What Do Tandem Skydive Photo and Video Packages Cost?
Media package prices at five US dropzones, from $89 basic video to $229 combo bundles, with full jump-plus-media totals and checkout fees to watch for.
You've picked a dropzone, chosen a date, and you're at the last checkout screen when it asks: add video? Most US dropzones charge for photos and video separately from the jump, and the add-on is a real part of the bill. As of October 2026, media packages at the five dropzones below run from $89 for a basic instructor-filmed video to $229 for the biggest bundle. Here is what each tier includes, what the full jump-plus-media total looks like, and which charges show up only at checkout.
The short answer: what media costs
At most dropzones, the quoted jump price doesn't include media. Spaceland's Houston video page says so directly: the skydive price covers everything except the photo or video package you pick. Skydive Perris lists media as separate packages from its tandem price, and Bay Area Skydiving says media is "sold separately."
As of October 2026, here's what those five dropzones charge:
- Entry-level video (filmed by your instructor): $89 to $129
- Pro videographer video plus photos: $136.50 to $179
- Top combo package: $150 to $229
Prices change from one dropzone to the next, and a location's price this season may not be the same next season. Treat these as real examples, not a national average. The price that counts is the one on the page of the dropzone you're booking.
The three typical tiers
Most dropzones sort media into three levels. The names differ, but the setup is about the same everywhere.
1. Selfie or hand-cam video. Your tandem instructor wears a camera, usually on the wrist, and films the jump. Nobody else flies with you. - Skydive Perris (California) Selfie Package: $89. HD video only, covering the exit, freefall and canopy ride. - Skydive Midwest (Wisconsin) Hand Cam: $99. - Bay Area Skydiving Basic Handycam Video: $99. - Spaceland Houston Selfie Video: $129 plus tax.
2. Pro videographer with video and photos. A second skydiver jumps with you and films you from outside. This angle shows your face, the instructor and the whole sky around you. - Perris Hollywood Package: $169. HD video plus 50–80 still photos. The videographer flies alongside and interviews you before and after the jump. - Midwest Premium: $136.50. About 50–100 photos and 3–4 minutes of edited video. - Bay Area Video & Photo Package: $148. - Spaceland PRO Video+Photos: $179 plus tax. The videographer films from gear-up to landing.
3. Combo or ultimate package. You get both camera views. The wrist cam usually films the parachute ride, which the outside videographer often can't follow. - Perris Red Carpet Package: $189. Videographer and wrist-cam footage, plus high-res photos from both. - Midwest Extreme: $189, both packages combined. - Bay Area Ultimate Video Package: $198. Adds under-canopy video and color-graded editing. - Spaceland ULTIMATE: $229 plus tax. Selfie and PRO combined, plus raw footage on a flash drive if you ask for it.
Skydive Orange (Virginia) divides things differently. It sells Video Only for $125 cash, Photos Only (80–120 shots) for $125 cash, or both for $150 cash.
Price comparison by dropzone
Media looks cheaper when you see it alone. Here's each dropzone's base tandem price next to its media prices, so you can see the full bill. All prices are as of October 2026 and before tax.
Skydive Perris, California - Tandem jump: from $199 (14,000 ft) - Media: $89 / $169 / $189 - Example totals: about $288 with the Selfie Package, about $388 with Red Carpet
Skydive Spaceland Houston, Texas - Tandem jump: the video page doesn't print it, so check the booking page. The first-tandem page lists a same-day second tandem at $99, "reg. $239." - Media: $129 / $179 / $229, plus tax - Example totals: jump price plus $129 to $229, plus tax
Skydive Midwest, Wisconsin area - Tandem jump: $229 weekday, $259 weekend, $299 walk-in - Media: $99 / $136.50 / $189 - Example totals: $328 for a weekday jump with Hand Cam, $448 for a weekend jump with Extreme
Skydive Orange, Virginia (cash prices) - Tandem jump: $259 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, $274 Fridays, $289 regular weekend, $309 for the 8 a.m. weekend "Top of the Morning" slot - Media: $125 video only, $125 photos only, $150 both - Example totals: $384 for a Wednesday jump with video only, $439 for a regular weekend jump with video and photos
Bay Area Skydiving, California - Tandem jump: $248 at 13,000 ft (a $198 Summer Sale price was also listed), $298 at 15,000 ft, $368 at 18,000 ft - Media: $99 / $148 / $198 - Example totals: $347 for 13,000 ft with Basic Handycam, $566 for 18,000 ft with Ultimate
Across these five dropzones, a first tandem with media lands at roughly $290 to $570 before tax, depending on the day, the altitude and the package. Media often adds a third or more to the bill, so plan for it from the start.
Hidden costs and fine print
The examples above show base prices. A few details can still change what you actually pay.
- Tax isn't always included. Spaceland lists every media package "plus tax."
- Cash and card prices can differ. Skydive Orange's card prices run $5–$6 more per package: $130, $130 and $156. Its jump prices go up too, for example $289 cash versus $301 card for a regular weekend tandem. Skydive Midwest says its listed prices reflect a 3% cash discount.
- Deposits. Skydive Midwest requires a $20 reservation deposit. Bay Area Skydiving's deposits are non-refundable, so be sure of your date before you pay.
- Weight surcharges. These apply to the jump, but they change the total. Bay Area Skydiving adds $25 for 201–224 lb, $50 for 225–249 lb and $75 for 250–275 lb. Skydive Midwest has a 250 lb limit and no surcharge. Spaceland Houston requires jumpers to weigh less than 265 lb. Weight limits are safety rules, not suggestions, so check them honestly before you book.
- Delivery is by email. Perris and Spaceland send your footage by email. A typo in the address can mean your footage never arrives.
- When you buy. Perris lets you add media during online booking or at check-in. That gives you time to decide, but don't leave the price as a surprise for jump day.
- Day and timing discounts. Skydive Midwest's weekday rate is $70 less than walk-in. Skydive Orange takes $30 off on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Bay Area Skydiving listed a seasonal sale. Booking ahead for a quieter day can free up room in the budget for a better media tier.
If you're booking for fall, or buying the jump as a gift around Thanksgiving, check that the posted price is still current. Dropzones note that prices can change.
Is it worth it, and how to choose
Skydive Midwest's sales pitch is that friends on the ground only capture "a dot in the sky." That's marketing, but it's mostly true. You'll be thousands of feet up, and a phone on the ground can't film your face in freefall. Whether that footage is worth $89 or $229 is your call.
Pick the tier by what you'll actually use:
- You just want a record of the jump: a selfie or hand-cam video ($89–$129 at these dropzones) films the exit, the freefall and the parachute ride.
- You want shots to frame or post: a photos-only option like Skydive Orange's ($125 cash), or a pro package with stills, gives you real photos, not just frames pulled from video.
- You want the full story: a combo package gives you both camera views, and some include under-canopy footage or raw files.
Before you book, open the pricing page of the dropzone you've chosen. Check whether tax is included, compare the cash and card prices, and double-check your email address at checkout. Once you know the total ahead of time, you can just enjoy the jump.
Sources (8)
Photo: camera man by alvinyu2003, BY-SA 2.0.