What Should I Charge for Photography? Let’s Figure It Out!
If you’ve ever stared at your pricing and thought, “Am I even making money doing this?”—you’re not alone.
Pricing your photography services isn’t just about guessing what others charge—it’s about making sure your business is actually profitable and sustainable. That’s where understanding your Cost of Doing Business (CODB) comes in.
Why Calculating Your CODB Matters
✔ Know Your True Costs – Every business has expenses, from camera gear and editing software to marketing and taxes. If you don’t calculate these, you might be working for less than minimum wage (ouch).
✔ Set Profitable Prices – Pricing sessions without considering your expenses is like playing a game of financial roulette. This calculator helps you break it all down, so you’re actually making money—not just covering costs.
✔ Avoid Burnout & Undervaluing Your Work – If you’re overworking yourself just to make ends meet, it’s time to adjust. Your time, talent, and effort deserve pricing that reflects your expertise and keeps you sane.
✔ Plan for Growth & Stability – A solid pricing strategy means long-term business success, allowing you to invest in better equipment, continued education, and bigger opportunities.
How to Price Your Photography Services
To run a profitable (not just “busy”) photography business, you need to know two things:
1. How much it actually costs to run your business (gear, software, subscriptions, client gifts, etc.).
2. How many sessions you want to take on per year (because nobody wants to shoot 100+ sessions just to scrape by).
That’s where this CODB calculator comes in. Instead of guessing your pricing, you’ll plug in your numbers and get a real session price that ensures profitability.
How to Use the CODB Calculator
1️⃣ Add up your expenses – Everything from camera gear and editing software to insurance, website fees, and even coffee for those late-night edits.
2️⃣ Set your income goal – The amount you actually want to make after covering business costs.
3️⃣ Choose your session count – How many photoshoots do you want to take on each year?
4️⃣ Hit Calculate! – And boom, you’ll get the real session price you should be charging..
Let’s Find Your Photography Pricing Sweet Spot
Ready to price your sessions confidently? Use the CODB calculator below and finally answer the question: “What should I charge for photography?”
Photography CODB & Pricing Calculator
Enter your estimated **monthly and/or annual expenses** for each category. You can enter both if some costs are paid in different ways. The calculator will total everything as an annual expense. Then, input the number of sessions you'd like to book per year to calculate your ideal session price.
Expenses (Choose Monthly and/or Annual)
Session & Profit Goals
Results:
Total Annual Cost (Expenses + Profit): $0.00
Suggested Price Per Session: $0.00
Common Mistakes in Photography Pricing
🚫Basing your prices on what others charge – Their business isn’t yours.
🚫 Forgetting about business expenses – Subscriptions, software, marketing—it all adds up.
🚫 Trying to book too many sessions at too low a price – Low prices can lead to burnout fast.
🚫 Undervaluing your work – Your skill and time have real value—price accordingly