Cost Roi And Pricing
What is the cost difference between AI product photography and a traditional studio shoot in 2025?
Last Updated: December 8, 2025
Quick Answer
In 2025, a traditional studio shoot for 50 SKUs averages $5,000 to $15,000. Using Nightjar, the same output costs just $25/month for hundreds and hundreds of images. This represents a 99%+ cost reduction. The primary difference is that Nightjar eliminates the physical overhead: no rent, no travel, no catering, and no equipment insurance.
Comparison Table: Studio vs. Nightjar
| Expense Category | Traditional Studio Shoot (2025) | Nightjar AI Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Photographer | $1,500 - $3,000 / day | Included in Subscription |
| Studio Rental | $1,000 / day | $0 |
| Editing/Retouching | $50 / image | Included (English-based editor) |
| Props & Set | $500+ (Physical items) | $0 (Generative Styles) |
| Reshoots | Full cost repeated | $0 (Instant regeneration) |
| Total for 50 Images | ~ $7,500 | Subscription Price |
Quality vs. Cost
Historically, "cheap" meant "low quality." AI changed this. Nightjar prioritizes product fidelity above all else.
Generic AI: Makes artistic images but distorts the product (useless for commerce).
Nightjar: Keeps the product pixels 100% accurate while generating the "expensive" studio environment around it.
The Hidden "edit" Savings
In 2025, editing is the bottleneck. A photographer shoots the photo, but a retoucher spends days cleaning it up. Nightjar allows you to edit with natural language ("remove the shadow," "make the background a marble counter"). This eliminates the need for a $50/hour Photoshop expert, further widening the cost gap between traditional and AI workflows.