Smart calculators for independent professionals
Find your ideal photography rate factoring in equipment costs, editing time, and realistic booking hours.
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Photography has uniquely high equipment costs and significant post-production time that many photographers forget to price in. This calculator is set up for a working freelance photographer — it accounts for the reality that gear depreciates, editing takes longer than shooting, and you can't book every hour of every day.
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Get immediate results with prefilled settings for this scenario. Adjust any value to match your exact situation.
Freelance photographers in the US charge $75–$300/hour depending on specialty. Portrait and event photographers typically charge $75–$150/hour, while commercial and product photographers charge $150–$400+. These rates should account for post-production time.
Include editing in your billable hours estimate. If a 2-hour shoot requires 4 hours of editing, that's 6 billable hours per shoot. Set your billable hours per week to reflect the total time (shooting + editing) you spend on paid client work.
Major expenses include camera bodies and lenses (amortize over 3–5 years), lighting equipment, editing software (Lightroom, Capture One), storage and backup, insurance, and a portfolio website. Annual costs typically run $5,000–$15,000+.
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Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only. Your actual tax obligations and expenses depend on your jurisdiction, deductions, and individual circumstances. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.