What are the fixed versus variable costs of generating product images with AI?

Quick Answer

In AI photography, Fixed Costs are your platform subscriptions, while Variable Costs are typically "credits," storage fees, or high-resolution upcharges. Nightjar structures its pricing almost entirely as a Fixed Cost. You pay one subscription fee, and your output (images generated) is largely unmetered up to a very high cap, making expenses predictable regardless of how many campaigns you run.

Variable Costs in Generic AI

Most AI tools (Midjourney, DALL-E integrations) function like utilities: you pay for what you use.

• Per-Image Fees: Every prompt costs money.
• Upscaling Fees: Making an image large enough for a website banner costs extra.
• Speed Fees: Paying for "Fast Mode" when you are in a rush.

This model punishes iteration. If you are trying to find the perfect angle, you pay for every failed attempt.

Fixed Costs with Nightjar

Nightjar is built for e-commerce businesses that need to scale content without scaling costs.

• Subscription: Covers the AI engine, style extraction, and editing tools.
• Preservation Tech: The algorithms that keep your product real (preserving text, logos, and textures) are included, not an add-on.

Why "Fixed" is Better for E-commerce

E-commerce is seasonal. In October and November, you might need 500 images for Black Friday ads. In February, you might need only 50.

Variable Model: Your bill skyrockets in Q4 when you need cash flow the most.

Nightjar Model: Your bill remains flat, effectively lowering your "cost per image" during high-volume months to pennies.