Product photography in 2023 may cost a lot of money, but it does not have to be too pricey! This is an age-old craft, passed down from the generations of iPhone-toting artisans, and it’s now a booming industry fueled by social media influencers, e-commerce sites, and the insatiable need to make even the most mundane objects look like they’re worth a million bucks.
But how much does transforming your dull, lifeless product into a seductive, must-have item cost?
Let’s find out!
Product Photography on 3 Budget Categories
Firstly, there’s the “Barely Breathing Budget” option. For the modest sum of only $25 per photograph, you’ll get a person with a 2007 Nokia flip phone (they still exist, bless their souls) to take a grainy photo of your product while riding a crowded subway car during rush hour. The lighting is terrible, and the focus is worse, but hey – it’s a bargain, right?
Next up, we have the “Burgeoning Business” package. Priced at a reasonable $150 per image, your product will be photographed by a college student with a 3-year-old smartphone, some desk lamps from Ikea, and a hastily-taped white sheet as a backdrop.
You might even get an artsy, out-of-focus shot thrown in for free – perfect for making your product seem more mysterious and enigmatic than it actually is.
For those who prefer a touch of sophistication, the “Semi-Pro Surprise” is the way to go. For an excellent $500 per photograph, you’ll work with an actual photographer who owns a camera that doesn’t double as a phone.
They’ll even bring a lighting setup that involves something more than desk lamps, and the backdrop will be wrinkle-free. Your product will look so good; it’ll make your mother proud. Or at least, that’s what you’ll tell yourself when you see the bill.
The Most Expensive Product Photography
But there’s the “Money Is No Object” package for the true connoisseurs of product photography. For a mere $5,000 per image, a team of seasoned professionals will descend upon your product with enough equipment to make a Hollywood director green with envy. They’ll painstakingly analyze every angle, every shadow, and every reflection, crafting an image so perfect that your customers will be left with no choice but to buy whatever you’re selling – even if it’s just a slightly overpriced toothbrush.
How to Choose?
So, there you have it – the wide, wacky world of product photography costs in 2023. Choose wisely, my friend, and remember: the price might be steep, but nothing sells like an Instagram-worthy picture of your product sitting on a marble countertop, bathed in the soft glow of a golden-hour sunset.
Arranging a shoot becomes much easier once you know how much product photography costs. Nonetheless, many newcomers end up spending more than is necessary. We surveyed the industry and compiled a list of standard product photography pricing for you to consider. Right now, look at the pricing chart and explanation.
To be more specific, product photography costs can vary depending on several factors. However, you could get a ballpark figure based on the type of project. The pricing can be determined by the hour, day, or product.
We will go over all possible project categories’ pricing in detail right below.
What Does Product Photography Cost in 2023?
Depending on the photography projects, product photography pricing can vary a lot. However, hiring a skilled, professional photographer would cost around $170 per hour on average. Furthermore, pricing may vary depending on the photographer’s skill level.
In fact, we’ve created a table below that explains product photography pricing based on different categories and quantities. Run a check on it.
Hourly Product Photography
Many photographers continue their projects according to the hours, as they do on wedding occasions. If you want to schedule product photography by the hour, it could cost anywhere from $20 to $500, depending on your photographers.
Try to fix the hours ahead of time when deciding on the hours. It allows you to save money by specifying the total number of hours of product photography.
Per Day Product Photography
Going for a per-day photography studio rental fee would cost you between $400 and $1000. Furthermore, the pricing rises as more equipment is added. Depending on the studio you rent, pricing may vary.
Make sure you calculate the number of days needed for your photoshoot. Otherwise, you may end up spending more than you need to.
Product Photography for Individual Products
When you have a lot of similar products, consider pricing them individually. Depending on the specific product numbers, it could cost anywhere from $20 to $100. Our main goal is to reduce total costs while capturing many products.
The best part about this pricing strategy is that the pricing decreases as the product number increases. As a result, if you require many images per product, this is the best option for you.
Product Photography for Each Image
As a final option, you could choose to pay per image. Pricing could range from $1 to $50, depending on the total number of images, as in professional projects. Most of the time, the pricing is less than ten dollars.
The pricing, like the previews category, can vary depending on the number of images, making it affordable for you when you need many images. As a result, make sure you stay current on image prices.
Pricing Structure for Product Photography in Various Categories
We’ve created an infographic below that shows how much big brands pay per photograph based on category. Run a check on it.
Aside from the photography projects, we could explore different photographic styles. It will assist you in understanding the fundamental pricing of product photography. Whatever product category you most likely own, you will require one of the photographs listed below.
Product Photography on Amazon
Amazon is the most popular e-commerce product listing photography service. When shooting for e-Commerce, you will usually be given standard product photography pricing templates. However, Amazon product photography pricing may increase if you require additional equipment.
As you require, a pure white background, proper lighting, and product photo editing, among other things. You should consider these items as an additional cost for product photography if you require them. Extra equipment, for example, can range from $50 to $200.
Product Photography in Real Life
We attempt to capture real-life images of products in the following category. These photographs show real people using products in their daily lives. You’ll need to hire models and set up a shooting location for this type of photography.
You may need to hire a model to arrange a model. When you hire a model through an agency, you may need to pay between $100 and $300 per hour. The model’s price may differ from one agency to the next. Make an effort to find reasonable ones.
Product Photography at a Close Range
Close-up products are typically small-scale items such as jewelry, electronics, beauty products, etc. For product photography, a quality zoom lens is required for close-up photography.
With the photographer’s and lens equipment’s price, you may require a lightbox for better lighting. The lightbox can cost anywhere from $40 to $150 depending on the quality and size. In short, most small business owners can handle close-up photography.
Cost of Additional Product Photography
When looking for product photography rates, remember that the pricing may include additional costs. Some of them are listed below.
Post-Production
We rely on photo retouching during the post-production phase. As a result of our quality editing service, your product photo will be clean, optimized, and ready to upload on e-commerce platforms. We prefer that you select the best service available.
Model Debut
Consider obtaining a model release when photographing a model for use on online platforms, advertisements, or print media. It is required for all commercial applications. However, it is not required for non-commercial content.
Equipment
You may require a camera and lighting equipment depending on the product type. When creating a budget for your photoshoot, make sure to include all of the equipment and props. You could either lease or purchase a tool.
Why Do Product Photography Prices Vary?
Based on specific criteria, the price of product photography varies. One of the most important factors is the photographer’s experience. Individual vs. studio is discussed in detail below.
Photographer working alone
Individual photographers are a lot less expensive than teams. Furthermore, independent photographers – freelancers – can provide you with much affordable pricing. Working with solo photographers has a lot of advantages. However, finding a skilled individual is a difficult and time-consuming process.
Studio of Photography
Hiring a studio can be more expensive than hiring solo photographers. However, you get a lot better service in a lot less time. The photography studio can assist you a lot if you require consistent, high-quality photos in a short period of time.
What Do eCommerce Brands Pay for Product Photos?
Let’s talk about how much eCommerce pays for product images. Large brands generally spend between $1 and $300 per product photo. It’s our polled data, and it’ll also give you solid information on their budgets.
What Do Product Photographers Get Paid?
According to Glassdoor, the national average annual salary is around $44,193. Furthermore, salaries and earnings may differ depending on the photographer’s location. Before deciding on a salary, you should consider the photographer’s location.
What Should a Product Photographer Charge?
Consider charging hourly rates as a product photographer. A $25 to $120 budget would be ideal for any amateur photographer. However, if you are a professional product photographer, charging between $100 and $150 would be a significant range.
Why Is Product Photography So Expensive?
Product photography is extremely important for e-commerce brands in order to generate sales. Furthermore, high-quality images are required when creating commercials and digital ads. Budget management is critical for any business.
Conclusion
Getting used to the cost of product photography will allow you to better plan your budget. Because you know the additional costs, reducing the cost would be a lot easier. As a result, you could complete product photography for much less money.
As a result, think about your budget first and then plan your photoshoot around it. It would assist you in organizing an efficient photoshoot without incurring additional costs. You must begin product photography as soon as possible.
