“Can we get a vertical version, too?”

A different frame can be a different edit. Find out which before you price it.

A straight resize may be quick. A vertical cut can also need shot-by-shot reframing, a new opening, shorter captions, repositioned graphics, and another review. The useful question is not “How much should a vertical version cost?” It is “What work does this version actually add?”

Audit the new output

First, record the target aspect ratio, runtime, delivery destination, and required graphics. Confirm whether the audio, story order, and captions stay the same. A 9:16 copy of a 90-second interview is a different assignment from a new 20-second social hook using that interview.

Then make a small task estimate. Here is a hypothetical example, not a market benchmark:

At a hypothetical extra-work rate of $80 per hour, 4.5 hours gives a $360 proposed add-on, excluding separately agreed expenses and taxes. Your footage, quality bar, workflow, and agreement determine the actual estimate.

Don’t hide review time inside the export

When the client sees the vertical version, they may judge the pacing differently. State how much review is included in the add-on. Record whether a new story direction or new footage would trigger a fresh estimate. Also distinguish fixing an export problem from a new creative request.

Check safe placement in the intended viewing context. Don’t assume one fixed margin works everywhere; platform controls and destination requirements can change. Ask for the current destination specifications when preparing delivery.

A useful reply

“Yes, we can explore a vertical version. I’ll check reframing, title placement, captions and pacing first. I’ll send a separate scope and estimate covering that version and its review pass before starting. If we need to keep the same budget, we can discuss replacing an existing deliverable.”

This keeps the conversation practical. It does not treat the request as unreasonable or imply that a new charge is already approved.

Agree the export list once

Before the project begins, list each runtime and aspect ratio as a deliverable. Include caption format, clean or texted versions, language variations, and project-file handoff if applicable. Naming outputs early gives both sides something concrete to refer back to.