why corporate headshots come out better when you bring your team<\/a>, which ties straight back into how the time gets used on the day.<\/p>\n![\"Business](\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1271-AARSLEFF-Team-marketing-shoot-2023_04_24-by-McFade-copy.jpg\")
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What About Usage Rights and Licensing?<\/h2>\n
This one rarely gets asked upfront, but it does affect the price. A standard day rate covers normal business use \u2014 your website, social media, internal comms, printed materials for the business itself. That’s built into every quote, no extra reading required.<\/p>\n
Where it changes is wider commercial use \u2014 think a national out-of-home ad campaign, or licensing images to a third party. That’s a genuinely different scope of use, so it gets discussed and priced separately, upfront, before the shoot. No surprise invoices.<\/p>\n
Getting an Accurate Quote For Your Shoot<\/h2>\n
I don’t do headline day rates with hidden extras. Tell me what the job involves \u2014 number of people, number of locations, whether drone work’s needed \u2014 and I’ll match it to one of the three packages above, or combine them if the job’s bigger than a single session. That’s the detailed quote you get before booking, not after.<\/p>\n
Photographers often quote a rate and add extras later for things like rush turnaround or extended usage rights. I’d rather build that into the conversation upfront, so you can make informed decisions about which package actually fits, and there’s no surprise on the final invoice.<\/p>\n
Turnaround is part of that conversation too. A 2-hour headshot session usually comes back edited within a few working days. A full day on a construction site, with a thousand-plus shots to sort through, realistically takes longer \u2014 I’ll always give you a straight timeframe when we scope the job, not just a price.<\/p>\n
Yes, There Are Exceptions<\/h2>\n
Of course, stuff happens \u2014 weather ruins the shoot, things run slow, or you end up with fewer shots than planned. In those situations, time-based pricing can seem less fair, but thankfully, that’s pretty rare.<\/p>\n
My Pricing Sweet Spot<\/h2>\n
After doing loads of research (thanks, ChatGPT!), I’ve settled on three simple packages: \u00a3450 for 2 hours, \u00a3650 for a half-day, and \u00a3950 for a full day. The full day offers cracking value per hour, the half-day is pretty standard for the industry, and the 2-hour option costs more per hour \u2014 but perfect if we’re well-organised. Give me two hours and good planning, and I’ll deliver masses of photos that punch well above their weight.<\/p>\n
So that’s the real-world reason why I package by time. It just makes sense. If your job doesn’t fit neatly into one of the three packages above, drop me a message with what you need and I’ll give you a straight, detailed quote \u2014 no vague ranges, no guesswork.<\/p>\n
\nFAQ<\/h2>\nHow much does a commercial photographer cost in the UK?<\/h3>\n
It varies a lot by region and scope, which is exactly why generic UK-wide figures aren’t that useful. Mine is \u00a3450 for 2 hours, \u00a3650 for a half-day, or \u00a3950 for a full day \u2014 fixed, so the number depends on how long the job actually takes, not a flat national rate.<\/p>\n
Do you charge by the hour or by the project?<\/h3>\n
By time, in three fixed packages: \u00a3450 for 2 hours, \u00a3650 for a half-day, and \u00a3950 for a full day. That gives you a clear final cost upfront rather than an open-ended hourly clock.<\/p>\n
What is your day rate?<\/h3>\n
\u00a3950 for a full 8-hour day. It’s typically the best value per hour, especially for construction sites or multi-location team shoots where more time on site means more usable, high-quality photos.<\/p>\n
What’s included in the price?<\/h3>\n
Shooting time, full editing and post-production, and standard business usage rights (website, social, internal comms, print for your own business). Travel within most of Yorkshire is included too, so the price you see is the price you pay.<\/p>\n
How long does editing take?<\/h3>\n
Depends on the job. A 2-hour headshot session is usually back within a few working days. A full day on-site, with hundreds or thousands of shots to sort and retouch, takes longer \u2014 I’ll give you a realistic turnaround when we scope the job, not a vague “soon.”<\/p>\n
Can drone photography be added to a shoot?<\/h3>\n
Yes \u2014 I hold a CAA drone licence, so aerial work can be built into a construction or site day, or booked as its own session. See drone photography<\/a> for how that usually works.<\/p>\nHow far in advance should I book?<\/h3>\n
The earlier the better, especially for a full team day where diaries need coordinating, but get in touch even if it’s short notice \u2014 I’ll always tell you straight if the timing’s not going to work.<\/p>\n
Do you cover all of Yorkshire?<\/h3>\n
Yes. I’m based in Leeds, so Bradford, Harrogate, Wakefield, Halifax, Huddersfield, and most of West Yorkshire involve no extra travel cost. Sheffield, York, and Hull are straightforward too, and the Dales are no problem for a construction or landscape job \u2014 anything further out just gets travel time added transparently to the quote.<\/p>\n
Cheers,
Ade<\/p>\n
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