Pricing photography around value, not hours

A practical way to quote creative work by scope, production, image count and usage instead of pretending every hour is equal.

Separate production from usage

Shoot-day production and the value of how images will be used are different things. Keeping them visible makes estimates easier to understand and easier to negotiate.

Shoot-day production and the value of how images will be used are different things. Keeping them visible makes estimates easier to understand and easier to negotiate. The goal is to keep the workflow intentional, repeatable and flexible enough to respond to the subject rather than forcing the subject into a fixed look.

Build a clear base scope

Define number of shoot days, final selects, retouching level, crew, locations and delivery. Ambiguity is what makes quotes feel expensive.

Define number of shoot days, final selects, retouching level, crew, locations and delivery. Ambiguity is what makes quotes feel expensive. The goal is to keep the workflow intentional, repeatable and flexible enough to respond to the subject rather than forcing the subject into a fixed look.

Price the outcome

A campaign image that runs for a year across paid media has a different commercial value from a personal portrait. Your quote should reflect that reality.

A campaign image that runs for a year across paid media has a different commercial value from a personal portrait. Your quote should reflect that reality. The goal is to keep the workflow intentional, repeatable and flexible enough to respond to the subject rather than forcing the subject into a fixed look.