How much does food photography cost?

*Updated Nov. 23, 2024

If you Google this question you are likely to find a bunch of random or generalized answers. Most of the answers will also be directed at photographers trying to find out what to charge for their services.

Visit the photography websites and you get a portfolio and the services typically include just about everything. I have always prided myself on being very niched down in offering brand and food photography. You won't see me taking weddings or family session on the side. I joined a foundational coaching program early in my photography career and have done my best to truly stay inline with path I set out on.

But as much as my website is a little different than the typical photographer and I have stayed dedicated to staying focused on food and branding, I still found myself doing certain things like everyone else.

Chefs, Restaurants, Caterers and Bakeries: Why other food photography studios don't post their cost.

Don't you love the answer, "well it depends". Yup I hate that too, but I get it, your estimate does depend on certain details to provide you with a proper food photography cost breakdown. But you need a solution to your marketing or rebrand problem now. You need to know at least where you stand based on your project budget to get the ball rolling and I get that too.

You waste a lot of time getting on calls because in today's Zoom-world we all want that face to face connection in hopes that you will see the value and become our client no matter the price. But at the end of the day we are all running businesses and we have budget parameters to stay within.

Whether you are a solopenuer or a culinary enterprise, food photography falls within your marketing budget. And you want the best value you can get, but sometimes the reality is you can't afford or you can't get approved to invest in the photographer you want.

After doing hundreds of those one-on-one calls myself, I knew there had to be a better way and I struggled for a long time on how to fix it. Don't get me wrong, my solution did not reinvent the wheel, in fact it is pretty simple. But because "everyone else wasn't doing it" made me feel apprehensive to open up my business model to everyone and anyone.

Why I decided to share all my pricing.

At the beginning of this year I tried to do some market research on how much food photographers are charging in my local Charlotte, NC market. My answer was the same as yours, "it depends". I wasn't trying to match or beat anyone's price, because I have my own cost of doing business that I have to honor, just like you do. I was genuinely interested in how others structure things and how food businesses like yours are evaluating the differences.

When I came to a dead end, I was frustrated, probably like you are. I honestly went through a phase of not trusting myself, because my gut told me for a long time I should do things one way, but I resisted it because it didn't fall in line with the 'norm'.

Then I read "Bad Ass Your Brand" by Pia Silva and my mind was blown. It lit a fire in me and things just started to click this year like they never have. So I said, "screw it" and changed my entire website, I created pages for each service I offered and put my prices out there for all to see. Click Food Photography to view where the investment in our services begins in 2025.

The price of professional food photography can vary widely, influenced by factors like the photographer's expertise, the complexity of the shoot, the number of images needed, and how the photos will be used. In the U.S., there isn’t a universal pricing standard for food photography, which means rates can range dramatically—from $300 to as much as $2,500 per image (based on my research).

However, I have a personal pricing structure that allows me to provide tailored estimates for clients with just a few key details. Every project is unique, but if you’re looking to get a clearer picture of how to budget for your shoot, check out our "How Much Does Food Photography Actually Cost?" quiz!

How posting my pricing shifted my thinking and my energy.

We do things differently around here because we understand how valuable your time is, and we want to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible for you. By filling out our simple form, you’re giving us the information we need to create a customized project estimate tailored to your specific needs. This means we can eliminate unnecessary back and forth, saving you from the frustration of endless emails or miscommunications.

Instead of guessing or leaving you with lingering questions, we’ll come prepared to your upcoming call with a clear understanding of your goals and all the answers you need to move forward confidently. It’s all about respecting your time and ensuring that every interaction we have is purposeful and productive.

The key to this is filling out the form completely. Giving us all the information you can so we can provide you with a thoughtful presentation and estimate of costs on our initial call is what makes this process seamless. We will also be very honestly with you, if we are not the best fit for your project or you are not quite ready to get the most of our services we will point you in the right direction.

Let’s streamline this process, allowing you to focus on what you do best!

Interested in working together? 

Schedule a 15 minute call and fill out THIS FORM . We will be able to give you an estimate ON OUR CALL! We are accepting 8 projects in 2025.