Per image, by the day or by the project: how studios charge for product photography, what makes one image cost more than another, and the costs that are easy to miss.
Professional product photography is usually priced per image. At Studio Nula a standard ecommerce shot on a white background starts at $39, and what you actually pay depends on the kind of shot, the product, whether a model is involved, and a few extras that are easy to miss when you compare quotes. This guide goes through each of them, using our own live prices as the example.
Three ways studios charge
- Per image. You pay for each finished photograph. Because you already know how many products you have and how many shots each needs, the total is fixed before the shoot. This is how Studio Nula prices most work.
- By the hour or the day. You pay for studio time, and the number of images depends on how the day goes. It suits shoots you want to direct yourself, such as a lookbook or a campaign. Our studio day is $1,000 for a half day and $1,900 for a full day, with a photographer and every frame shot.
- By the project. One quote for a defined job. It is common for campaigns and anything with locations, sets or a large crew.
Per-image prices are the easiest to compare, because two quotes for the same shot list can be laid side by side. A day rate only becomes comparable once you know how many finished images the day will produce.
What changes the price of an image
The type of shot
A product on plain white is the most repeatable shot, and so the cheapest. Styled and technical shots cost more because they take longer to set up and retouch. A clothing flat lay is $39; a ghost mannequin shot, where the garment is photographed on a mannequin that is then edited out, is $69; and a styled flat lay of a whole outfit is $119.
The product
Reflective and very small products need more lighting control and more retouching. That is why a jewelry shot starts at $49 while a standard shoe or bag shot is $39.
Models
A model adds casting, a booked day and styling. Our on-model photos run from $59 for a hand model to $89 for jewelry on a full model, with the model and two rounds of casting included. Because a model is booked for the day whatever the count, on-model orders have a minimum of 20 images.
Video
Product videos are priced per clip. A 360 video of a shoe or a piece of jewelry is $99, and model videos start at $89.
File formats and backgrounds
JPG and PNG files are standard. Layered PSD or TIFF files and backgrounds other than white usually cost extra, because they mean more retouching. At Studio Nula each is $3 more an image.
Turnaround
Standard delivery is included in the price. Faster delivery costs more: on our orders, expedited is 25% more and rush is 50% more. Model shoots cannot be rushed, because casting comes first.
Volume
Larger catalogues usually pay less per image. At Studio Nula that is what a membership does: it takes a fixed percentage off every image while it runs, with product and model work discounted at separate rates.
Studio Nula prices by category
These are the prices in our shoot builder today, per finished image and all-in: the studio, the photographer, steaming and styling, retouching and delivery.
| Category | On white | On a model |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | $39 | $79 |
| Shoes | $39 | $69 |
| Bags | $39 | $79 |
| Jewelry | $49 | $89 |
| Accessories | $39 | $79 |
The full list, with pairs, groups, ghost mannequin and video, is on our pricing page.
Working out your own budget
Count your products, decide how many images each one needs, and multiply by the price of each shot. A range of 30 T-shirts with a front and a back flat lay each is 60 images; at $39 an image that is $2,340, known before anything ships.
Two minimums apply at Studio Nula: without a membership an order needs at least 5 images, and on-model work needs at least 20.
Costs that are easy to miss
- Shipping. Your products travel to the studio and usually back again. We arrange labels in both directions from your dashboard at live carrier rates, or you can use your own carrier.
- Usage rights. Product images usually come with unlimited use. Images of a recognizable model are often licensed for a set period; ours are licensed for one year, with extensions available.
- Changes after delivery. Ask what an edit costs once the images are delivered. Ours are free when the fault is ours, and other edits are $25 an hour, with anything under an hour free.
- Card fees. Some studios add a fee for paying by card. We add 3% on cards and nothing on bank transfer, Zelle or check.
Try it before you commit
If you have not worked with us before, the first shot is free and nothing is owed on it. Send one product, see how it comes back, and decide after that. Ask for your free first shot.
