ChambalyPhotography Quote: What to Include, Common Mistakes, and How to Write One From Your Phone
In photography, your quote is part of your brand. A couple asking about a wedding or a family planning a quinceañera is comparing portfolios and paperwork at the same time. A clean PDF with clear packages, deliverables and terms shows the same care you promise in your photos.
A photography quote lives and dies by its deliverables: how many hours of coverage, how many edited images, how soon they are delivered, and what extras cost, like an extra hour, a second shooter or a printed album. Anything that is not written down, clients will ask for free.
The good news is that most shoots follow a pattern. Once you know which lines belong in your quote, you can build a new one in minutes and keep your evenings for editing.
What to include in a photography quote
- Type of event or session. Wedding, quinceañera, family session, product, headshots, corporate. Each has its own pricing logic.
- Hours of coverage. The heart of the package, plus a clear rate for each extra hour. At events, someone always asks for "just a little longer."
- Exact deliverables. Number of edited images, online gallery, resolution, and whether RAW files are included. Most photographers do not deliver RAW files.
- Delivery time. Business days until the full gallery is ready, with a rush option at an extra cost.
- Second shooter or assistant. For big events, as an optional line with its own price.
- Prints and albums. Albums, enlargements, custom USB drives. Much of your extra margin lives here.
- Travel. Mileage outside your area, plus travel and lodging for destination events.
- Retainer and rescheduling policy. A non-refundable retainer to hold the date, and clear rules for changing it.
Sample photography quote lines
Here is how a wedding package might look. These are example numbers only. Use your own prices.
| Line | Section | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wedding coverage, ceremony and reception | Labor | 8 | hour | $250.00 |
| Second shooter | Labor | 6 | hour | $90.00 |
| Editing and online gallery, 500 edited images | Labor | 1 | job | $600.00 |
| Extra coverage hour (only if requested) | Labor | 1 | hour | $275.00 |
| Printed album, 10x10, 30 pages | Materials | 1 | piece | $450.00 |
| Travel, mileage outside service area | Other | 120 | mile | $0.70 |
Under the lines, add the delivery time for the gallery and the retainer terms. If the client may add an extra hour, keep it as a separate line so the price is agreed before the day.
Photography quote mistakes that cost you money
- No price on overtime. In the middle of a party, nobody negotiates well. If it is written in advance, you charge it without feeling awkward.
- Promising "all the photos." Set a number of edited images. Unlimited destroys your editing nights.
- Holding dates without a retainer. A wedding that cancels already cost you every job you turned down for that date.
- Forgetting travel. A venue an hour away is two hours of driving and gas. Put it on the quote.
How to write a photography quote from your phone
Right after the consultation call, no computer and no typing:
- Open Chambaly and tap the microphone.
- Describe the booking. "Wedding, 8 hours coverage, second shooter 6 hours, 500 edited images in an online gallery, 10 by 10 album, 120 miles travel, retainer to hold the date." Say it like you would to your assistant.
- AI builds the lines. Coverage, editing, album and travel each get a line. If you did not give a price, it suggests one and flags it for you to check.
- You set the price. The numbers are always yours. Set the deposit that holds the date.
- Send it while they are still excited. A clean PDF with your business name, every line and how to pay you, by text, WhatsApp or email. With Pro, your logo goes on it too.
Once the client accepts, turn the quote into an invoice in one tap. Chambaly can remind you on the balance due date, with a friendly message ready to send.
Why a detailed photography quote works
- It matches your portfolio. A clean document tells the client you care about details.
- It protects your editing time. A set number of images and a delivery date keep expectations clear.
- It protects your calendar. A written retainer and rescheduling policy keep your best dates from being wasted.
Questions
How much of a retainer should I ask for to hold a date?
That is up to you. Many photographers ask for a non-refundable retainer to book the date, because they turn down other work for it. Whatever you choose, put it in the quote and in your contract.
Should I give clients the RAW files?
Most photographers do not. RAW files are your digital negatives, and your style lives in the final edit. If a client insists, price RAW files as a separate premium line.
How do I present packages without confusing people?
Offer three options, like basic, standard and full, with clear differences in hours and deliverables. Build the middle option so it is the one you most want to sell.
Can I send a photography quote from my phone?
Yes. With Chambaly you describe the event and get a clean PDF quote ready to send by text, WhatsApp or email. It is coming soon for iPhone and Android. Leave your email on this page and we will let you know.