A music video does not need a big budget. It needs one clear idea, a location that looks the part, and a plan that gets the most from a single day. Some of the most shared videos on the internet are one take in one room.
I film music videos and performance films in Liverpool for independent artists, and almost all of them are made on tight budgets. Here is how to get a video that looks far more expensive than it was.
The short version
- One idea, one location, one day. Simplicity reads as confidence.
- Spend on light and performance, not on extras and props.
- Shoot the whole song several times from different angles.
- Use places you can get for free, and ask permission.
- Cut vertical versions the same day for Reels, TikTok and Canvas.
1. Pick the right type of video
Performance
You or the band playing the song in a great space. The cheapest to make and often the most honest.
Performance plus a thread
Mostly performance, with a simple story or mood cut through it. A good middle ground.
The one take
A single continuous shot. Needs rehearsal, not money, and it grabs attention because it is a feat.
Visualiser
A looping, moody piece built from a few shots. Quick to make and great for singles between bigger videos.
Full narrative videos with actors, several locations and a story are the most expensive kind to do well. If the budget is small, a strong performance video will almost always beat a thin narrative one.
2. Spend where it shows
Viewers forgive a simple idea. They do not forgive a video that looks murky or where the lip sync drifts. Put the money and time into the things everyone sees in every frame.
| Worth paying for | Nice to have | Skip on a tight budget |
|---|---|---|
| Someone who can light and film well | A second camera angle | Big casts and extras |
| A location with character | Haze or smoke for light beams | Several locations in one day |
| A proper edit and colour grade | A stylist or makeup artist | Hired props and costumes |
| Rehearsal time for the performance | Practical lights in shot, like lamps and neon | Drone shots for the sake of it |
3. Ideas that cost nothing
Change the light, not the location. Shoot the same room in warm light, then cold, then darkness with one lamp. Three looks, zero moves.
Use what the song gives you. A lyric, a feeling, a colour. One visual idea that returns through the video is more memorable than ten random ones.
Put the audience in it. Film a gig or an open rehearsal with your fans. It looks alive and they will share it.
Go small and close. Hands on the strings, breath on the mic, sweat on the forehead. Close ups feel intimate and hide a plain background.
4. Plan the shoot like a pro
A tight plan is what makes one day enough. Before the shoot, we agree a shot list and break the song into sections, so every verse and chorus has what the edit needs.
- Playback. A speaker loud enough to perform to, playing the final mix, so lip sync is spot on.
- Full passes. Perform the whole song several times: wide, medium, close, and from the side. That gives the edit coverage.
- Details. Hands, instruments, feet, the room. These glue the edit together.
- Vertical in mind. Some moments framed so they crop well to 9:16 for Reels, TikTok and Spotify Canvas.
- A plan B. If it is outdoors, know where you go if it rains.
5. Locations and permission
Liverpool is full of places that look like a film set. Filming on Liverpool City Council land, buildings or public highways needs permission through the Liverpool Film Office, which offers free support with locations and permits. Private places, like a bar before opening, a friend’s warehouse unit or a church hall, just need the owner’s yes. It is always worth asking. I share my favourite spots in the best music video locations in Liverpool.
6. Get more than one video out of the day
The same footage can become a main video, a performance cut, a visualiser, a Canvas loop and a dozen vertical clips for the release. Planning for that on the day costs almost nothing and triples what you get. It fits straight into a six week release plan.
Low budget music video checklist
Before the day
- One clear idea you can explain in a sentence
- A location, with permission confirmed
- Shot list and song broken into sections
- Rehearsed performance, outfits chosen
On the day
- Playback speaker and the final mix
- Several full passes from different angles
- Details and vertical moments captured
Questions artists ask
How can I make a music video with no budget?
Keep it to one idea, one location and one day. A performance video in a great space, well lit and cleanly edited, is the most effective low budget option.
What is the cheapest type of music video?
A performance video or a visualiser. Both need very little beyond a good location, light and a solid edit.
Do I need permission to film a music video in Liverpool?
If you are filming on council land, buildings or public highways, yes, through the Liverpool Film Office. Private locations need the owner’s permission.
How long does it take to film a music video?
A simple performance video can be filmed in half a day to a day. Editing and colour usually take a few days after that.
Can you film photos and a music video on the same day?
Yes. Planning both together means matching looks, one set of outfits and a full content bank for your release.
More guides for musicians: Music video locations in Liverpool · Planning content for a release · Press photos for musicians.
Got a song that needs a video?
Let’s make it look bigger than the budget
Tell me about the track and what you have to spend, and I will pitch an idea that fits both.