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Pricing Your Photography

Cost of Doing Business (CODB)

Pricing based on what competitors charge or what 'feels right' leads to financial ruin. CODB pricing starts with reality: list all annual business expenses (gear, insurance, software, website, marketing, vehicle, phone, continuing education) plus your desired salary plus taxes (30% self-employment in the US) plus retirement savings. Divide by the number of billable days you can realistically work per year (typically 100-150, not 365). This gives your daily CODB. A photographer with $80,000 in annual costs working 120 billable days needs to earn $667/day minimum to stay afloat.

Pricing Your Photography

Cost of Doing Business (CODB)

Pricing based on what competitors charge or what 'feels right' leads to financial ruin. CODB pricing starts with reality: list all annual business expenses (gear, insurance, software, website, marketing, vehicle, phone, continuing education) plus your desired salary plus taxes (30% self-employment in the US) plus retirement savings. Divide by the number of billable days you can realistically work per year (typically 100-150, not 365). This gives your daily CODB. A photographer with $80,000 in annual costs working 120 billable days needs to earn $667/day minimum to stay afloat.