What is the real price for a product photography in 2022?

You are about to contact a product photographer and want to know how much you need to pay? I have been working as a professional photographer for the last eight years. The right pricing strategy was the key to my business growth and helped me find loyal clients. That is simply because I always “Separate the people from the problem” and reach a price agreement that satisfies me, and my clients would have an opportunity to receive the best service for a fair price. In my article, you will find how to find the right photographer and write a scope of work/ photo shooting to get the right offer.

93 % of the customers made their decision based on the product photo

From my experience, the most systematic problem that causes clients disappointment by receiving expensive offers is the wrong scope of work. Something similar happens to me. The client ordered Social media content and asked for a catalog of pictures after the photo shooting. The products are the same, but the workflow is different and requires more time and effort to make all images look catalog print quality. 

Remember that 93 % of the customers agree that the product photo will be the most important for buying decisions. 

Tip one – where better place to find a photographer? 

The first step will be to find a product photographer. By typing in google search: product photographer near me, you will probably find thousands of websites and hundreds of photographers. However, I will offer you to use platforms such as Instagram/Behance. You can see the last projects that the photographer did and understand their character. You have to keep a good vibe while you are negotiating the price. 

Tip two – how to choose the right photographer?

Every photographer as an artist has their style. Some like to take photos in the studio. Some prefer lifestyle photography. Additionally, some focus on the big-size products while others prefer jewelry or small-size products. Remember, choosing a photographer who already has experience with the same product category as yours is crucial. First of all, these people will work much faster and produce better outcomes. 

Tip-free – don’t skip planning.

This is an essential step to define before you ask for a price offer from a photographer. The typical problem between the client and photographer is the mismatch of expectations. The main reason is that the terminology photographers use and clients know does not always correspond. 

For example, product photography for social media or product e-commerce is two different projects. If you need the product for a print catalog or Amazon account, all these activities will require different setups and timeframe from the photographer to finish the order. As a consequence, other fees are applied. 

To define your scope of work, you can look at the UNFPA Photography Assignment, which I find a fantastic reference for people who have never ordered a photoshoot. 

In price, photographers always include the number of items. There is always a minimum order that stands, on average 150 EUR in Vienna. Less than this price, be ready to pay for setup fees.* Think ahead about the timeframe of deliverables, the format you need, and the photo shooting location. 

The minimum price for product photography will be 10-20 EUR per picture for a small product without editing from an unskilled hobby photographer. Professional photographers with at least 3-5 years’ experience will charge you between 30- 70 EUR per picture for product photography ( background removal or other editing services are included in this price). 

If you need an edition image editing service for photos after the photo shooting, be ready to pay between 25 – 60 EUR/h. 

Please remember that models will cost you an additional 20 – 50 EUR/ h. Regarding the last, you can always go for a TFP agreement. 

To finish, let’s make a formula. 

Final price for product photo shooting = photographer experience + photographer equipment cost + timeframe for a project + location of the photo shooting + number of products + type of the photo shooting + how many deliverables have to be done + kind of editing – discount when a client knows exactly what they need.