For every hour shooting, editing takes several more. The shoot-to-edit ratio turns shoot time into total project time — the number that stops you from underpricing the back-end work.
The example
2 shoot hrs, 1:3 ratio.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | 2 × 3 | 6 edit hrs |
| 3 | Total project | → 8 hrs |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- The edit ratio is edit hours per shoot hour (1:3 means ratio = 3).
- Multiply shoot hours by it for edit hours; add shoot hours for total project time.
- Price against total time at your CODB rate — not just shoot time.
- Track actual ratios by job type to quote realistically.
The invisible hours are where money leaks. Clients see the shoot; they never see the cull, edit, retouch, and export — often 3–5× the shoot time. Quoting against shoot hours alone systematically underprices the job. Multiply by your real edit ratio, add the shoot hours, and price the whole project at your CODB rate so the back-end work is actually paid for.
Try it: interactive demo
Shoot hours, edit ratio, rate.
Variations
Total project hours
Shoot + edit:
Labor cost
Total time × rate:
Implied ratio
From actuals:
Pitfalls & errors
Price total time. Edit hours are real labor — bill them.
Ratio, not fraction. 1:3 means multiply by 3.
Vary by job. Weddings edit heavier than headshots — track per type.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate edit time from shoot time in Excel?
How do I get total project time?
Why does this matter for pricing?
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