High-quality product photos are essential in e-commerce — but do they have to be expensive?
Traditional photoshoots have long been the gold standard. You hire a photographer, rent a studio, book a model, and wait days (or weeks) for edits. The result? Beautiful images — and a big bill.
But now, AI-generated product photography offers a faster, more scalable alternative. The big question: how do they compare in terms of cost and ROI?
Let’s break it down.
Traditional Product Photoshoots: Time-Consuming & Costly
Here’s a typical breakdown for one photoshoot:
| Expense | Cost Estimate |
|---|---|
| Photographer | €300–€1000/day |
| Studio Rental | €200–€500/day |
| Model | €150–€600/day |
| Stylist / Assistant | €100–€400 |
| Retouching & Editing | €20–€50/image |
| Total | €1000–€3000+ for one session |
And that’s assuming just one product line. Need variations (e.g. new background, different models, seasonal vibes)? You’ll need another shoot.
AI Product Photography: Smarter, Faster, Cheaper
With tools like hippist AI, you can:
- Generate studio-quality photos from a single image
- Add or change models, backgrounds, lighting, and styling
- Create lifestyle, seasonal, and platform-specific visuals instantly
- Do all of this for a fraction of the price
💰 Average cost per image with AI? Often under €3 — with no shoot required.
📈 ROI Comparison: AI Wins on Speed & Scale
| Metric | Traditional | AI-Generated |
|---|---|---|
| Time to Launch | 1–3 weeks | 1–2 hours |
| Cost per Image | €50–€150+ | €2–€5 |
| Variations per Product | 1–3 | 10–50+ |
| A/B Testing Potential | Limited | High |
| Accessibility for SMEs | Low | High |
E-commerce brands using AI photos report:
- Higher ROAS in paid campaigns (thanks to fast A/B testing)
- More frequent visual updates (seasonal campaigns, fast trends)
- Improved conversion rates on PDPs with fresher, platform-specific visuals
The Verdict: AI Photos Deliver Better ROI
Traditional shoots still have a place — especially for flagship campaigns or high-end editorials. But for everyday e-commerce needs, AI product photos are faster, cheaper, and more adaptable.
For brands that want to scale content without scaling cost, AI isn’t just an alternative — it’s an upgrade.
Want to see how much you could save with AI photography?
Try hippist AI today and generate your first visuals in minutes.
