Free Tool

What you need to charge to make this work.

Back into your hourly rate from your real expenses, target income, and shootable days. Plug in five numbers — get the math behind a sustainable photography business.

Most photographers price by guessing what feels reasonable, then wonder why they're broke. The calculator below works the other way: start from what you need to earn to live, work backward into what you have to charge per shoot. Honest math, no inspiration-speak.

Your inputs

Annual income target (after expenses)

What you want to take home — before income tax, after business expenses.

Monthly business expenses

Gear depreciation, software, insurance, studio, marketing, subscriptions — everything.

Hours per week you can realistically shoot

Just shoot time — not edit, admin, or driving.

hours

Working weeks per year

52 minus vacation, sick, and slow weeks. Most working pros end up around 44.

weeks

Prep + edit hours per shoot hour

For every 1 hour shooting, how many additional hours of prep, edit, deliverables, and client comms. Typical: 2-4. Wedding photographers: closer to 3-4.

Your math

Fill in the form and hit Calculate. Your results show up here — instantly, no email needed.

Free Resource

Want the full breakdown emailed?

We'll send you a one-page explainer with your numbers, the assumptions baked in, and how to pitch the rate without losing the client.

Plus the weekly Launchpad note. Unsubscribe whenever.

Calculate your rate first — we'll include your numbers in the email.