If you've started looking for a portrait photographer in Sydney, you've probably noticed that prices are all over the place. Some sessions cost a couple of hundred dollars, others well over a thousand, and it isn't always clear what you're actually getting.

Here's what changes the price, what to ask before you book, and exactly what's included in a session with me.

What changes the price of a portrait shoot

  • How long the session is. A quick 20-minute headshot is a very different job from a relaxed 90 minutes with outfit changes and a couple of spots. Longer sessions give you more variety, and more time to relax into it.
  • How many edited images you get. This is the one to check most carefully. Some prices include only a handful of images, with each extra photo charged on top. Others include a full gallery. Always ask how many edited images come with the price.
  • Planning before the day. A good session starts well before the camera comes out: choosing the location, the outfits and the mood. Some photographers include this; others just turn up.
  • Location and travel. Shooting at a park, a café or your home usually costs nothing extra, but some photographers charge for travel, or for permits at certain venues.
  • What you'll use the photos for. Personal portraits, a modelling portfolio and photos for your business website are all portraits, but business use sometimes costs more. It's worth asking if that's your plan.
  • Extras. Hair and makeup, printed products and albums are usually priced separately.
Black and white portrait of a man with curly hair and eyes closed Black and white fitness portrait of a woman in activewear with her hands on her hips

Questions to ask before you book

  • How many edited images are included, and how much are extra ones?
  • How long is the session, and can I change outfits?
  • Do you help with posing? (This matters most if you feel awkward in front of a camera.)
  • How and when will I receive my photos?
  • How much is the deposit, and when is the rest due?
  • Is travel included?

A photographer who answers these clearly, before you pay anything, is usually one you'll enjoy working with.

What a portrait session with me costs

My portrait sessions are $295, and that covers everything you need:

  • a 60–90 minute session
  • the location, outfits and mood planned together before the day
  • guided posing the whole way through, so you never have to wonder what to do with your hands
  • 30+ edited images in a private online gallery within 7–10 days
  • travel anywhere in Sydney

A $100 deposit secures your date and comes off your total. The rest is paid after your session, once you've had the shoot.

Maternity sessions are $395, and celebrations such as milestone birthdays are priced by the hour. You'll find the details on my Services page.

Where the shoot happens

Wherever suits you. I photograph all over Sydney, and I'm happy to travel further for the right shoot. Just ask. A beach at sunrise, a city laneway, a garden, a café or your own home all work beautifully. If you're stuck for ideas, these are some of my favourite photoshoot spots.

Man in a hoodie and jeans posing beside a car at night, street portrait in Sydney
Your location can be anywhere, even a street at night.

Is it worth paying for a professional portrait?

Phone cameras are brilliant, but a portrait session is really about the hour itself: someone who plans it with you, guides you through it, and makes sure you come away with photos of yourself that you actually like. Most people only book a few professional shoots in their life, so it's worth choosing someone you feel comfortable with.

Not sure what to wear? Start here: what to wear to a portrait photoshoot.

Every session starts with a free 15-minute call. Tell me what the photos are for, and we'll plan the rest together.

See portrait sessions