Pricing for creative work is hard to compare because studios sell it in different ways. One quotes a day rate. Another quotes per image. A third sells a monthly retainer. Before you compare numbers, compare what each number includes.
Here is what actually moves the price, and how to read a quote.
What drives the cost
The number of finished assets. Ten ads in one format cost less than ten ads in four formats. Each extra ratio, language or variant is more work, even when the photograph underneath stays the same.
The amount of people in frame. Product-only imagery is the simplest. Adding models, hands or a styled environment raises the scope, because each person and each set has to be directed and kept consistent across the set.
The number of revisions. Ask how many rounds of changes are included, and what counts as a round. A small copy edit and a full re-shoot are very different jobs.
Turnaround. A rush costs more. A steady schedule costs less, which is one reason retainers are popular.
Usage. Where and for how long the work will run can change the price, especially for paid media. Ask whether commercial rights are included or charged separately.
Retainer or project
A project suits a launch. You have a product, a date and a defined set of assets, and you pay once for that scope.
A retainer suits a brand that runs paid social all year. Ads wear out, so a brand needs a steady supply of new versions. At Studio Default, a once-off Sprint for a single product is R4,500. Monthly plans start at R5,000 for one product, Core is R8,500 for 25 to 35 finished assets, on a 3-month minimum, Growth is R14,000 for 45 to 60 assets with short video, and Studio starts at R24,000 for 80 or more. Pricing is fixed monthly, not per image.
These figures are a starting point, and the right quote depends on the brand, the formats and the volume.
Questions to ask before you sign
- How many finished assets, in which formats, are included?
- How many rounds of changes, and how long do they take?
- Do I receive editable files, so a price or headline change is quick?
- Who owns the final work, and can I use it in paid media?
- How is product accuracy handled? Will the label and packaging match mine on every frame?
- What is the turnaround, and what happens if I need something sooner?
A studio that answers these plainly is usually easy to work with. One that gets vague on questions 3 to 5 is worth a second look.
The cost of cheap
A low price is only a saving if the work can be used. Inconsistent labels, text that cannot be edited and imagery that clashes from one frame to the next all get fixed later, and fixing costs time. Compare the price of a finished, usable set, not the price of the first draft.
If you would like a quote, send the product and where the work will run. We reply with a plan and a price in rand.