How Much Does a Personal Branding Photoshoot Cost
The cost of Personal branding Photography broken down
Let’s talk about the question everyone wants to know the answer too: How much is a Vancouver personal branding photoshoot actually going to cost me?
I get it. You’re scrolling through photographers’ websites, falling in love with their work, and then… nothing. No prices. Just a “contact me for pricing” button that makes you feel like you’re about to play some weird guessing game.
Here’s the thing: I hate that. I’ve never understood why we make people jump through hoops just to find out if they can even afford to work with us. It wastes your time, it wastes my time, and honestly? It just feels icky.
So let’s be straight up about what personal branding photoshoots actually cost, what you’re paying for, and what else you need to budget for.
What You Can Expect
In this post, I’m breaking down the real costs of personal branding photography, what impacts the price, and those sneaky additional costs people forget to budget for. This post is full of honest info so you can make the best decision for your business.
TL;DR
The Quick Version: Personal branding photoshoots typically range from $1,300-$5,000 for experienced photographers (you can find cheaper, you can find way more expensive). Price depends on planning time, experience, expertise, and photoshoot length. Don’t forget to budget for extras like location rentals, hair and makeup. Check out my current pricing here for personal exact package details.
Personal branding for BUSINESS coaches
What Does a Personal Branding Photoshoot Actually Cost?
Let’s start with the numbers you’re here for.
For an experienced personal branding photographer (someone who’s been doing this for a while and really knows their stuff), you’re typically looking at $1,300-$5,000 for a session.
Now, can you find cheaper? Absolutely. Can you find WAY more expensive? Yup, that exists too.
But here’s what I’ll say: when you’re in that mid-range sweet spot, you’re working with someone who has the experience, the eye, and the equipment without charging you luxury brand prices. It’s the place where fair meets quality, fair to you, fair to the photographer.
My Approach to Pricing
I keep my pricing straightforward because I genuinely believe your time is valuable.
All my packages and rates are transparent and listed on my pricing page, which you can check out here,
No having to go back and forth on email or pushy sales calls required, no hoops to jump through.
Here’s how my payment structure works:
– $500 deposit to secure your date
– Remaining balance due one week before your shoot
No surprise fees. No hidden costs. No pressure upsells. Just clear, honest pricing from the start.
What You’re Actually Paying For
Okay, here’s what I am sure you are super curious to clarify, what makes one photographer $800 and another $5,000? Let me break down what impacts pricing in this industry, and specifically what goes into my work after doing
this for 10 years.
Experience & Expertise
I’ve been photographing people for a decade. That’s 10 years of learning how to read light, pose bodies in
ways that feel natural (not stiff and weird), and make camera-shy humans feel like absolute rockstars.
When you hire an experienced photographer, you’re not just paying for the two hours we spend together.
You’re paying for the thousands of hours they’ve spent perfecting their craft so that your photoshoot is smooth,
efficient, and results in photos you actually love. And this would be true of all genres you hire a photographer for.
Planning Time
Here’s what a lot of people don’t realize: your photoshoot doesn’t start the day we meet.
It starts weeks before when we’re planning. Good personal branding photography requires:
- Understanding your brand and business
- Planning locations that match your vibe
- Discussing outfit options and styling
- Creating a shot list so we don’t miss anything important
- Coordinating timing, logistics, and backup plans
Lighting Expertise
Listen, anyone can take a photo. Not everyone can make you look like the incredible human you are in less-than-ideal lighting situations. And let me tell you I have had people tell me their space has great lighting, only to arrive and be so grateful that I have a trunk full of lighting equipment!
Professional photographers, should really know how to work with both natural light and artificial light. It’s super important to be able to use equipment when needed to make sure every single shot is properly exposed and not looking like you are in a dungeon. This is a skill that takes years to master, and it’s the difference between “meh” photos and “HOT DAMN” photos.
Amount of Time
Shoot length matters. Some photographers offer 30-minute mini sessions, others do half-day or full-day shoots.
Generally, more time = more outfit changes, more locations, more variety in your final gallery. I don’t limit the number of outfits you can bring (because seriously, why would I?), so the length of your session impacts how much we can accomplish together. I also don’t offer mini sessions because I personally am not a fan of the rush and pressure of them, I am more about presence than perfection, quality over quantity, which requires taking our time together.
The Cost of Running a Business
Let’s be real for a second: as fellow business owners, you know that running a business isn’t cheap. There’s equipment (cameras, lenses,
lighting, backups for when things inevitably break), software subscriptions, insurance (make sure whoever you hire has this!), ongoing education
to stay current with techniques and trends, marketing, website costs, taxes… and the list goes on.
All of that is factored into pricing because, well, that’s how businesses work. But here’s something kind of wild that I did: as my business shifted
and evolved, I was able to bring my costs of doing business down. And you know what? I brought my pricing down too.
Yeah, I could have (and did) charge more at one point. But it only felt right to take a people-over-profit approach and pass those savings on to my clients.
Because at the end of the day, I’d rather work with amazing humans and make this investment accessible than just pad my bottom line
What Else Do You Need to Budget For?
Okay, so you’ve got your photographer’s fee sorted. But here are a few additional costs that might pop up depending on what you need:
Location Rental
If we’re shooting at a Peerspace location (which I highly recommend for that variety and rain backup), you’ll need to budget for the rental fee. These typically range from $50-$200+ per hour depending on the space.
Your home or office can work too, but having a styled, versatile space often makes a huge difference in your
final gallery.
Hair & Makeup
I offer professional hair and makeup as an add-on because not everyone wants or needs it. Some people feel totally confident doing their own, others want that extra polish.
If you’re investing in brand photos, though? I usually recommend it. It’s one less thing to stress about, and a good hair and makeup artist knows how to prep you for camera, which trust me is slightly different than everyday styling.
Wardrobe
You probably already own most of what you’ll wear, but some people like to invest in a few new pieces specifically for their shoot. Not required, but something to consider if you’re feeling uninspired by your current closet.
Why Some Photographers Hide Their Pricing, And Why I Don’t
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: why do so many photographers make you fill out a contact form just to see their prices?
Industry “experts” teach us to do this. The logic is that if people see your prices, they’ll make a decision without understanding the value, or they’ll shop around based on price alone.
And you know what? I call BS.
I hate mind games. I hate wasting people’s time. And I fundamentally believe that if someone can’t afford to work
with me, making them email me to find that out isn’t going to suddenly make them able to afford it, it’s just going
to annoy us both.
So here’s my approach: transparent pricing, always. You get to decide if my work and my prices align with what you’re looking for, and I get to work with people who genuinely want to be here. Everybody wins.
Is It Worth the Investment?
Here’s the real question, right? Is spending your hard earned cash on photos actually worth it?
Okay, let me answer your question with some questions:
Can you sell a product without photos?
Can you show what you do without photos?
Can you give people a taste of what it’s like to work with you without photos?
Did I make my point?
If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, coach, realtor, or anyone who needs to show up online and build trust with potential clients, you already know the answer.
Your brand photos are working for you 24/7. They’re on your website, your social media, your email newsletters, your speaking materials, your media kit, they are literally going to be everywhere.
Think about it this way: if you spent $2,500 on brand photos and used them for a year across all your marketing, that’s about $208 per month, however your photos are going to last much longer than a year. I am always seeing my previous clients rocking their photos a few years later and yet they still come for refreshes so they mix them up, which is the way I do it too.
For professional imagery that makes you look credible, approachable, and like someone people want to work with.
When you look at it that way? It’s not an expense. It’s an investment in your business that keeps paying dividends.
The Bottom Line
Personal branding photoshoots in typically cost between $1,300-$5,000 for an experienced photographer who knows what they’re doing. You’re paying for expertise, planning, creativity, and years of skill development, not just someone clicking a button.
When you’re budgeting, remember to factor in potential location rentals and any add-ons like hair and makeup that’ll make your life easier.
And most importantly? Work with someone who’s transparent about their pricing, their process, and what you’re actually getting. You deserve to know what you’re paying for without having to play detective.
Want to see exactly what I offer and what it costs? Check out my current packages and pricing here.
Ready to finally get those brand photos you’ve been putting off? Let’s make it happen.
Save this for later or share it with an entrepreneur friend who’s been asking about brand photo costs!
Thanks for Reading!
Hi I’m Michele Mateus, an award winning Vancouver Portrait Photographer specialized in raw portraits with an artistic and editorial edge.
I am the owner and Creative Director of Mateus Studios, a full service portrait and web design studio in Metro Vancouver serving Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Langley, Abbotsford, Squamish, Burnaby, Surrey, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster and the Great Vancouver area.
Book a chat with to learn more about working with me!
