ProfitDrawer's photography business guide gives an example budget of about $580 to $4,950 for a portrait photographer who already owns a camera. The biggest lines are a second or upgraded lens ($0 to $1,500), liability and gear insurance for the first year ($200 to $800), a lighting kit ($40 to $600) and a website with an online gallery ($100 to $500). Starting with no camera adds a body and lens. These are example ranges; your costs will differ.
Example budget (your costs will differ):
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Second lens or upgraded lens | $0 | $1,500 |
| Extra memory cards and batteries | $60 | $250 |
| Backup drives and cloud storage (first year) | $100 | $400 |
| Editing software (first year) | $0 | $300 |
| Simple lighting kit or reflector | $40 | $600 |
| Website, domain and online gallery (first year) | $100 | $500 |
| Business registration and license | $50 | $400 |
| Liability and gear insurance (first year) | $200 | $800 |
| Contract template and printed cards | $30 | $200 |
| Total | $580 | $4,950 |
The kind of work you shoot moves the total most. Portraits need little gear, while weddings and events usually call for two camera bodies and backup cards.
Price each session from all the time it takes, not just the hour behind the camera. In the guide's worked example, a 1 hour family session is 5 hours of work in total; at $40 an hour plus direct costs and an overhead share, it costs $254.50, and a 15% profit rounds it to $300. Put your own numbers into the free startup cost calculator before you buy anything.
Source: How to Start a Photography Business (ProfitDrawer guide) · Updated
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General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Check the rules for your state and your situation.