Hey fellow small business owner!
You’ve been DIYing and it’s gotten your this far, but now as your business has picked up you’re starting to realize you don’t have enough time to do this on your own. Sound familiar?

In order to stand out in the e-commerce world, you realize that you need to hire a product photographer. A product photographer that can help you create photos that are relevant to your business but truly reflects your brand in a unique way. So, how much does a product photography session typically cost, you ask? Product photography is an investment. We will break it down and give you some guidelines to help budget in advance so that you can book that product photo session.

Here are our guidelines

Type of product images.

First let’s define the different types of photos. There are several different types of product images that we like to categorize into three sets: white background, styled and lifestyle.

E-commerce

Typically, white background product photography is usually used for e-commerce product listings or amazon. A white background is used to truly highlight the products colours, and size of product. It must be visually appealing and accurate for your customer’s experience. By meeting these two criteria, you can create the shopping experience your customers are looking for.

Benefits
They make your website more attractive and increase the likelihood of a purchase - good images can only enhance your online presence. E-commerce photos not only help present your products in the best possible light, but they can also help build trust with potential customers. If buyers can’t touch or feel a product before they buy it, they need to be confident that what they’re seeing is accurate. It offers you the consistency needed in a catalog, adding a clean and streamlined look to it. It shifts the customers attention from any unnecessary elements, allowing them to focus on the product itself without distraction. Lastly, it is essential for picky online shoppers, since you allow them to see all the details of your product when zooming in and out.

Mistakes
Some common mistakes companies make with product photography is using poor quality images, not having enough images of the product, or not photographing the products from all angles.

How it works
Traditional studio e-commerce photography is a process of photographing products in a studio environment in order to sell them online. A well-lit studio space with backdrops are used in order to achieve the best possible results. The first of many benefits of product photography in the studio is that you are in full control of the most important factor in creating a quality photo - lighting. In the studio you can manipulate it to get any effect you want.

When shooting outside, natural light or weather conditions can affect the look of the photo. This is why you would choose studio photography. You can’t get the same level of control in other environments.

This ensures that all images captured in the studio are consistent in colour, composition and style.

In a world of cluttered images and unclear product photos, it’s important that you stand out by keeping things simple and neat. This is why you should strive to achieve a polished and professional e-commerce catalog, using photos with a white background. It’s an obvious, yet rarely used way to differentiate your website from competition.

What to consider

You have to understand your customers. When preparing for ecommerce photography, it’s important to consider the needs of your customers and what drives them to buy your products. You need to photograph your products in a way that highlights their features that makes them look appealing.

Always keep in mind that people pay attention to every detail. It’s like they search for reasons to not buy your product. This is why you should strive to make your online appearance look flawless. By using images of high quality establish a level of trust that is rarely met in mediocre e-commerce websites.

*Photography done by* *B Creative Collective*

Stylized Photos

When you’re photographing products to sell online, it’s important that they are aesthetically pleasing. One efficient way to achieve this is by using props.

If your target audience proves to be more on the artsy side, you can easily appeal to them when using some extra accessories. They add a creative touch to photos and make them look more elaborate. This way, you will also increase your product’s attractiveness compared to photos without any special elements. There are many different ways to use props in product photography.

The best props to work with are different backgrounds, people (hand models), elements found in the product (ie. fruit, textures, etc), or everyday objects used in unique ways. Always remember that the possibilities are endless, so be creative (see what I did there :) ) and have fun with it!

Another huge upside of using props is that they also help you represent the functionality of your products. If a product can do something unique, show it off in a photo! This allows you to target potential buyers who may not have thought of purchasing the product before - just by demonstrating how it works in imaginative ways.

Lifestyle Photography

This type of photography gives people a sense of what they’re buying and helps them picture it in their own everyday lives. It connects your product with people’s lifestyle. If you have a business that relies heavily on selling, you have to ask yourself: “ If I had the same needs, would I buy my product without seeing how it works?”. The answer would probably be no.

It’s common knowledge that in a world of online shopping, customers want to see what they’re buying before they buy it. This is where lifestyle photography comes in handy, being a type of product photography that shows the item in a real environment.

People envision things without paying attention to them. It’s our second nature. When thinking this way, lifestyle photography becomes essential as it allows customers to see the product as they would use it. Lifestyle photos can be used for any type of product, but they’re useful for products intended to be used in everyday life, such as clothing, accessories, beauty products, and home goods.

Using imagery that people can connect with, you create a richer shopping experience for customers, while also increasing your chances for closing a sale significantly.

Pricing

Product photography for your online store isn’t just any photo. The image you use to advertise your product online can be the most critical piece of content on your product page and directly affect sales.

At a basic level, product photography can cost anywhere from $30-150+ per image to several hundred dollars, depending on the size and complexity of your product. Question to ask yourself should you buy professional photography services, per hour, per day, per image or per product?

Pricing per day

Paying by the day would give you a better idea about how much you have to invest in a photographer’s time. Expect to pay anywhere between $500 and $5,000 if the per-day photography pricing sounds better to you. It is more of a flat fee for a “day” (anywhere between 3-12 hours) of a photographers or studio’s time. That estimate doesn’t include extras, like assistants, post-production, props, talent, stylists, locations, usage, or other billable fees. Those can add an extra $1,000-$3,000 to the total cost.

Pricing per image

Another option would be to hire a professional on a per-image basis. Keep in mind that you might need more than a single image per product to showcase it to your audience effectively.

Depending on the experience of the photographer, the price per image may vary from $25 to even $400.

Pricing per product

The final product photography pricing method is when you pay per product. This pricing model is especially useful when your products are somewhat similar. Your photographer can utilize the same techniques and equipment throughout the project. Generally, the more the number of products, the lesser you’ll be paying per product. The average rate per product can range from $20 to $300.

What other factors go into the cost of product photography?

There are tons of factors at play when it comes to the cost of product photography, let’s break them down:

Image Complexity: White background shots are generally less complex than a full-blown lifestyle product shoot. Image requirements may also impact complexity.
Location: Consider things like studio rentals, set prep, and travel expenses.
Experience of the photographer: More experience or niche expertise warrants higher rates.
Product type: Different product attributes, such as transparency, size, or colour, may also impact rates.
Equipment: This is if additional equipment is required. Most professionals should be able to provide the basics.
External market factors: Economic factors such as inflation, supply and demand, etc. Will also impact photographer’s fees.
Number of Images: More images typically cost more. Not sometimes you can get a discount for more images ie. e-commerce photography.

You’ll also want to factor other indirect expenses into your total cost, such as time spent managing the project and coordinating with contractors and tools for digital asset management and photo editing.

Additional Product Photography Charges

When it comes to professional product photography, there are several associated expenses to consider. Here’s a breakdown:

Photo Editing and Post-Processing: Some photographers include necessary edits in their fee, but it's important to confirm this beforehand.
Reshoots: Sometimes photos don't turn out as expected due to various reasons, such as mistakes or unforeseen circumstances. It's a good idea to inquire about rates and fees for reshoots, including those necessitated by the photographer’s errors.
Photo Stylist and Props: You might need to hire a stylist and purchase or rent props for the shoot.
Models and Talent: If your shoot involves models, influencers, or trained animals, you'll need to account for their fees as well.
Food and Craft Services: For large teams or all-day shoots, providing meals is often necessary.
Shipping Costs: Using a ship-and-shoot product photography studio may involve additional shipping fees, especially for large or heavy items.
Set or Studio Needs: If a specific set is required, you'll be responsible for renting it and covering any associated deposits. This also includes other studio needs like cleaning, maintenance, backdrops, and lighting. Studio rentals can range from $400 to $600 per day.
Rush Fees: Be sure to ask about the standard turnaround time for product photos, as well as any available rush options and their costs.

Why is it hard to price lifestyle, and model creative images?

Creating stunning product images is a bit of an art form, and because it's so subjective, there's no "right answer" or one-size-fits-all solution. The many creative variables involved in capturing the perfect hero shot mean that each session can take anywhere from an hour to a full day. That's why we typically use hourly rates to accommodate the unique needs of each project.

How to make the most of your dollar?

Still wondering “how much does product photography cost?”. Here are a few tips and guides on how to handle your product shoot pricing:

Learn what angles showcase your product best. You don’t need every angle, just the best ones.
Carefully select products you can send for the shoot or send multiples. Defects and imperfections can rack up your retouching bill. Make sure the product you send is in its best condition.
Have a vision and align your expectations with the photographer. A detailed explanation with references of what you want your images to look like will save you money on reshoots.
Produce a list of products you need photographed.

Conclusion

My hope is after reading this you have a better understanding of how pricing product photography works and how pricing varies. Here are the important factors that can influence the cost of product photography:

The type of project (lifestyle, e-commerce, stylized)
Your requirements (per hour, per image, per day, per product)
Prop sourcing
Location (whether in studio, outdoors or on your own location)
Size, weight and complexity of the product
Post-processing (editing + culling)
Shipping costs
Models
Complexity of images

FAQ’s

How much does product photography cost on average?

Product photography can typically cost between $30 to $150 per image or $50 to $500 per hour, depending on the photographer’s skill level.

What are the common pricing models for product photography?

Product photography can be priced per hour, per day, per image or per product. Each model suits different project needs, and choice depends on volume of work and the specifics of the project. Whether you need images for a campaign, social media, print or website.

What should I consider when hiring a product photographer?

Look for experience specifically in product photography, appropriate equipment, and lighting expertise. Also consider photographers who offer photo editing to streamline the process and reduce costs.

What additional charges should I be aware of in product photography?
Be prepared for potential charges related to studio hire, complex setups, extended shoot duration, and extensive post-processing.

How do I decide which pricing model is best for my product photography needs?
Consider the scope of your project, the number of products, and the level of detail required for each product shot. Discussing your project goals with the photographer can also help determine the most cost-effective pricing model.

How much does product photography cost in Simcoe County?