How Much Should You Charge for Photography in 2026

How Much Should You Charge for Photography in 2026

“How much should I charge?” is the most common question I get from photographers. And the honest answer is: it depends. But I can give you the framework to figure it out. The Cost-Based Minimum Before you think about market rates, calculate what you need to charge to stay in business. Annual business expenses: Gear (amortized over 3-5 years): ~$2,000-5,000/year Insurance: ~$500-1,000/year Software subscriptions: ~$600-1,200/year Marketing: ~$1,200-3,600/year Education/workshops: ~$500-2,000/year Website and hosting: ~$300-600/year Miscellaneous (gas, props, supplies): ~$1,000-3,000/year Total: roughly $6,000-16,000/year depending on your market and genre.