Why Freelance Photography Prices Are the Way They Are

You might be wondering why a photographer's hourly rate might be, say, three times what you are paid at work. Here is why.

 

As a small business owner, I have noticed that there can be a disconnect between clients and photographers in regard to why pricing is the way that it is.

 

I have actually had potential clients scoff when I tell them my rate–even though my rate is standard for the profession.

 

Why is this?

 

There are a few different reasons. Creative work is chronically undervalued, the way in which small businesses operate is misunderstood, and freelance workers have a lot more expenses than a traditional employee.

 

Let's break it down.

 

Should Photographers Be Paid Less Because Being a Photographer is "Fun?"

 

Absolutely not! Work is work. The reality is that everyone needs to make money to survive. And no, I'm not doing it for "exposure" or "experience" if you're reaching out to me.

 

In the United States, the work that creatives do is constantly undervalued. In recent years, this has become exponentially worse, especially with the rise in attempts to replace creative workers with artificial intelligence (stay tuned–I’m working on an article that focuses on generative AI and art!)

 

Professional photography (well, serious, this-is-my-livelihood photography) requires learned technical skill, an aesthetic eye, and years of practice. Photographers have to cover ongoing expenses such as physical equipment, web hosting expenses, advertising, and (blegh) the dreaded subscription-based editing software.

 

So no, sorry, I cannot pay my expenses in "fun." That would be cool, though.

 

Being Employed Versus Being Self-Employed

 

While you might be employed at your job for, say, $15-$50 per hour, it’s only natural that when I drop the $75/hour number that you’re a bit shocked.

 

After you read the rest of this article, that number will make a lot of sense.

 

(Side note: it disturbs me that the U.S. minimum wage is still $7.25 per hour. The Maine state minimum wage is $14.65/hour as of 2025.)

 

The way in which a large percentage of the population experiences employment is nearly opposite to the freelance experience.

 

While full-time employees might expect to receive health insurance, dental insurance, employer-matched retirement benefits (and more) via an employer, freelance workers don’t have this luxury (which, by the way, shouldn’t be a “luxury.” Surviving should be a basic human right.)

 

In addition, consider these benefits that you might take for granted at work: paid sick days, vacation time, and maternity/paternity leave.

 

Instead, small business owners must independently pay for these necessary costs out of pocket. And if they can’t pay for them, it’s not happening. Everyone deserves to retire and to receive affordable medical care! They really do!

 

So, having a higher hourly rate allows freelance workers to take these expenses and the lack of built-in benefits into account. 

 

Small Businesses, Taxes, and Financial Risk

 

Another thing to consider is that small business owners can expect to pay approximately a third of their income in taxes. Let that sink in. That $75/hour number, in actuality, is sounding more like $50/hour in net profit based on this fact alone.

 

While an employee has a reliable set of hours each week and a steady paycheck, there is an inherent financial risk associated with needing to maintain a constant flow of clients to pay the bills. Having an appropriate hourly rate can help provide a financial "cushion" to protect freelance workers from a slow season.

 

Many of the points that I’ve made not only apply to freelance photographers–they touch upon the experience of many self-employed small business owners.

 

In fact, I’ve noticed that clients who are small business owners themselves don’t bat an eye when I share my rates.

 

Conclusion

 

So, there you have it, a brief explanation regarding why freelance photography rates are the way that they are.

 

I hope that this article helps you to have a greater understanding regarding how small businesses operate and why photographers charge the rates that we do.

 

Naturally, another photographer might charge a higher rate due to demand, the nature of their work, or a unique circumstance, so please don’t assume that this article encompasses the complete experience of all photographers everywhere.

 

Rather, it’s a little glimpse into my experience as a freelance photographer in Southern Maine who studied photography in college.

 

Note from the Author

 

If this article resonated with you and you have anything to share in response, please leave a comment below!

 

If you would like to support the work that I do, you can hire me for photography and graphic design projects. You can also check out my fine art photography shop.

 

Thank you so much for reading! If you want to stay in the loop regarding future articles that I write, you can sign up for my email newsletter and follow my Instagram.

 

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