Struggling to budget for your brand’s photoshoot? We get it. Studios and agencies rarely provide clear upfront pricing, leaving you guessing about your content cost. Let’s take the guesswork out of the equation.

At Squareshot, we value transparency, so we charge per image as standard. During the preparation phase, we gather all the necessary details from you to clearly define and calculate the final result — much like adding items to your cart in an online store.

We noticed more clients struggled to envision their desired results, so our standard process wasn’t enough. A Per-image shoot is possible only if you know exactly what kind of photos you want. But what if you don’t?

To address this, we introduced a new option: work with our team for a whole day instead of paying per image. Join us in the studio to collaborate, experiment with angles, lighting, and styling, and benefit from our e-commerce expertise to create photos together. That’s how we introduced Per-hour shoots.

Not to dwindle on theory, we will show you how Per-hour works in real life (and how it differs from Per-image, too)

To make it easier, let's imagine 2 clients with different requests.

1. Reese is the founder and creative director of an LA apparel brand. His goal is to maintain creative control and ensure that the visuals align with his vision and brand aesthetic. His main worry is limited time; the team can’t experiment with lightning, angles, and styling in-house to find the right go-to combo for a shot list.
2. Emily is a marketing manager for a mid-market beauty brand in NY. She comes to us with small projects every month and needs a process that can handle frequent product shoots. Her shot list is fixed, and she needs the product photos on time as the fate of marketing campaigns depends on them.

So, what should they choose?

Per-hour vs Per-image

The Per-hour shoot: maximize your creativity

Let’s start with Reese. His request boils down to one main need - he doesn’t have a clear vision for the shoot. He needs enough freedom on the set to try different angles and styling. The Per-hour shoot would do just fine for him. Why? Because with this offer, he gets:

• More control over the shoot
• More creative freedom
• Wider selection of images
• All raw shots provided

With these benefits, it's important to remember that any changes and delays can add extra paid time. Your on-set presence is required, and the upfront cost is higher. You also get to approve photos on set or remotely during the shoot.

To help you see the bigger picture and understand how the creative shoot process looks, we asked Anna Chorna, an Operations Manager of our Production Team.

We prepare the product, adjust the light, and then we experiment. For example, during a shoot for trousers, we worked with five pairs. After some experimenting, we discovered that folding the trousers leg over leg created the best look. Once we found the ideal arrangement, we applied the same setup to all the remaining pairs, and everything turned out perfectly. To wrap things up, we created a group composition to showcase the collection. The client then selected their favorite shots and sent them off for retouching.

Half and Quarter-day shoots: try it out

Imagine you have a small collection or want to do a test shoot with a few items. Then, quarter and half-day shoots are the best options for you. You can experiment for a reasonable price and decide on styling and lighting.

With this proposition, you get:

• Studio space
• Production equipment
• Product prep. (inc. steaming)
• Free retouching (up to 16 images)
• Crew

Tap here to learn more.

To sum it up, a Per-hour shoot is a great choice for Reese. He gets a result that matches his brand, even though initially he didn’t have a clear vision. So, he basically “rented” Squareshot studio for a specific time period to be actively involved in the shoot and try out different styling.

Per-image shoot: efficiency and cost-control

Emily’s main need is to complete her fixed shot list on time. She knows exactly what she needs, so our Per-image pricing option is the best offer for her. Here is what she gets:

• Low upfront cost
• She pays only for what she needs
• No extra cost for delays

This option is perfect for her because Emily wants to delegate the shoot to a service that can deliver high-quality visuals on time. The creative part of the work has already been done, so there is no need to start from scratch. Remember that the on-set or remote approvals are available in the Per-image shoots only for on-model projects.

Since Emily uses our services monthly, we can also offer her a Membership (just a one-time payment with the option to renew). With the growing image volume, paying per image can be costly, so we developed membership plans. You can learn more here.

*Sidenote: Remote or on-set approval isn’t available for this service. If you choose to pay per image, you see the photos only when they are sent to you in post-production, not during the shooting. It is also worth mentioning that a thoroughly developed shot list is a must in such cases. If you have any difficulties compiling one, you can turn to our production team, who will guide you through the process or offer a different, more suitable service.

Afterword

To wrap it up, the choice is yours, but a predetermined budget for your brand's content is essential.  Opt for the Per-hour pricing if you value creative freedom and unlimited images. Go with Per-image pricing for a focused approach, ensuring no delays or unpredictable extra costs. Each option is tailored to meet specific needs, making aligning with your project goals easy. Choose what works best and get exactly what you’re looking for.