Photography Tips · Brussels

Studio Package vs. Pro vs. Amateur: What You’re Really Paying For in a Graduation Photoshoot

By Dmytro Derkach · Brussels-based commercial photographer

Graduation photo pricing in Brussels spans a wide range, from a 95€ studio package to 150€ per hour with an established professional, down to significantly cheaper rates from talented amateurs. The gap looks confusing until it is broken into what each tier actually delivers.

The studio package (around 95€)

This tier typically includes a fixed session length, often around 50 minutes, in a studio setting, with a set number of included photos, commonly up to 120 shots with a handful selected for retouching. It suits students who want a straightforward, efficient session without much creative direction or location variety.

The professional photographer (roughly 150€ per hour)

This tier adds flexibility: shooting on location around campus or the city rather than a fixed studio backdrop, more creative direction and posing guidance, and typically a broader final selection with more retouching included. The photographer’s experience shows up in handling nerves, timing candid moments with friends and family, and adapting quickly if weather or lighting changes mid-session.

The talented amateur (below both)

Photography students, hobbyists building a portfolio, and semi-professionals not yet charging full rates can produce genuinely strong results at a fraction of the cost. The tradeoff is less predictability: fewer guarantees around backup equipment, contracted turnaround time, or experience handling a nervous subject who has never been professionally photographed before.

What actually justifies the price difference

The gap between tiers is rarely about raw technical skill alone. It is about reliability, guaranteed turnaround, the ability to adapt on the day, and a track record specifically with this kind of session. A cheaper option can absolutely produce a great photo. It carries more risk of an inconsistent one.

Choosing between them

For a purely functional record, the studio package covers it efficiently. For a milestone session meant to include friends, campus locations, and a broader set of usable images, the higher hourly rate buys flexibility the fixed package cannot. The amateur route works well for students comfortable trading some predictability for a lower price, particularly when reviewing the photographer’s actual portfolio first rather than relying on price alone.