How much does photography cost?

/ 02

Pricing tiers explained

Here's how the UK market for photography actually breaks down in 2026:

• • Junior freelancer (£150–£400/half-day) — for simple product shots, headshots You get: Shoot, basic edit, 10–30 images.
• • Experienced freelancer (£400–£900/day) — for brand, lifestyle, product shoots You get: Full day shoot, edit, 40–80 images.
• • Studio team (RIOT) (£600–£2,500/project) — for brand campaigns, ecommerce catalogues, ad content You get: Concept, shoot, edit, retouch, multiple usage licences.

/ 03

What changes the price

The same tier of supplier can quote wildly different prices depending on scope. Here are the factors that move the number up or down:

• • Half-day vs. full-day vs. multi-day
• • Location (studio vs on-site vs travel)
• • Number of set-ups
• • Retouching depth
• • Usage rights (web only vs. all-media)

/ 04

Hidden costs nobody mentions

Every headline price hides costs that only surface later. Watch for these:

• • Retouching (£20–£80 per image)
• • Model release / talent (£100–£1,000)
• • Prop hire, styling (£100–£500)
• • Extended usage licences

/ 05

What we charge

Photography day rate £600. Half-day £350. Headshots from £250. Product photography from £15/product.

We're a small Colchester studio working with UK SMBs and international clients. Our pricing is fixed, itemised, and includes everything you'd expect from a good agency — without the agency overhead.

/ 06

How to compare quotes fairly

The biggest mistake when getting quotes for photography is comparing headline numbers without checking scope. A £500 quote and a £2,500 quote for what looks like the same thing are almost always for very different things.

Three checks that put every quote on a level playing field: 1) Ask what's included by line item. 2) Ask what happens if scope changes mid-project. 3) Ask what you own at the end (files, code, accounts). If any supplier can't answer those clearly, move on.

/ FAQs

Common questions