If you've been thinking about booking a shoot for your car, the first question is almost always the same: what does it actually cost? Most photographers make you email them just to see a number. Here's a straight answer, plus everything that moves the price up or down.
The short answer
In Vancouver, professional car photography typically runs $200–$500 per hour depending on the photographer's experience and gear. My packages start at $300 for a full photo set, with a $100 deposit to secure your booking (the deposit counts toward your total).
Cinematic video shoots start higher than photo-only sessions because of the extra filming time, stabilizer and audio gear, and significantly longer editing.
What affects the price of a car photoshoot
1. Photos, video, or both
A photo set is one visit and one editing pass. A cinematic video adds rolling shots (a second car and driver), audio, color grading, and hours of editing per finished minute. Combining both in one session is more efficient than booking them separately — ask about bundle pricing.
2. Number of locations
One location keeps the session tight and affordable. Adding a second spot — say, a parkade downtown plus a sunset location at Spanish Banks — adds drive time and setup time. Metro Vancouver traffic is real; each extra location typically adds 45–90 minutes to the session.
3. Time of day
Golden hour and night shoots produce the most dramatic images, but they're also the tightest windows to work in. A sunset shoot has maybe 40 usable minutes of perfect light, so it needs more planning — and sometimes a scouting visit — than a mid-day session.
4. How many finished images you need
Editing is where at least half the work happens. Every delivered image is individually processed — color grading, cleanup of distracting reflections, license plate handling if you want it. A 15-photo set and a 40-photo set are very different amounts of work.
5. Travel
I shoot all over Metro Vancouver — Burnaby, Coquitlam, Richmond, Surrey, North Vancouver and beyond — at no extra charge within the region. Shoots further out (Whistler, the Sea-to-Sky corridor, Fraser Valley) add a travel fee depending on distance.
Typical price ranges at a glance
| Session type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Standard photo set (1 location) | from $300 |
| Extended photo set (2 locations, more images) | $450–$700 |
| Cinematic video (60–90s edit) | from $600 |
| Photo + video combo | custom quote |
| Dealership / business packages | see dealership services |
Every car and every owner's vision is different, so treat these as honest ballparks — the exact quote comes after a quick conversation about what you want.
What's always included
- A planning conversation about your car, style preferences, and location
- All shooting time on location
- Professional editing on every delivered image — no raw dumps
- Delivery via a private Google Drive link
- A usage license for your photos (I retain copyright as the creator, which is standard industry practice)
How to get the most from your budget
- Book one great location instead of two rushed ones. A single well-chosen spot with good light beats two mediocre ones.
- Prepare your car properly — a clean, detailed car saves editing time and always looks better than post-processing fixes.
- Be flexible on timing. Weekday and off-peak slots are easier to schedule, and shooting at golden hour costs the same as noon — but looks twice as expensive.
- Bundle photo + video if you want both. One session, one location setup, better price than two bookings.
Frequently asked questions
Do you require a deposit? Yes — $100 to lock in your date, applied to your total. Rescheduling is free with more than 48 hours' notice.
How long until I get my photos? About one week for a full photo set. Videos take 2–8 weeks depending on complexity.
Do you shoot outside Vancouver? Yes — the whole Lower Mainland is my regular service area, and I'm available for travel beyond it. See the city service pages for details on your area.
Ready for a real quote for your car? Email me at arashyx@gmail.com with your car, your city, and what you have in mind — I'll get back to you with a clear price, no games.
