What to include in a photo shoot budget
- Creative fees. Photographer's day rate for shoot and prep days, and usage or licensing, which is often the largest single line.
- Crew. Producer, photo assistants, digital tech, lighting, hair and make-up, wardrobe and prop stylists, production assistants.
- Studio or location. Studio days, pre-light, location fees and permits.
- Equipment. Camera and lighting rental, digital capture station, grip.
- Talent. Models or cast, agency fees, fittings, usage.
- Styling and props. Purchases, rentals, returns and loss and damage.
- Catering and transport.
- Post. Selects, retouching per image, file delivery.
- Hybrid shoots. If you shoot motion at the same time, add a camera crew, sound and editorial.
Building it
- Start a budget from the AICP-format template and hide the lines a stills shoot does not use.
- Rename or add lines for photo roles, such as digital tech and retoucher. See adding and editing lines.
- Enter days and rates, then the usage fee and the retouching per image.
- Save it as your own template, so the next photo shoot starts from your layout.