How much does a photo shoot in Phuket cost in 2026

How much does a photo shoot in Phuket cost?

It’s the first question almost everyone asks me. And rightly so: before choosing a location and an outfit, you want to understand the budget.

I’ve been living and working in Phuket since 2015 and have done more than a thousand photo shoots here. In this article I’ll honestly explain what the price is made of, what’s included and what is — and isn’t — worth paying extra for.

In short: a photo shoot in Phuket with me starts from 8,500 baht ($250). After that it all depends on how much time, how many photos and which location you want.

What the price of a photo shoot depends on

Several things affect the price:

• shooting time — one hour, two hours or a whole day;
• the number of retouched photos;
• the location — a beach near your hotel, a private island, a yacht or a trip to other islands;
• distance — where you’re staying and where we need to go;
• extra services — makeup, hair, video, drone shots.

Retouching is equally detailed in all my packages: figure correction, an even tan and blemish removal. Plus you always get all the original shots, not just the selected ones.

Photo shoot prices in Phuket

Standard photo shoot at your hotel — 8,500 baht ($250)

The most popular package. An hour of shooting on your hotel grounds and the nearest beach.

• 15–20 retouched photos + all the original shots;
• photos ready in 3–5 days.

Especially convenient for families with kids: you don’t need to go anywhere. I wrote more about choosing a family hotel and where to shoot in the article “Family hotels in Phuket: how to choose”.

Photo shoot with elephants — 10,000 baht ($330)

A shoot with elephants on the beach or in the jungle. An hour of shooting and 15–20 retouched photos.

The price of an elephant shoot depends on the location and the elephants themselves.

Photo shoot on a private desert island — 18,000 baht ($500)

My favourite option for value. Two hours on an uninhabited island near Phuket: white sand, turquoise water and almost nobody around.

• boat and island entrance included;
• 30–40 retouched photos + all the original shots;
• photos ready in 3–5 days.

I explained why this package is such good value in the article “Photo shoot in Phuket: which beach to choose”.

Yacht photo shoot — 75,000 baht ($2,200)

The most spectacular format. A whole day on a white sailing yacht: transfer from your hotel to the pier, meals, drinks and a landing on a desert island.

• 8 hours on the yacht, of which 4–5 hours of shooting;
• 150 retouched photos + all the original shots;
• photos ready in 5–7 days.

You can choose a boat to suit your budget on the yacht charter page.

Trips to Racha, Phi Phi and Phang Nga

I also do photo shoots on day trips to Racha Island, Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay. This is no longer just a photo shoot but a full journey with a photographer, so the price is calculated individually — message me and I’ll put together an offer. More about the islands is in the article “Islands near Phuket”.

Extra costs

To avoid surprises, here’s what may be added to the price. I’ll tell you the exact amount in advance, before the shoot:

• a trip to the north of the island (Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao, Nai Thon, Mai Khao) if the package doesn’t include transport;
• makeup and hair — depending on the area and the complexity of the look;
• transfer — though a Grab or Bolt taxi is usually more convenient and cheaper;
• extra retouched photos beyond those included in the package;
• a short Reels video;
• drone shots — can be added to any package. See examples on the drone photography page.

How not to overpay for a photo shoot in Phuket

Over the years I’ve seen many situations where people spent more than they needed to. A few tips:

• Don’t cross the whole island for “that one” beach. There’s often a great location 10 minutes from your hotel, and you’ll save both money and time.
• Compare not only the price but also the number of retouched photos. A cheap shoot with 5 photos can end up more expensive per photo.
• Check whether the photographer gives you all the original shots. With me it’s included in every package.
• Look at the portfolio and reviews. You can see my work on the home page and in the reviews section.
• Choose the right time. Morning or the evening before sunset gives beautiful light for free. In the middle of the day even an expensive location looks worse.

Why a cheap photographer in Phuket can cost you more

In Phuket there are plenty of ads offering a “photo shoot for 2,000 baht” or an “hour of shooting for $50”. I understand why that’s tempting. But over the years I’ve heard too many stories from tourists who came to me after a failed shoot.

Unfortunately, it happens very often. Here’s what comes up most:

• The photos are never delivered. The deposit was taken, the shoot happened, and then the photographer stops replying. You’re already home and can’t do anything.
• They take the money and don’t show up. You got ready, did your makeup, came to the beach at sunrise — and there’s no photographer.
• They miss deadlines. Photos were promised in a week but arrive two or three months later, when the holiday is long forgotten. Or you get a few shots instead of the promised twenty.
• The editing isn’t what’s in the portfolio. Instead of careful retouching — overexposed photos with one filter on every shot.
• Someone else’s portfolio. The beautiful work in the profile may be downloaded from other photographers. At the shoot it turns out the person can barely work with a camera and light.
• Working without a permit. In Thailand, photography is a closed profession for foreigners without a work permit. Many cheap photographers work illegally. If there’s an inspection on the beach, your shoot will simply be stopped, and there’ll be no one to get your money back from.

A holiday in Phuket happens once a year, or even less often. You can’t redo the shoot once you’ve flown home. So saving a couple of thousand baht can turn into a ruined morning, a lost deposit and a holiday without photos.

How to check a photographer before the shoot

• See how long they’ve been working in Phuket. An experienced photographer has lots of work from recognisable local locations, shot over different years.
• Read reviews on independent platforms, not just screenshots in their profile.
• Ask to see a full shoot, not just the best shots. That shows the real level.
• Agree in writing: how many photos, by when and how you’ll receive them.
• Be wary if the price is several times below the market. There’s usually a reason.

I work in Phuket legally: I have a Thai work permit, so no inspection will interrupt your shoot.

I’ve been on the island since 2015 and have done more than a thousand shoots, and my clients’ reviews are on the reviews page. The number of photos and delivery time are listed in every package, and you get all the original shots in any case.

Which package to choose?

• 🟢 A family with kids or a couple — the Standard shoot at your hotel for 8,500 baht.
• 🟢 Something unusual and memorable — a shoot with elephants for 10,000 baht.
• 🔵 Truly beautiful photos without crowds — a private desert island for 18,000 baht.
• 🟣 A special occasion: an anniversary, a proposal, a honeymoon — a yacht.
• 🔴 The maximum “wow” — Racha, Phi Phi or Phang Nga.

All packages with full descriptions are on the price page.

Frequently asked questions

Find out the exact cost of your photo shoot

If you’re not sure which package suits you, just message me: where you’re staying, how many of you there will be and what kind of photos you’d like.

I’ll suggest a couple of options for your budget and tell you where in Phuket you’ll get the best result.