Rates, 2026
What should a director of photography charge in New York or LA?
About $1,300 a day for a director of photography who is working and booked in New York or Los Angeles. $950 in the first years, $1,650 when senior. Also called: cinematographer.
Other markets: a major city · remote · a smaller market
First years
$950
a day · $125 an hour
Working, booked
$1,300
a day · $175 an hour
Senior, sought after
$1,650
a day · $200 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$1,300 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$175 per hour
Sold by the day. The day is the unit; half days run 60%.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for New York or Los Angeles: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Shoot day, owner-operator (with your camera package)$1,200 to $2,500 per day
- Half day$500 to $900 per half day
- Camera package rental$300 to $900 per day
- Prep or scout day$400 to $700 per day
How the number is made
Director of photographys at this level day at about $1,300 ($800 to $1,800 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a director of photography in New York or LA?
- About $1,300 a day for someone working and booked, $950 in the first years, $1,650 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
Pick your level and market, get a card you can send the next client who asks. Then RostrLab quotes, papers, invoices and chases every job with it: free for 14 days, $29 a month, never a cut.
More in production crew
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