Quick answer
- US: an established freelancer's portrait session typically runs $250-$550, and a full-day wedding package $2,800-$6,000.1 Broader guides put portrait sessions at $100-$500 and hourly rates at $50-$300+.2
- Beginners commonly charge $50-$150 an hour; experienced professionals $100-$300+.3
- Canada: portrait sessions run about $300-$800 CAD in major cities, $200-$500 in smaller cities and $150-$350 in rural areas.7
Typical rates by type of photography
| Type | US (USD) | Canada (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait session | $250-$550 established1; $100-$500 across all levels2 | $300-$800 major cities, $200-$500 smaller cities, $150-$350 rural7; $100-$5008 |
| Hourly | $50-$300+2; $150-$350 for portraits6 | Toronto $100-$500, around $300 average9 |
| Events | $150-$500 an hour26 | - |
| Full day | $500-$3,000+2 | - |
| Wedding | $2,800-$6,000 full day1; $2,500-$10,0002 | $2,500-$10,0008; $3,000-$5,000 for photo and video10 |
The spread is wide because "a session" means different things. A 20-minute mini session with five images and a two-hour family session with a full gallery are different products, so compare like with like.
Price for the hours nobody sees
The biggest pricing mistake in photography is charging for the time behind the camera only. A one-hour session usually comes with travel, setup, culling, editing, delivery and client messages - often two or three times the shooting time. Price the whole thing, not the hour on location.
That's why the calculator above asks for editing time separately. If an hour of shooting turns into three hours of work, a $150 session is really $50 an hour before costs.
Is $100 an hour good for a photographer?
It depends on what the hour includes. $100 sits at the top of what beginners commonly charge ($50-$150) and at the bottom of experienced rates ($100-$300+).3 As a rate for all your time - shooting and editing - it's solid for a newer photographer. As a rate for shooting time only, with editing thrown in free, it's low.
What beginner photographers charge
Format's guide sets out rough tiers: beginners $25-$75 an hour, students $50-$100, entry-level photographers $50-$150.4 The usual path is to charge enough to take the work seriously while you build a portfolio, then raise prices every time your calendar fills up.
Two habits help beginners most: write down exactly what's included (session length, number of edited images, delivery time), and put a price on extra images instead of giving them away.
Charging per photo, digital files and prints
Most portrait photographers include a set number of edited images in the session price and sell extras individually or in bundles. Others sell all-inclusive packages with the full gallery. Either works - the important part is deciding before the shoot, so the client knows what they get.
Prints and albums are separate products. Price them at what they cost you plus your time to order, check and deliver them, plus a margin - not at what a print shop charges.
Work backwards from the income you want
One photographer's example makes the math clear: to earn $75,000 a year from 50 sessions, you need an average of $1,500 per session.5 Run the same numbers with your own goal and the number of sessions you realistically book. If the answer is far above your local market, you need more sessions, higher-value products (weddings, commercial work), or lower costs.
Photography rates in Canada
- Portrait sessions: $300-$800 CAD in major cities, $200-$500 in smaller cities, $150-$350 in rural areas.7
- Toronto: most professionals charge $100-$500 an hour, around $300 on average.9
- Weddings: $2,500-$10,000 for full-day coverage;8 couples spend $3,000-$5,000 on average for photography and videography together.10
Quote in CAD before tax, and register for GST/HST once your taxable revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters.
Common questions
How much should I charge for a photography session?
In the US, established freelancers charge about $250-$550 for a portrait session; in Canadian major cities, $300-$800 CAD. Beginners usually start lower and raise prices as they build a portfolio.
Is $100 an hour good for a photographer?
As a rate for all your time, including editing, it's solid for a newer photographer. For shooting time only, with editing included free, it's on the low side.
How much do beginner photographers charge per hour?
Commonly $50-$150 an hour, with students and true beginners sometimes charging $25-$100 while they build a portfolio.
How much do photographers charge for a wedding?
Published 2026 ranges are about $2,800-$6,000 for a full day from an established US freelancer, and $2,500-$10,000 in both countries depending on coverage.
How do I price photography in Canada?
Use Canadian rates in CAD - portrait sessions run $300-$800 in major cities and less elsewhere - and price for your editing time as well as the shoot.
Let clients book sessions and add extras
On 1MinuteBooking, clients book portrait, family, headshot or mini sessions and add extra images, rush delivery or an album - and weddings come in as quote requests. Free plan, no time limit.
See the photography booking pageSources
- FreelanceCalc, Freelance Photographer Rates 2026 — Hourly, Day Rate
- Blockerry, How Much Should a Photographer Charge? (2026 Rates)
- Aftershoot, The Beginner's Photography Pricing Guide + Free
- Format, How to Price Your Photography
- Michelle Poteet, How To Price Your Photography Business (a photographer's pricing guide)
- VSCO, Photography Pricing: A Comprehensive Guide
- Canadian Photography School, photography pricing guide for Canadian freelancers
- Bark Canada, Photographer Prices 2026: Wedding, Portrait & Events
- Robert Lowdon (Toronto), How Much Does A Photographer Cost In Toronto? (a Toronto photographer's guide)
- Bridebook, How Much Does Wedding Photography Cost in Canada?
Prices are what these sources published as of September-October 2026. Rates vary by city, season and the job itself - use them as a starting point, not a rule.