At enquiry

Send the basic project details. Runtime, deadline, budget range, and a rough sense of the look are enough to begin.

- Project type and runtime
- Delivery deadline
- Budget range
- Current cut
- Reference material, if available
- Required deliverables and versions

You do not need to know every technical detail before getting in touch.

Within one business day

I review the brief and current cut. For new clients or projects over 20 minutes, I may suggest a short call to confirm the creative direction, technical requirements, deliverables, and schedule.

The purpose is practical: making sure the grade is set up properly before the estimate goes out.

After discovery

You receive a written estimate confirming the scope, grading days, deliverables, schedule, and fees.

- Grading days confirmed
- Deliverables listed
- Payment schedule stated
- Revision allowance confirmed
- Additional work defined

No work begins until the estimate is approved. A 20% deposit secures the dates.

Before the grade starts

Once the deposit clears, you receive a secure upload link and the relevant preparation guide.

The timeline is conformed and checked against the offline reference before creative work begins. If anything is missing or does not match, I flag it immediately.

Please provide:

- Picture-locked edit
- Source media or conform package
- XML, EDL, AAF, or DRT as appropriate
- H.264 offline reference with matching timecode
- Grade notes and references, if available
- Graphics, subtitles, and audio required for final delivery

Use the GRADE PREP GUIDE before exporting.

Before shot-by-shot grading

I build the global look first and send a set of representative stills for approval.

- Look developed from our conversation or reference material
- Representative shots chosen across key lighting and skin tones
- Still approval confirms the creative direction
- Shot-by-shot balancing begins only after approval

This settles the direction while changing it is still quick. It prevents a full pass from being built on a look you did not want.

As confirmed in the estimate

The approved look is carried through the film, commercial, episode, or music video. The first review is delivered through Frame.io.

- Two revision rounds included
- Timecoded notes through Frame.io
- One consolidated set of notes per round
- Seven-day feedback window per round
- Additional rounds quoted before they begin

After sign-off

Final masters are delivered to the agreed specification. The balance invoice is sent on delivery.

- Standard master confirmed in the estimate
- Platform-specific versions delivered where scoped
- Project files archived for 30 days
- Balance due 14 days from delivery
- Rush projects due on delivery

Briefs and enquiries are reviewed within one business day.

Turnaround is confirmed after the material and conform requirements have been reviewed.

The look is approved before shot-by-shot grading starts. A finished pass is not discarded because the direction was wrong.

The written estimate defines the project. Reconforms, extra revisions, and new deliverables are quoted before the work happens.