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Accueil Price Calculator

Photography
Price Calculator

Find your fair rate in 5 minutes. A rigorous method that combines your level, your location, your real costs and the market rate.

100 % free No sign-up required Your data stays in your browser Detailed result + advice
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5 key parameters

Type of shoot, experience level, location, working time, real costs.

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Dual approach

Real cost of delivery + market rate. Both angles to set a solid price.

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Explained result

A rate explained with concrete advice, plus a button to create your quote directly in Fotostudio.

Calculate your photography rate

Fill in the 5 steps below. The more precise you are, the more reliable the result.

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1 Type of shoot

Why does this matter? Each type of shoot has very different reference rates on the market. A wedding rarely justifies the same price as a portrait session, because the perceived value, stress and irreversibility vary enormously.
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Wedding
Full day, ceremony + reception
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Portrait / Family
Studio or outdoor session (1-2h)
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Maternity / Newborn
Maternity or newborn session
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Corporate event
Conference, seminar, company party
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Real estate
Property, interior design
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Product / Packshot
E-commerce, catalogue, advertising
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Fashion / Editorial
Lookbook, campaign, editorial, boudoir
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Reportage / Press
News event, documentary, sport
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Pet photography
Pet or animal portraits
Real-time estimate
Select a shoot type to start
Complete all 5 steps to get a precise calculation with your real costs.

Photography rates in the UK
by type of shoot

These ranges are indicative for an intermediate-level photographer in a medium-sized UK city, based on market observations and the Fotostudio community.

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Wedding

Full day
🌱 Beginner
£800–£1,400
🔵 Intermediate
£1,400–£2,800
⭐ Pro
£2,500–£5,000

The most experience-sensitive shoot. Emotional value justifies premium rates.

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Portrait / Family

1h session
🌱 Beginner
£60–£110
🔵 Intermediate
£110–£240
⭐ Pro
£200–£430

Very competitive market. Portfolio quality and client reviews make the difference.

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Pregnancy / Newborn

1–2h session
🌱 Beginner
£80–£140
🔵 Intermediate
£140–£290
⭐ Pro
£250–£520

Niche driven by emotion. Clients are very sensitive to the photographer's style.

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Corporate Event

Half day
🌱 Beginner
£200–£370
🔵 Intermediate
£370–£730
⭐ Pro
£650–£1,500

Companies have larger budgets. Professional delivery and speed matter.

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Real Estate

Standard property
🌱 Beginner
£90–£160
🔵 Intermediate
£150–£310
⭐ Pro
£260–£580

Very competitive at entry level. Adding video and drone elevates positioning.

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Product / Packshot

Half-day studio
🌱 Beginner
£150–£280
🔵 Intermediate
£280–£580
⭐ Pro
£500–£1,200

Market driven by e-commerce. Large volumes and long contracts can negotiate.

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Fashion / Editorial / Boudoir

Full day
🌱 Beginner
£280–£540
🔵 Intermediate
£540–£1,200
⭐ Pro
£1,000–£3,000

Agencies and brands pay well. Boudoir is a premium niche with high emotional value.

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Reportage / Press

Half day
🌱 Beginner
£120–£210
🔵 Intermediate
£200–£410
⭐ Pro
£360–£790

Niche market with union rate scales. Copyright fees are an important addition.

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Pet Photography

1–2h session
🌱 Beginner
£60–£100
🔵 Intermediate
£100–£210
⭐ Pro
£175–£390

Fast-growing niche. Passionate clients who care deeply about quality.

For London: x1.4. For major cities (Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol): x1.2.

3 ways to bill
your photography

There's no single way to structure your photography pricing. The right model depends on your specialty, your clients and how you work.

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All-inclusive flat fee

One price covers shooting + editing + delivery of all selected photos. The client knows exactly what they pay before signing.

Best for: weddings, corporate, real estate, events, any shoot where deliverables are defined in advance.
Simple quote, easy to understand and sign 100% predictable income per shoot No friction after the session No lever on upselling
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Session fee + photo sales

You charge a session fee at booking (covering travel and minimum time), then present the photos in a sales session. Clients buy digital files or prints à la carte.

Best for: portrait, family, newborn, boudoir, clients who decide based on the emotion of the images.
Low entry price = more bookings High earnings potential per session Variable income, requires a sales session Risk if session fee is too low without a minimum purchase
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Tiered packages

You offer 3 tiers with increasing deliverables, e.g. Essential (1h + 20 photos), Standard (2h + all photos), Premium (everything + album). The Premium anchor makes Standard feel like great value.

Best for: portrait, weddings, corporate, any niche where volume and add-ons (albums, prints) add real value.
Suits every budget Increases average order value through anchoring Naturally identifies your premium clients More complex quote to build and explain

Fotostudio tip: whatever your model, always describe your deliverables clearly: number of edited photos, format, deadline, usage rights. Clarity protects the client relationship. Fotostudio lets you create all 3 types of quotes with e-signature included.

How to calculate the right photography rate

The most common mistake: setting prices by copying competitors without knowing their costs, tax situation or experience level.

The right method combines two approaches:

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Your cost price

Annual costs ÷ number of billable shoots = cost per shoot. This is your absolute floor.

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The market rate

What your local market is willing to pay for your level. If you’re below it, you’re leaving money on the table.

Your fair rate

The maximum of the two, always above your cost price, even when the market is low.

Mistake #1: forgetting post-production

A 2-hour shoot can mean 4–6 hours of editing. If your price only covers shooting time, you’re working at a loss. Always include total working time.

Mistake #2: ignoring your running costs

Camera, lenses, Lightroom, hard drives, insurance, accountant… These often add up to €500–€1,500/month that must be spread across every shoot.

Mistake #3: undervaluing yourself out of fear

Cutting prices to win clients creates a vicious cycle: budget-conscious clients, thin margins, burnout. The right client pays the right price.

Best practice: review rates annually

Your costs rise each year and so does your experience. A 5–10% annual increase is healthy and well accepted by loyal clients.

Frequently asked questions
photographer rates

Start with your annual costs (equipment, software, insurance) divided by the number of planned shoots. That gives you your break-even floor per shoot. Add your income target, then compare with local market rates and apply the higher of the two.

Absolutely. Post-production often represents 50–150% of shooting time. A 2-hour shoot can mean 4–6 hours of editing. Your rate must cover all working time, not just time on location.

The standard practice is to bill travel beyond a certain radius (typically 20–30 km), either as a flat fee or per km. For shoots requiring an overnight stay, include accommodation costs in your quote.

Packages give clients clarity and predictability. Hourly billing works better for projects with uncertain duration, such as corporate events. Most photographers offer standard packages and bill overtime separately.

Reviewing rates annually is healthy. Your costs increase each year, and so does your experience. A 5–10% annual increase is generally well accepted by loyal clients. Announce increases in advance and honour quoted prices for bookings already in progress.

A professional quote should include: service description, deliverables (number of edited photos, format, deadline), usage rights, price breakdown and payment terms. Fotostudio lets you create signed, online-payable quotes in minutes.

For commercial clients (corporate, advertising, brands), usage rights are a separate and recommended line item. They cover the permitted use of the images for defined media, duration and territory, and can significantly increase the total amount. For private clients (weddings, family portraits), usage rights are usually bundled into the package as unlimited personal use.

In the UK, you only charge VAT once you're registered (mandatory above £90,000 turnover, voluntary below). If you work with VAT-registered businesses, charging VAT is not a disadvantage as they can reclaim it. For private clients it's a real surcharge, so factor it into your positioning early. Some photographers structure their pricing differently depending on whether the client is a business or a consumer.

A professional photography invoice or quote should include: service description (type, location, duration), deliverables (number of edited photos, format, delivery deadline), usage rights, price breakdown and payment terms, and cancellation/rescheduling conditions. Using dedicated software like Fotostudio lets you create these quotes in a few clicks, with e-signature and online payment built in.

Rate increases are normal and healthy. The method: notify loyal clients in advance (3 months) with a personalised message explaining the change; honour quoted prices for bookings already in progress; communicate your added value (new equipment, training, improved deliverables). A 5–10% annual increase is generally well received. Clients who leave purely over price were not in your core target market.
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Your rate is calculated. Now create your professional quote.

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