Hourly Rate Calculator — Effective Hourly Rate

Because every paid shoot generates hours of unpaid work: editing, culling, travel, client communication, delivery, invoicing, bookkeeping. An 8-hour wedding at £1,500 sounds like £187/hr, but with 20 hours of editing and 4 hours of admin, it drops to £47/hr. Always calculate your true hourly rate.

In the UK, a professional photographer should target at least £30-50/hr effective rate to cover costs and earn a reasonable living. Established photographers earn £50-100+/hr. Below £25/hr, you may earn less than employed alternatives after business costs. Your rate should increase with experience.

Yes. Job-specific expenses (travel fuel, parking, assistant fees, print costs, prop rental) directly reduce your profit. Subtracting expenses gives your net hourly rate — the true measure of what you earn per hour of work invested.

Increase prices (the most direct method). Reduce editing time through better culling and batch presets. Reduce admin with automated workflows (invoicing, delivery). Shoot more efficiently (fewer outtakes = less culling). Outsource editing. Offer fewer images per package.