What's the Average Price for Family Photography Shoots?

Download Article

Learn how to save money on your family photo session with our tips and tricks

Co-authored by Shoott and Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: November 1, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

Average Family Photo Session Cost

|

Factors That Affect Pricing

|

Saving Tips

|

Scheduling Tips

|

How long per session?

|

What to Wear

This article was created in collaboration with an advertising partner. Learn more here .

Whether you're prepping your family’s annual Christmas card or looking for the perfect pic to have framed in your office, professional family photos can make for a beautiful and treasured keepsake. But they can also be costly—so how do you get affordable but high-quality professional photos for your family? Fortunately, we’ve partnered with the photography experts at Shoott to provide you with the ultimate guide on family photography prices, packages, and money-saving hacks.

Professional Family Photo Prices: Quick Overview

Family photo sessions can cost $75-$660 per hour in the U.S., depending on location, photographer experience, and other factors. To shave money off the cost, try working with Shoott —they'll match you with a pro photographer for a free mini-session and only charge you for the photos you love.

Section 1 of 6:

Average Prices for a Family Photo Session

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

1
In the U.S., family photographers charge from $75-$660 per session. However, the definition of a “session” may vary—for instance, the average cost per hour of a family photographer in the United States is about $100-$400. ^{[1]
X
Research source} The typical family photo session is just one hour, so if you hire a photographer who charges $200 an hour (a reasonable average cost in most areas), that’ll likely be the total cost for your session. ^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If you wanted a longer or day-long session, you’d probably be looking at spending well over USD 1000, depending on your location and other factors .
- In some cases, the session price will include a package of digital images and/or photo prints. Check with your chosen photographer to find out whether your session includes digital copies in the hourly cost or if you’ll have to purchase them separately. ^{[3]
 X
 Research source}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

Premium add-ons may include digital copies of your photos, printed copies of your photos, and image editing services. At the session itself, you may also be offered props (like pumpkins, books, flowers, etc.) for an additional cost. Every photographer organizes their pricing system differently, so it’s important to ask any potential photographer what premiums are included or may be added onto their session price before hiring them. ^{[4]
X
Research source}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

3
Get a free family photo session with Shoott , then pay only for pictures you love. Instead of hiring an independent photographer and working with their price package, use Shoott to find a local professional photographer and get a free mini-photo session with them. Basically, you can go onto the Shoott website and choose your city as well as the perfect time and location for your family photo session. Then, Shoott will match you with a community-vetted photographer for your session!
- All of the locations on Shoott have already been scouted and vetted, so you can rest assured that your photo spot will be stunning, and you won’t have to worry about getting any permits for the big day.
- There’s no upfront cost for your first Shoott session , which will last about 30 minutes. After completing your family photo session, you’ll receive about 40+ lightly edited digital photos within 5 business days.
- Only after seeing your photos will you be asked to choose which photo package you want to pay for—so you only pay for the photos you love!
- Shoott offers three pricing packages for family photo sessions:
 - Most Popular Package: $180 USD. Includes 10 digital photos at $18 per photo, along with $20 of retouching credits.
 - Best Value Package: $295 USD. Includes 40+ digital photos at $3-7 per photo, along with $40 of retouching credits.
 - A La Carte: Individual photos are available for purchase at $30 per photo.

Section 2 of 6:

What factors affect the cost of a family photo session?

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Family-Photo-Session-Prices-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}
Session duration, location, and photographer experience may affect price. Most photographers charge an hourly rate, so the length of your family photo session will greatly influence the price. If your photographer charges 125 dollars per hour, for example, that price will double if you’d like to schedule a two-hour session.
- The experience level of your photographer will also affect the cost of your family photo session. An up-and-coming photographer who’s trying to build their portfolio may charge less than the average cost (i.e., $50-$100 per hour), while a highly experienced photographer may charge more. ^{[5]
 X
 Research source}
- Location also factors into the price of your family photo session, both in terms of where you live and if the photographer will have to travel to get to you. If you live in a state or city with a high cost of living, a photographer will likely charge somewhere in the higher range of the average session price. ^{[6]
 X
 Research source}
- For example, photography sessions in California generally cost between $250–$500, while sessions in New York typically cost between $300–$600. ^{[7]
 X
 Research source}
- Some people hire photographers they love who live in another state or nearby city. In these cases, you may be asked to pay for the photographer’s transportation as part of your session cost. Some photographers even offer a free photo session if their transportation is covered, so that’s an option worth looking into!