Playbook/Revisions & Scope

Revisions & Scope

Scope Management

How to define, defend, and price the boundaries of every project so creative direction, stock research, and "get creative" requests do not quietly become free work.

#Scope Management & Scope Creep

#Preventing Scope Creep

The offer description IS the scope. Everything in "Included" is in scope. Everything in "Not included" is out of scope.

Key phrases:

Smart Phrases for Holding Scope
  • "That would fall outside the current offer scope, but I can absolutely do it as an add-on."
  • "That's a different style/complexity than what we agreed on - let me requote."
  • "Source project files were explicitly listed as not included in the offer."

#Creative Direction Is Not Editing - Price Accordingly

When a client doesn't know what they want and expects Mark to make all creative decisions (transitions, style, intro concept, ending concept, font choices, color palettes), that's creative direction work ON TOP of editing.

If a client removes technical scope but adds creative scope, the price should NOT go down.

How to handle:

  1. 1
    Be upfront"You're asking me to concept the transitions, rethink the intro, and figure out the ending - that's creative direction on top of editing."
  2. 2
    Limit creative exploration"I'll give you one creative pass with my best ideas. You react. One revision round to dial it in. Additional rounds of experimentation would be a separate charge."
  3. 3
    Charge the premium when they have no referencesif the client can't provide any references and wants you to figure everything out, that's the creative direction premium rate.

#Stock Footage Research Is Additional

Stock footage research is NOT included in the base $20/min editing rate. It's Tier 2 ($30/min) minimum, with a $150 minimum per video for single orders.

$20/minbase editing rate (no stock research)
$30/minTier 2 minimum (with stock research)
$150minimum per video for single stock-research orders

When a client needs stock footage but has a tight budget: Give them the option to source it themselves: "If you find and send me the stock clips, I just edit - $100. If you need me to research and source everything, that's $150 minimum."

Client sources the clipsThey find and send the stock clips, I just edit - $100.
vs
I research and source everythingI research and source all footage - $150 minimum.

Exception: If a client is providing 90% of the footage and just needs 1-2 generic stock clips to fill a gap, don't charge Tier 2 for the whole project. Use judgment. But if stock research is a core part of the deliverable, it's Tier 2.

#The Offer Governs Scope - Not the Brief

The OFFER the client accepted governs the scope, not the original brief or pre-order conversation.

If a client accepted an offer for "1 edit delivered in mp4 format" with "source files not included," that's what they bought - regardless of what they described in their initial messages.

#When Scope Is Ambiguous: The One-First Rule

Lock the style on one, then replicate
Lock the style on one, then replicate

When there's any uncertainty about whether the client will like the direction:

Deliver 1 piece first to lock in the style, then build the rest.

4 thumbnailsDesign 1, get approval, then build 3 more.
3 video variationsEdit 1, get approval, then do the other 2.
Full rebrandStart with 1 element, confirm direction, then expand.

This protects you from doing 4x the rework if they don't like the direction. Frame it as: "Let's nail the style on one first, and once you're happy with it, I'll build the rest to match."

#"Get Creative" Is a Scope-Creep Trap

A flattering gift hiding a trap
A flattering gift hiding a trap

When a client says "get creative," "use your professional judgment," "I trust your vision," or "you're the expert, surprise me" - this sounds flattering but it's actually a trap.

"Get creative" sounds like a compliment but it is a scope-creep trap - it hands you all the risk and none of the direction.

It means:

What "Get Creative" Really Means
  • They haven't defined what they want
  • Every creative decision you make is a guess
  • If they don't like your guess, it's a revision
  • You end up doing 3x the work for the same price

How to handle:

They say "get creative" / "I trust your vision"Thank them for the trust but redirect: "I appreciate that, but having specific references helps me deliver something closer to your vision on the first round. Without them, we risk more back-and-forth."
It's about font/colors and you can pull from existing brandingJust do it. Pull from their website, product packaging, or social media. That's what a professional does.
It's about major creative direction (editing style, transitions, pacing, concept)You NEED references. Push for them.

The one exception: When the client's brand already exists and you can clearly see their visual identity (website, social media, product design), you can match that without asking. Example: jsavage8's Sunset supplement - pull the brand colors from their website and product packaging.

#When a Client Asks for More Complex Work Mid-Project

$40/minAgreed rate$80/minNew style (low)$100/minNew style (high)
Mid-project complexity jump - a tougher reference is not a free upgrade

Don't absorb it. Explain the difference and requote:

#Mid-Project Complexity Requote

Template 
That reference is a significant step up in complexity from what we agreed on. Our current rate of $40/min covers [what we agreed on]. This new style would be closer to $80-100/min. Which direction do you want to go?