Prop stylists source, select, and arrange objects, furniture, food props, surfaces, and florals for photo shoots, commercials, catalogs, editorial work, film sets, and social content. Clients are usually photographers, ad agencies, brands, production companies, or magazines, and the invoice covers creative time, prep and shopping days, and reimbursable purchases and rentals.
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Most prop stylists charge a day rate for shoot days and a lower or equal rate for prep, shopping, and wrap days, often with a half-day option for short shoots. Day rates are typically based on a 10-hour day, with overtime billed at 1.5x after that. Props are billed separately from the styling fee: purchases are billed at cost or with a handling markup of 10-20%, rentals at the rental house price, and returns or restocking fees passed through. Many stylists also charge a kit fee for personal inventory and supplies, and bill a flat fee for small jobs such as e-commerce batches or a single hero image. Assistants are billed at their own day rate. Travel time, mileage, parking, and van or truck rental are itemized. Commercial usage and union status can move rates up, and large agency or production budgets typically pay more than small brands or editorial work.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Shoot day styling (10 hours) | per day | $500-1,500 |
| Prep, shopping, and sourcing | per day | $350-1,000 |
| Half-day shoot or short styling session | per half day | $300-800 |
| Prop assistant | per day | $200-400 |
| Kit fee for personal inventory and supplies | per day | $50-150 |
| Handling fee on purchased props | percent of cost | 10-20% |
| Van or personal vehicle use for prop transport | per day | $75-200 |
| E-commerce or catalog styling batch | per image or set | $25-100 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prop styling, lifestyle kitchen campaign (shoot day, 10 hrs) | 2 days | $900.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Prep, shopping, and sourcing | 2 days | $650.00 | $1,300.00 |
| Prop assistant, shoot days | 2 days | $300.00 | $600.00 |
| Personal inventory kit fee | 2 days | $100.00 | $200.00 |
| Props purchased (receipts attached), $1,240 at cost plus 15% handling | 1 lot | $1,426.00 | $1,426.00 |
| Cargo van rental and mileage for prop transport | 1 flat | $185.00 | $185.00 |
| Total | $5,511.00 | ||
Notes: Net 30. Purchased props remain property of the client unless returned in resalable condition; return credits will be issued on receipt of items. Overtime beyond 10 hours billed at 1.5x. Late balances accrue 1.5% per month.
Agencies and production companies route payment by PO or job number, and invoices without one often get stuck in accounts payable.
Each can be billed at a different rate, and clients want to see where the time went.
Clients reimburse expenses against documentation, and it keeps the handling fee clearly separate from the cost.
Stating it as its own line avoids questions about why prop totals differ from receipts.
Hours beyond the agreed day length need to match what was in the quote or booking confirmation.
These are easy to forget and are separate from your creative fee.
It clarifies who owns the items after the shoot and who pays for damage or restocking fees.
Freelance stylists working directly for brands or photographers often ask for a 25-50% deposit to cover prop purchases, especially on larger jobs, and bill the balance net 15 to net 30. Agencies and production companies commonly pay net 30 to net 60, so confirm terms in the booking agreement before the shoot. Large reimbursable expenses can be billed up front or paid by the client directly using a company card or rental account. Late fees of 1-1.5% per month are common if stated in advance. Payment is usually by ACH, check, or card, and some clients require a W-9 and vendor setup first.
Ask for a deposit or an expense float before shopping. Fronting thousands of dollars on your own card for a client that pays net 60 is a common cash-flow problem.
Photograph receipts the day you buy and label them by job. Clients will ask for backup, and you need clean records for your own taxes.
Sourcing, pickups, steaming, cleaning, and returns can take as many hours as the shoot itself. Quote and invoice them as their own days or lines.
Shoots run long and get postponed. A written overtime rate and a cancellation fee for short-notice changes protect your held dates.
Spell out whether purchased items go to the client, come back to your inventory at a credit, or get returned. Unclear ownership leads to disputes after the shoot.
Many stylists add a handling fee of 10-20% on purchased props to cover shopping time, fronting the money, and returns. Whatever you choose, state it in your quote and show it as a separate line from the cost of the items.
It varies. Some stylists charge the same day rate for all days, others charge 60-80% for prep and shopping. Either approach works if it is stated in your estimate and consistent across clients.
Use a kit fee for general supplies and a rental line for specific inventory pieces. Rental charges for personal items are usually a fraction of what a rental house would charge, and should be agreed in advance.
Bill the full purchase cost plus any handling fee and note on the invoice that the items now belong to the client. If you are keeping them, issue a credit or agree on a reduced charge before you buy.
Rules vary by state. Services are often not taxed, while props sold to a client may be taxable, and resale certificates can come into play. Check with your state tax agency or an accountant about how to handle props you buy and pass on.
Send a Prop Stylist estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Prop Stylist estimate template