Product Photography Pricing (How Much Product Photography Costs)
Product photography pricing can be a confusing part of your photography journey. Let’s say you’ve been taking product photos as a hobby for a while and are ready to start charging for your work. You’ve even landed your first client! When they ask you how much you charge, you freeze. What do you say? Product photography pricing can be daunting, but this guide will shed some light on determining your rates.
Renting a home studio for your product photography sessions is one way to keep your costs manageable when starting. Home Studio List connects photographers with styled house rentals for photography to create beautiful, inviting images that will wow your clients and theirs, too.
How Much Does Product Photography Cost?
The cost of product photography can vary significantly, depending on a few key factors. Let's look at some of those factors to understand how much product photography might cost you.
Your Photographer’s Expertise and Reputation
Like most creative services, product photography is priced according to the experience and reputation of the photographer. A photographer starting out will charge less than someone with:
Years of experience
An established portfolio
Quality Investment
You get what you pay for. While hiring the cheapest product photographer might be tempting, consider the value of working with someone with a good reputation. You’ll likely have better images to help sell your products and recoup the costs of hiring a pro.
The Number of Images You Need
Most product photographers will:
Quote you a base rate for their services
Charge a fee for each image you need
The more images you can shoot in a single session, the more you can save. If you’re looking for 10 product images, you might pay $300 for a half-day shoot and $25 to $50 for each image. If you’re hiring a photographer to shoot 10 photos in a single session, you can expect to pay less than if you were to hire them to shoot five images today and five more next month.
The Complexity of Your Shoot
Another factor that can affect product photography pricing is the complexity of the shoot. Images with plain white backgrounds are simple and quick to shoot, costing less. Lifestyle images with props, scenes, and models take longer to shoot, so you can expect to pay more for these product photos.
Your Location
Where you’re located can also affect product photography pricing. A photographer in New York City might charge significantly more than someone in a smaller town. This is due to:
The higher cost of living in a big city
The increased demand for professional product photography services
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What Affects Product Photography Pricing?
Studio Rental: Finding Your Ideal Space
If your photographer can't access a dedicated space, you'll likely need to rent one. Studio prices vary widely depending on:
Location
Size
Amenities
A boutique space in New York or LA might cost $150 to $1,000 an hour (sometimes with hidden fees), while platforms like Home Studio List offer more transparent pricing, ranging from $40 to a few hundred dollars per hour, depending on the features. Before booking, it's smart to review:
The rental policies
Availability
What's included
Editing: What You Need to Know
Most professional photographers include basic edits in their base fee, like:
Color correction
Lighting adjustments
But if you need more advanced edits (say, smoothing skin for models or digitally fixing product imperfections), expect to pay extra. If you're not happy with the original shots and want a reshoot, that could come with another round of charges, depending on the circumstances.
Models: Pricing for Product Photography
Models are a smart way to:
Showcase product use
Lifestyle fit
Build brand trust
Hiring talent adds layers to your budget. You might need:
A hand model for jewelry
A full-body model for fashion
A pet model
ModelFees and Licensing
On top of the hourly model fee, you'll also pay to license the images for commercial use. The more experienced or specialized the model, the higher the cost.
Styling and Props: Elevate Your Shoot
Great product styling can elevate your shoot dramatically. Stylists prep and position products:
Keep them clean and photo-ready
Coordinate scenes using props
A flat stylist fee is often better than hourly rates, especially if you want to avoid managing coordination yourself. For props, some studios have a stash you can borrow, but if you're after something specific, you'll likely have to purchase it separately. Something specific includes:
Branded backdrop
Niche décor
Fresh flowers
Overall Value: Finding the Best Fit for Your Needs
Ensure you're not just comparing rates, no matter who you hire:
Agency
Freelancer
Full-service studio
Consider the following:
What's included
What you'll need to source yourself
How each option aligns with your creative vision
Optimal Value
The best value comes from a blend of the following that fits your brand and budget:
High-quality results
Transparency
Production support
Shoot-Ready Spaces
Home Studio List connects photographers and brands with beautifully styled homes and photography studios available for hourly rentals across 40+ states, eliminating the need to:
Haul props
Hunt for perfect natural lighting
Our curated spaces are styled and shoot-ready, with on-site hosts to ensure a smooth experience from booking to production day. With streamlined booking managed by our Reservation Managers, creatives can focus on their craft while we handle all the logistics. Simply browse, book, and show up to shoot. Browse our spaces for your next shoot today!
Product Photography Pricing Models
Per Hour or Day Pricing: The Reliable Rate for Commercial Product Photography
Hourly or daily rates are the most common pricing models for commercial product photography. This straightforward method works well for clients with limited products to photograph, especially when the shoot won't take much time.
If a product shoot involves only 3 or 4 hours of work, paying the photographer an hourly rate makes sense. For commercial photography, this typically runs around $150 per hour. Daily rates are also common, especially for larger product photography jobs. A daily rate of around $1200 is a reasonable estimate for still images.
Advanced Rates
If the shoot calls for advanced techniques like 360-degree photography, expect to pay around $200 per hour and $1500 to $1600 for a day rate.
The estimated time for the photography may not always be accurate. Various factors affect the shooting process, including:
Preparation of the set
Positioning the subjects
The photographer’s speed and skill
Paying per hour or day might cost you more than the number of images you’d expect to get.
Per Product Pricing: The Straightforward Approach to Commercial Product Photography
The per-product pricing model is another common pricing model for product photography. As the name suggests, this method charges clients based on the number of products they want photographed. If you have 20 products in a similar category, you might pay a certain amount per product, say $10, which means your total bill will be $200.
The per-product approach works well for straightforward product photography jobs with similar items. Issues can arise for both the photographer and the customer. A drawback for photographers is that they may take way more pictures than they had planned because there is no limit to the number of images.
Image Limits
Customers may receive fewer photographs per image due to:
Time constraints
A large number of products
That’s a disadvantage for the customers. Photographers set a maximum number of shots to avoid such problems. Customers who demand images beyond that limit might have to pay an additional charge.
Per Image Pricing: The Effective Way to Order Product Photography
The most convenient method for commercial photography pricing is to pay per image. This method is advantageous for both the:
Photographer
Customer
Customers can decide the number of images according to their budget, and photographers can shoot a specific number of images.
Quantity Planning
The effectiveness of this method depends on proper planning. You have to decide how many shots per product you will need. The minimum number of necessary shots is:
A front shot
A back shot
A close-up shot
You can ask the photographer for a quote if you're sure about the quantity.
Pricing Calculator
Many photography studio websites have a photography pricing calculator to make the ordering process:
Transparent
Convenient
You can select the categories and the number of images you want to receive, and the calculator will provide you with an estimated photography pricing list. This will help you design your budget.
Bulk Savings
This method is way more cost-effective than the rest. Commercial photography requires a huge number of images. Some agencies offer the opportunity to minimize costs for bulk orders. If the price per image ranges from $25 to $50, the cost per image might gradually decrease with the increase in order size.
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Additional Product Photography Costs
Product Weight
Weighty products can drive up product photography pricing because heavy items often require specialized tools or equipment to move and position them during the shoot. If you’re photographing industrial equipment or gym gear, you may need extra help to get the product into the studio. This added labor and equipment can drive up costs significantly.
Product Size
Like product weight, size affects product photography pricing. Large products like furniture or oversized artwork need more space, both in terms of the:
Physical studio
The gear involved
A larger backdrop, wider frame, bigger tripod, and extra crew to manage everything can all contribute to a more complex (and expensive) shoot setup.
Product Styling
Styling is key, especially for fashion and food photography. Clothes need to be:
Steamed
Folded
Pinned just right
Food might need garnishing or props to enhance its appeal. These creative touches require time and sometimes a dedicated stylist, which adds to the overall cost.
Product Preparation and Organization
If your product has multiple parts or needs to be arranged in a specific way (think toolkits, board games, or electronic kits). It takes time to get everything:
Cleaned
Prepped
Positioned
That extra effort increases the shoot duration and cost.
Designing the Set
Building out a custom set is often essential for lifestyle or decor photography. Creating realistic, visually engaging environments requires:
Props
Set construction
Lighting adjustments
Renting furniture or décor elements
The team to pull it all together
Hiring Models Affects
If you photograph products like jewelry, shoes, or clothing, you may need to hire models (even hands or feet). The following can all bump up the budget:
Talent fees
Model availability
Coordination
It’s necessary for brands looking to humanize their products or show fit and scale.
Product Shipping and Returns
When working with a remote studio, you're responsible for:
Shipping your products to the location
Covering the return shipping afterward
This could be a non-trivial part of your total expenses, depending on the:
Size
Weight
Fragility of your items
Tips For Reducing Product Photography Cost
Before starting a product photography shoot, it helps to know:
Why you need product photos
Where you'll use them
Will you use them for:
Social media
Email campaigns
Websites
Print ads
All of the above
Image Leverage
The more mileage you can get from each image, the better your return on investment. One shoot that supports multiple campaigns is far more cost-effective than shooting new content for every use case.
Batch Shooting to Save on Product Photography
Batch shooting is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to reduce costs. When you shoot products in groups, especially those that are similar in size, shape, or category, you reduce the need to reset constantly:
Lighting
Cameras
Props
That saves your photographer time, which saves you money.
Preparation Tactics
Start by organizing your products ahead of time by:
Size
Color
Type
Plan the necessary angles and shots for each product to streamline the process. Use neutral, consistent backgrounds like white or gray for a clean, uniform look. For consistency across all shots, lock in camera settings like:
ISO
Exposure
Aperture
Efficient Polish
Then, during post-production, make minor adjustments like brightness or cropping to polish everything without reinventing the wheel. This approach is:
Efficient
Scalable
Visually cohesive
Negotiate with Your Photographer to Reduce Product Photography Pricing
Photographer fees can vary widely, so smart negotiation is key. Don’t start by sharing your budget. Research what similar photographers are charging. That gives you more leverage when the conversation begins.
Once you have a quote, discuss what's included. Ask about the delivery timelines and number of photos, retouching, file formats, such as:
JPG
PNG
Layered PSD files
These factors can all affect cost. A photographer quoting $1,200 might be able to come down closer to your $700 budget by adjusting the scope or simplifying the shoot.
If their portfolio doesn’t meet your expectations or if they’re not flexible with pricing, it’s fine to move on. Many talented local photographers might better suit your:
Style
Needs
Budget
Browse Our Spaces for Your Next Shoot Today
Product Photography Pricing: The Basics
When you hire a product photographer, you’re not just paying for their time and talent on the day of the shoot. You’re also paying for their pre- and post-shoot processes that help make your images amazing. Before the shoot, a photographer will:
Communicate with you about your goals for the project
Create a shot list
Curate a selection of props for your images (if applicable)
On the day of the shoot, the photographer will execute your vision and capture beautiful photos of your products. Afterward, they will:
Edit the images
Deliver the final files to you
Experience Efficiency
The more experienced a product photographer is, the more proficient they will be at these processes, and the less time they will require to produce stellar images of your products.
Product Photography Pricing: What to Expect
Most product photographers charge by the hour or by the day. You can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $300 per hour for product photography, depending on the photographer’s:
Skill level
Reputation
Some photographers also offer packages with set prices depending on the size and scope of your project. A photographer may charge a flat rate of $750 for up to 10 product images. This price would include:
All pre-shoot processes
Shooting time
Post-production work
The Cost of Product Photography: Why It Matters
Product photography pricing may seem high initially, especially if you’re a small business owner with a tight budget. Investing in professional product photography can:
Boost your sales
Help you grow your business
High-quality images:
Improve your SEO rankings
Increase engagement on social media
Help convert leads into customers
Reduced Returns
The better your product photos are, the less likely customers will be to return your items. They’ll see exactly what they’re getting before making a purchase, and there won’t be any surprises.
The Cost of Product Photography: What Affects It?
Many factors can influence product photography pricing. The more images you need, the more the project will cost. If you have a large product or an item that requires special staging or additional equipment, this may also increase your project's cost. The location of your shoot can also affect pricing.
If you hire a photographer with a studio, you may save on costs compared to renting a space. With that said, if you’re shooting in a photographer’s studio, you’ll want to confirm that the space suits your product and any additional costs associated with using the studio.