have also parted company with toxic clients and artists that showed up hours late for me or other crew on a consistent basis. Respect is important and goes both ways. I want my shoots to be enjoyable places to work. For the safety of my crew and kit I also don’t allow drugs or drink on set and these can detrimentally affect the quality of the production anyway. Please don’t! Some people think shooting a video is a party, and it should be fun, but not like that. Usually when you have a crowd of extras dancing with drinks in hand, their drinking a non alcoholic drink - otherwise it’s security and safety problem, and probably would require private security that most musicians budgets wouldn’t extend to.
Can you get aerial shots/drone shots for my video?
I used to fly drones professionally, as you may have seen from some of my work. At the time of writing I don’t have a drone but do work with another very talented drone op that can be added to your budget if you let me know. I may get a drone again some day, but it’s not a focus of mine over my investment in really good lighting. There are legal restrictions on where a drone can go and there are types of insurance that cover drone use. I’ve done a lot with drones, but won’t allow drone use if this is likely to be dangerous or illegal. I can help you work out suitable places to do such shots.
What makes you different from other music video directors?
I think because I come from a filmmaking background I’ve got a lot of experience developing the story aspects of projects where that’s a possibility. Because I’ve had training in lighting, I am really a DP for the majority of the projects I work on, and there’s some videos I don’t even direct - I just film and light them. Having good lighting is probably the core standard for most of my videos where this has been an option. I know there’s a lot of directors that just rock up with a camera, and sometimes I do that too, but I know I usually have an aesthetic edge with my lighting skills. I appear to have also shot a fair few black and white videos. This isn’t a conscious choice, but I love using lights and smoke, so clients have just asked for this film noir style a fair bit. A lot of the stylistic choices in my work has usually come from the collaboration with an artist, not just me saying what goes. I will however try my best to steer artists of anything that I think my make you look bad!
Do you use generative AI?
Hell no. On every single level I am opposed to generative AI for the creation of imagery, especially in a world of so many talented visual artists. Add to this the legal implications - my insurance literally wouldn’t cover me for resulting breaches of copyright. When I’m making animations, even if this uses a lot of power, I know I’m running on green sources of energy and won’t impact local water sources. Additionally AI videos are generic and will undermine the efforts of musicians using them, as increasingly these are demonised and shunned or skipped by most audiences (by the way that includes thumbnails and your social posts). A lot of large studios using AI have then had to spend serious amounts of money on real artists to fix the AI to get what they actually wanted. It seems like a false economy on every level. I’m here for real, authentic creativity from humans. AI is a bubble and it will eventually pop, and we can all just get on with our lives. Automations are a different thing - these are set up by a person. If some one gets in touch on my contact forms and just wants a quick price, I’ve pre-written answers for these, in the same way I’ve written this FAQ. But if you get in touch with me and you want to chat, that’s absolutely a possibility as time allows.
Do you go on podcasts?
I have appeared on a few podcasts and radio shows since returning to freelance work in late 2025 and sound like a Radio 4 presenter due to heavy exposure to this station as a child. I’m up for appearances on podcasts as time allows and certain subjects are avoided (namely politics due to my neutrality as a charity trustee & founder). I will generally separate business talk from talking about my charity, just because I don’t want to be seen to be charity washing. I don’t want the charity to be seen as some weird sort of promotional tool, it’s a mission in of itself. It would also take too much time, so I’m happy to wear one or the other hats but not both on any podcast or radio show call.
What’s your charity called?
I founded a charity called Help Close By and it was set up to coordinate efforts to fight poverty. We use an evidence based approach to find people missed by conventional systems and get them support. At time of writing it operates in Birmingham but we do have plans to roll out nationally if someone gives us enough money! As a trustee, this is a voluntary role - you can’t be paid to do this work, so it's a massive labour of love and I’m proud to say we’ve helped hundreds of people so far. Visit helpcloseby.org for more info.
Can’t I just shoot a music video myself?
Yes, absolutely. I provide a service for high quality music videos. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to DIY and explore becoming a filmmaker yourself and I know a few very decent filmmakers who also happen to be musicians. I won’t however take a lower budget in competition with someone negotiating on the basis of self shooting. I mean - hire me or don’t, it’s really your choice. If you’re struggling financially, a music video isn’t something you need to spend your money on right now. Seek out someone that can back you if you think you’ve got something special. I've worked with plenty of artists and bands that had a backer pay for their video in such circumstances, but can’t be that backer for you as I have other commitments.
Do you film gigs?
I don’t currently offer this service - see my above comment on recording audio. I used to film a lot of gigs for journalists years ago, but this relied heavily on resyncing with recorded audio and only really worked because it was electronic artists with pre-set backing tracks and this mixed in with interview content. I don’t really rate the quality of lighting for filming in a lot of smaller venues, so prefer not to film somewhere I have little control over image quality and where there may not be enough cameras to cover a gig properly. I have covered concerts in the past, including full choirs, but this isn’t a standard music video package and will need to be done with a sound engineer and maybe even the venue's lighting technician. It’s not the budget solution you might think. I’d say get a friend to get some some mobile shots of gigs if this is something you need for social media content, but I don’t think its worth the cost of hiring crew for versus a more conventional, controlled music video setup with pre-recorded music.
Any tips for an artist before filming?
Make sure you’ve rehearsed and practiced enough to know all your parts. This means more of the shots taken will make it through to the final edit. There's not a lot of excuses for not knowing your own words. If you’re going to the expense of paying to get a video, take a few minutes out of each day to sing along with the lyrics in front of you in the lead up to the shoot. Turn up on time or early. All film crew will do so. If you need to go into makeup this can be done whilst crew setup. Just don’t be late and give yourself plenty of time if you know you need to cross congested areas. You’ll lose the respect of any crew if you’re turning up late to a shoot and there’s no guarantee you’ll have crew stay later to accommodate a late start - you’ll just miss out on time you’ve paid for that should be used for filming and your video will be worse for it. If you’ve only got one camera op turning up (either myself of a college) please help us with bags and kit. We can help you load in and out too if needed. Please don’t turn up with your ego, most of the successful people I’ve worked with are timely, respectful and contribute to an enjoyable atmosphere on set. This advice is for a minority of people who do this - but please eat something. Some people worry about their weight - normally unnecessarily and turn up having not eaten. I have been known to them share my sandwiches with said people but really you’re about to have a very busy day and your breakfast and lunch isn’t going to shift the needle regardless. Be kind to yourself and your body. If you find yourself nervous or overwhelmed on set, please have a quiet word with me and we can work out what can be done to better accommodate you. Ironically I have sound triggered sensory issues myself - although being in charge of what sound gets played this is rarely an issue. You may or may not want to look into a camera for neurodiverse reasons. I’m very happy to make arrangements before and during productions to get you the best experience possible.
Do you film everything yourself?
Not always. I’m a producer as much as I love to film myself and have deeply honed skills for angles on music videos. Sometimes a project needs more than one camera operator, or there may be specific reasons I need to be separate from a camera. In some cases I may send a camera operator film film projects that are too far away for me to reach or when I may not be available. I always make sure I’m working with talented and professional camera ops where they are brought in. A lot of my music videos have been made as part of a crew, with a range of different roles from camera department, makeup and even stunt coordination being in the care of other amazing people. It just depends what I project needs and if there’s a budget that can support a team. I do prefer filming with at least one other crew member as the amount of kit I use for lighting can take a lot of physical effort to load in and set up. I’m also not getting any younger, and with small kids at home at the point of writing doing everything myself is a bit much. Obviously I do massively appreciate every artist or band that takes time to care for crew and help out the production and that always leads to a more successful days production.
Are locations and studios expensive?
They don’t have to be. There’s been multiple occasions where I’ve blacked out a scout hut or a school hall and turn it into a studio space. Once upon a time you needed giant amounts of power, but modern LED lights aren’t such an issue with this. Really most big studios are warehouses that have been adapted to fit lighting rigs. This means that with enough kit and enough hands on deck you can transform a lot of spaces into one appropriate for filming. Obviously its a lot easier to have a facility that comes blacked out or with a certain level of rigged lights, but depending on where you film some studios and locations can be multiples of the cost to crew a music video. I’ve filmed in some great studios in and around London, but generally if you’re needing to be careful with your money, head a bit further North and leave the orbit of the M25. You’ll find not only to you get more affordable studios but you may also get bigger and better options. The same is also true for locations. Obviously if you can borrow a location with permission, that’s great - but equally if you have a location expecting a film crew to turn out, it’s usually a better facility. You’ll need somewhere to eat, somewhere to do make up and get changed. Loos are thing. See also previous comments on getting rained on for why its worth it for getting decent indoor location. If you can go in, set up light and control conditions for filming you can reliably make a video you can be proud of.