Most photographers who feel overworked and underpaid are pricing shoot time and giving away everything else. Count all of it.
A one-hour family session usually means planning messages, travel, the shoot, culling, editing, gallery delivery, and follow-up. Track a few real jobs and use the averages.
With $60/hour pay, 15% overhead, 20% margin, and $5 travel:
| Session | Total hours | Costs | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini session (30 min) | 2.5 | $5 | $230 |
| Headshot session | 3 | $6 | $275 |
| Family session (1 hr) | 4.5 | $10 | $410 |
| Wedding, 8 hours coverage | 28 | $70 | $2,525 |
Camera bodies, lenses, backup drives, editing subscriptions, and insurance are real costs. If your overhead is higher than 15%, raise it in the calculator and watch the prices update.
Commercial licensing is worth more than personal use. Keep it as its own line item or quote it per project.
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