Getting a quote for a brand shoot: shot count, usage and location
- Commercial shoot quotes depend on shot count, retouching level, usage (media and period), and location and crew costs.
- For photos with models, agree the media and period for using the model's images separately from your contract with the photographer.
- Send references and delivery specs with your quote request and quotes from different photographers will line up better.
Unlike personal snaps, where and for how long the photos will be used is a big part of the price of a brand shoot. The same 20 photos can be quoted differently for use only on your own product pages and for use in outdoor advertising as well.
What sets the quote
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Shot count | Number of final photos delivered. Often calculated as products × angles |
| Retouching level | Background clean-up and colour correction, or detailed work down to skin and product surfaces |
| Usage | Media such as your online store, social media, stores, outdoor ads and print, and how long you'll use them |
| Location | Studio rental, location fees, travel costs |
| Crew | Models, hair and makeup, stylists, assistants |
| Schedule | Number of shoot days, delivery deadline, rush or not |
How long you can use model photos
Separately from permission to use the photographer's images, you also need to agree the media and period for using the model's face and likeness in advertising. Disputes arise when images keep being used with no end date, so writing the media and period into the contract is the simplest prevention.
What to put in a quote request
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Brand and products | 12 women's knit styles, autumn/winter lookbook |
| Usage | Own online store product pages, Instagram, 6 months |
| Shot count and specs | 40 on-model shots, 24 detail shots / at least 1,200px wide, 4:5 ratio |
| References | 3 photos with the mood we want, 1 we want to avoid |
| Location | Daylight studio preferred. We book the rental, or we'd like the photographer's recommendation |
| Crew | 1 model (casting needed), hair and makeup needed |
| Schedule | One shoot day in the fourth week of November; delivery within 10 days of the shoot |
| Paperwork | Korean tax invoice required |
Check before you sign
- Original files — Whether you get the unedited originals or only the selected shots
- Revisions — How many rounds of retouching revisions are included
- Photographer's portfolio use — Whether the photographer may use the work in their portfolio, and from when (important for unreleased products)
- Cancellation and postponement — What happens if the shoot date slips because products arrive late
- Location rental — Whether it's in the quote, and who pays if you run over time
If you're choosing the studio yourself, also see choosing the right studio and how to work out a studio rental fee.
For unreleased products, write into the contract the date from which the photographer may post the work on social media or in their portfolio.
The usual structure of a commercial shoot quote, put together by the ROKE editorial team. Examples are for illustration and do not describe any actual deal. Agree terms directly with the photographer and get professional advice if needed.
