How much do photographers charge in Nigeria?

What is a Photobook?

A photo book is simply a book filled with photos. The photos tell a story of a particular event with or without words. The photos are printed onto any choice of press paper you want. They are also lightweight and thinner than photo albums. They can contain as many images as you want. The type of photo book you want affects the cost of photography.

Price Range for Online Photobooks

Google photos and Pixum photos offer online photo books service that can come in print in either portrait size or landscape size. The photo books also come in either soft or hardcover.

Photography Prices And Packages

Photographer price lists and packages in 2024 vary with each photographer. Celebrity photographers can cost from ₦2 million and above to cover an event.

• Engagement/Pre-wedding/Wedding photos: For destination weddings, prices will be higher because transportation, distance cost, and retainer fees will be added. The average cost for this type of photo is ₦30,000 – ₦200,000.
• Birthday photoshoot: The cost depends on the number of photos taken, and it is usually taken in the studio. You should expect to pay from ₦5,000 – ₦50,000 for a birthday photoshoot.
• Real estate photos: Depends on the location of the property, the cost of extra equipment the photographer will need to bring in, and also the number of images needed. The average price for this is ₦54,000 – ₦700,000.
• Family photoshoot: Cost depends on shoot location, time spent, and the number of looks, and also if a photo album, photo book, or enlargement will be requested. Family photoshoots cost  ₦10,000 – ₦100,000.
• Fashion photography:  This covers shoots for magazines, publications, fashion lines, and models. The cost will also cover setup time, the number of images, and location, this should be from ₦100,000 – ₦500,000.
• Product photography: Depends on the special effect needed to shoot the products, shoot ideas and the number of products to also be shot. Product photography can cost from  ₦25,000 – ₦100,000.

Different Levels of Expertise in Photography

• Beginner: These are freelancers or people who take photos as a hobby. It might not be a full-time job for them, and their photo and editing skills are not as strong as full-timers or professionals. However, this does not mean they can’t capture good moments, their editing skills may not affect much if you allow them to capture most of the beautiful moments in the event. They charge from ₦1,500 – ₦8,000 per hour.
• Amateur: They have no professional photography education, but take very decent pictures and have a portfolio. These are people that have little editing skills as well, but more experience. Similarly, they won’t make a mistake because they are already used to the kind of pictures they take. Hiring an amateur photographer will cost ₦9,000 – ₦36,000 per hour.
• Student: They are usually undergoing education or apprenticeship under a professional in photography. They have very decent editing skills and also good experience but time and distance are always the issues as they already have a boss. They usually charge ₦12,000 – ₦36,000 per hour.
• Semi-pro: They are part-time photographers with a very high level of skill. These are people that have very good editing skills, and major experience with big events but they are not full-time photographers. They can charge  ₦25,000 – ₦65,000 per hour for a photography session.
• Professional: They are the highest level. They are more experienced and hiring them costs more than others. They are pros in the business and are also considered celebrity photographers. For example, TY Bello and Kelechi Amadiobi are here in Nigeria. They are more expensive and charge ₦40,000 – ₦150,000.

Price List Based on Experience Level, Hourly Rates, and Number of Edited Images

The way photographers make a quote on their prices in Nigeria is based on the number of hours or days and the number of edited images. The table below shows the average price photographers in Nigeria charge.

Benefits of Hiring a Photographer

• Consistency: A photographer is trained to take great photos; that is exactly what you are paying for, not just clicking the camera. So you can rest assured that when you hire a professional photographer you will get great pictures consistently.
• Creative ideas: If you have had to take pictures and got stuck trying to figure out a new way to pose, it is because you are not a professional photographer. Photographers can be creative with new poses, types of backgrounds, lighting, and effects.
• Professional editing: Capturing good moments can be done subsequently by anybody attempting to take pictures. But with the knowledge of editing, a professional photographer would take your look from good to perfect.
• Storytelling: Pictures are used to capture moments that will create a memory. All this will come together when all the pictures are taken in a way that tells the story of an event properly. This is a feat that only professional photographers can achieve, they take you back to the moment by just going through the pictures.
• Photography studio session: People looking for a photography studio near them would get a higher chance of finding one if they contact a photographer.
• High picture quality: Professional cameras are really expensive because they take great pictures with high quality. Photographers usually have access to these cameras and they also know how best to use them.
• Reliability: Photographers make their living by taking pictures. They take their storage very seriously with a very reliable backup service. So nothing happens to your picture even if the worst happens.

How to Save Money on Photography?

• Book early: If you are hiring a busy photographer on short notice, you might have to pay a lot. You should always book very early.
• Bargain: This is one of the best parts of being a Nigerian, you can always bargain with any service provider before accepting their quotes. How well you can bargain will determine the amount you will have to pay.
• Hire for minimum time: When a photographer charges you based on the number of hours he/she would spend working. Make sure to waste as less time as possible. This means that he/she can start working when their service is needed. So you would avoid having your photographer sitting down doing nothing when you are paying for that time.
• Hire local talent: Don’t spend money on transportation when you can hire a good photographer near you. Hiring a distance photographer would cost you more because you have to pay for accommodation and feeding for the period the photographer is needed.
• Compare prices: You can get quotes from different photographers near you then you can decide which of them suits your budget. This also allows you to avoid paying an excessive amount for an average job.