// Service

Scrollytelling Agency Alternative — Solo Specialist

Scrollytelling builds usually go to NYT-style agencies; for premium brand sites, a solo specialist delivers the same craft for less.

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Scrollytelling agencies (NYT R&D, The Pudding, agencies like Active Theory) charge \$50K-\$200K for premium scroll-driven sites. For brands needing scrollytelling that doesn't need agency-scale capacity, a solo specialist delivers the same craft at \$3,500-\$8,000. The key craft elements: chapter pacing (each scroll moment carries one idea), camera choreography (movement feels intentional not random), asset pacing (3D scenes lazy-load, never block first paint), accessibility (prefers-reduced-motion fallback, screen-reader content layer). I deliver these on every scrollytelling project — the difference between solo and agency work is capacity, not craft.

Engagement model

Fixed price, fixed deadline, payment on delivery. The price covers up to two rounds of revision within original scope. Out-of-scope changes are quoted separately before any work happens. No retainer required, no monthly minimum. We agree once, I deliver, you pay.

Technical foundation

Stack: Three.js v0.170 with GSAP for animation timeline, Lenis for smooth scroll, Vite for build, GLSL for custom shaders when needed. Hosting on a Hetzner / DigitalOcean equivalent — fast first byte, HTTP/2, Brotli compression, CDN for static assets. Lighthouse mobile 85+ guaranteed.

Where it fits

This service is the right call when the brand needs a visual moment that ranks beyond the average competitor — agencies pitching new business, premium e-commerce, portfolios that need to look ahead-of-curve. If you need a basic content site or blog, a static-site generator without 3D is more economical and ranks just as well for simple keyword targets.

Timeline

Discovery week 1, design week 1-2, development weeks 2-5, integration and QA week 5-6. Total: 4-6 weeks for the standard scope. Larger scope (configurator, multi-scene scrollytelling) extends to 8-12 weeks. I send weekly progress in writing — you always know where the project stands.

Frequently asked questions

Do you handle hosting?

First year of hosting is included in the project price. After that, hosting runs about \$10-30/month depending on traffic class. I don't lock you in — you can move to any modern provider at any time, all assets travel with the codebase.

What's your revision policy?

Two rounds of revision within original scope are included. Out-of-scope changes are quoted separately before any work happens. After delivery, I include 30 days of post-launch support for bug fixes and minor adjustments at no additional cost.

How long does this take?

Standard scope: 4-6 weeks from contract signature to live site. Larger scope (configurator, multi-scene scrollytelling) takes 8-12 weeks. Rush projects (2-3 weeks) are accepted with a 30-40% rush surcharge.

What does it cost?

Hero-section 3D upgrade: \$1,500-\$2,500. Full multi-scene 3D site: \$3,500-\$8,000. Configurator with custom shaders: \$5,000-\$12,000. All fixed-price, source code included. EUR equivalents on request.

What if my visitors are on weak phones?

The site detects device tier before the first scene loads and serves a lighter version on weak hardware (fewer particles, simpler shaders). Devices without WebGL get a static fallback that preserves the visual language and conversion path.

Ready to ship a 3D experience?

Tell me what you need — fixed price, fixed deadline, no surprises.

Get a quote +381 61 224 8989