So... How Much Should You Actually Be Charging for Studio Shoots?

If you've ever told a client, "Just pay for the studio and we're good," or said to yourself, "At least I'm covering the rental," - this one's for you.

We see it all the time. And truthfully, we've been there ourselves. You land a shoot, the client's excited, you're excited... but by the time you pay for the studio, lights, gas to get to the studio, and a little sweet treat after the shoot, you're walking away with almost nothing but hours of editing.

It's not that you're bad at business; it's that most of us were never taught how to price our time properly. You're a creative. You just want to create. But you also should get paid what you DESERVE. You've spent tons of money and sometimes years of hard work to get to this moment.

That's exactly why we made this Photo Studio Pricing Calculator, to give you a quick, honest way to see what your sessions really earn once you factor in all the hidden stuff.

Try The Photo Studio Session Pricing Calculator

Disclaimer: This tool gives an estimate. Actual rates, taxes, and memberships may vary depending on where you rent and how often you shoot.

The Hidden Cost of a "One-Hour" Shoot

A one-hour shoot is never just one hour. (And don't let your client bully you into thinking it is) You're really signing up for: 

• Packing the car
• Driving to the studio
• Setting up lights and backdrops
• Shooting (finally!)
• Breaking it all down
• Uploading, Culling, Editing endlessly

That's four to six hours of your day, easy. And that's not even counting the time spent before a photoshoot planning, chasing deposit payments, and scheduling. You know, the admin stuff. And if you're only charging for the hour you're holding the camera, you're probably short-changing yourself.

Use Numbers, Not Vibes

I love good vibes, but unfortunately, vibes, much like "exposure" (whatever the hell that means), won't pay the bills.

This photo studio pricing calculator gives you a quick, honest look at how your pricing shakes out once you factor in:

1. Your Session Rate - What you charge your clients
2. Sessions Per Month - See how your time adds up
3. Studio Costs - Hourly, Half-Day, Full Day - whatever you typically rent
4. Membership Savings - If you shoot often, a studio membership might actually be cheaper long-term

It's not about nickel-and-diming, it's about seeing the full picture before you commit to a rate that sounds good but leaves you broke.

My Rule of Thumb

When I was still trying to nail down my rates, I had one personal rule: never leave a shoot making less than I could driving for DoorDash. A simple plan, but it did help me determine what was worth it. I would personally rather put wear and tear on my car than give my creative services away. I'm not saying you need to follow this same idea, but whatever makes sense for you.

That meant counting everything. My time, setup, rentals (which still today isn't free even though I own a studio), and even the ramen I cooked up before the shoot. Once I started looking at sessions that way, pricing got a whole lot easier and more confident. Knowing my worth has made it a lot easier to walk away from lowballers.

Takeaways

Know your real hourly rate. Include setup, travel, and editing time.

Factor in the studio cost. It's part of the job, not an extra.

Use tools like this. A little math beats second-guessing yourself later.

If you’re still wrestling with pricing your sessions, I wrote a full breakdown that dives deeper into how to cover studio costs and still profit:

👉 How to Price Your Photography Sessions to Cover Studio Rental Costs 👈

You’ve got the talent, just make sure the math adds up.

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