What Is a Photography Budget Template?
A photography budget template is a financial planning tool that breaks down the costs of a commercial photo shoot or photography production. Whether you're producing a product campaign, a fashion editorial, a corporate headshot day, or a large-scale advertising shoot, a photography budget template keeps every line item organized before the first shutter click.
Photography productions share many of the same budget categories as video productions but have their own specific cost drivers: photographer day rates, retouching, studio rental, prop styling, and image licensing. A template designed for photography productions makes these costs visible and manageable from the start.
Key Budget Line Items for Photography Productions
Photographer fees are typically the largest above-the-line cost. Commercial photographers charge day rates ranging from $1,500 to $10,000+ depending on experience, market, and usage rights. Clearly separate the creative fee from the usage license in your budget.
Second shooter and assistants add to crew costs. Multi-day shoots often require a digital technician (DIT) to manage files on set, a first assistant camera, and a photo assistant. Each is a separate day rate.
Studio rental is a major variable. Major-market studios run $500 to $5,000 per day depending on size and included amenities. Location shoots replace studio costs with location fees, permits, and travel.
Styling and art direction encompasses wardrobe styling, prop styling, hair and makeup, and set design. Each department has its own day rate plus kit or budget for purchasing and renting props and wardrobe.
Post-production and retouching is where photography budgets often run over. Get a retouching quote based on the number of selects before the shoot, not after. High-end retouching for advertising campaigns can run $200 to $600 per final image.
Image usage and licensing must be budgeted separately from the creative fee. Usage licenses for large-scale ad campaigns (national TV, outdoor, web) can equal or exceed the photographer's day rate. Define the media, territory, and term upfront to price the license accurately.
Photography Budget Ranges
A simple corporate headshot day with a local photographer might run $1,500 to $5,000. A mid-range product shoot for e-commerce runs $3,000 to $15,000. A full advertising campaign shoot with a name photographer, styled talent, and multi-day production can easily reach $50,000 to $200,000 or more. Setting a realistic target budget before hiring a photographer saves time for everyone involved.
Tips for Photography Budget Management
Always include a weather or contingency day in outdoor location budgets. A rain day that forces a reschedule will cost nearly as much as the original shoot day. For advertising campaigns, budget your image licenses before you shoot, not after, since usage rights can dramatically change the total cost of the project.
Ready to get started? Explore Saturation's film budgeting software to manage actuals alongside this template, or read our guide to creating a film budget for a step-by-step walkthrough. Saturation cardholders also unlock exclusive production perks on software and services used every day on set.
