Product and commercial photographer

Online shops, restaurants, real estate agents, local brands and small businesses needing images for websites and social media.

Per-image or per-project fees, with image licence terms set out in writing. Monthly retainers for regular content are possible with repeat clients.

• Lighting and styling for small products
• Photo retouching
• Understanding what a brand needs
• Invoicing and following up clients

• Commercial general liability insurance, and cover for your gear
• Be clear in contracts about how clients may use the images and for how long
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• Get releases if people or private property appear in commercial images
• Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold
• Income can be uneven, so aim for a few repeat clients

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your camera, lighting, backdrops, editing software and insurance, and on what you already own. A small home studio setup can keep costs toward the lower end.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $600 to $4,000, depending on how many clients you work for and your rates. The estimate assumes at least about 8 hours a week. Income can be uneven, so aim for a few repeat clients.

Check commercial general liability insurance and gear cover, and whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence. Also check contracts on how clients may use images, releases when people or private property appear, and GST/HST registration past the small supplier threshold.