When You Have to Bid the Unknown
Having a creative production approach can win or lose you a job.
When a project is full of unknowns, the budget inflates to cover all of them. That isn't padding, that's just math. And instead of saying no to a big ask, sometimes the move is to show the client what it actually costs, and then show them another way in.
Here's what that looked like on a recent bid. Instead of one giant number, I offered a leaner path alongside it: a smaller crew goes out to the ranch for a real, BTS-style day, capturing the place, the light, the actual life of it. Then the full crew, talent, and food setup work a closer location for the tight lifestyle and product shots. Edit the two together and you have a complete story.
That particular job was a big agency with a big client, but the move scales. Smaller budget, smaller ask, same principle. Two approaches, two real numbers. Let them choose.