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40 hrs
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$100/mo
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40 hrs
1 hrs200 hrs

Typical project work, moderate complexity.

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Your Rate

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94th percentile
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Day Rate

$450

Project Est.

$2,200

Retainer

$8,350/mo

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Specialization

How Much Should You Charge for Product Photography?

Freelance product photographers typically charge $25–$75 per image or $500–$2,500 per half-day session. Simple white-background e-commerce shots run $25–$50/image, while lifestyle product photography with styling and set design costs $75–$200/image.

Floor

$25

per hour

Typical

$60

per hour

Premium

$150

per hour

Price Drivers

What changes the price

  • White background vs. lifestyle/contextual setting
  • Number of products to photograph
  • Number of angles and shots per product
  • Product complexity (simple bottle vs. assembled furniture)
  • Props and styling costs
  • Post-processing and retouching level
  • Turnaround time
  • Usage rights (online only vs. national advertising)
Worked Examples

Real quote breakdowns

E-Commerce White Background Shoot — 20 Products

An online retailer needs clean white-background images of 20 individual products, 3 angles each. No props or lifestyle elements. Delivery within 5 business days.

$900

Breakdown

60 images at $15/image = $900. Bulk rate applied. Includes studio rental, basic retouching, and web-resolution JPEGs.

Lifestyle Product Shoot — Skincare Brand

A skincare brand needs 15 lifestyle images of 5 products in a spa-like setting with props, flat lays, and model hands. Full retouching and high-resolution files.

$2,200

Breakdown

Half-day studio: $300. Photographer fee: $1,200. Props: $200. Editing 15 images at $30/image: $450. Usage license (3 years, digital): $50. Total $2,200.

Amazon Product Listing Package

A new Amazon seller needs a complete 7-image listing set for one product: main white background, 4 product detail shots, 1 lifestyle image, and 1 infographic-ready image.

$450

Breakdown

7 images at $55/image = $385. Amazon optimization edit (infographic layout): $65. Total $450.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Should I charge per image or per session for product photography?

Per-image pricing gives clients control and predictability. Per-session pricing works well for high-volume shoots. Many photographers use a hybrid: a session fee covering their time plus a per-image rate for retouching and delivery.

How do I price product photography for small businesses vs. large brands?

Large brands have larger budgets, longer usage requirements, and more complex briefs. Charge 40–80% more for national or advertising rights usage. A national ad campaign image should never be priced the same as a local website shot.

Should I charge separately for photo editing and retouching?

Yes. Basic retouching (color correction, background cleanup) is standard and should be built in. Advanced retouching (skin smoothing, composite backgrounds, ghost mannequin) adds $15–$50 per image and should be itemized.

What equipment should I charge for in product photography?

If shooting in a rented studio, pass the rental cost through to the client. If using your own studio, build a daily equipment and overhead fee of $100–$300 into your session rate.

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