How much does a photographer cost in Dubai? Real prices for photo and video (2026 guide)
# Key takeaways
- An event photographer booked through Servia in Dubai starts from AED 700 for up to 3 hours of coverage. Longer events and weddings are quoted as a custom package.
- Already booking a filmmaker? Add 30 edited photos from the same shoot for AED 250 rather than booking a second professional.
- Video packages are fixed: Single Reel Shoot AED 300, Half-Day Shift AED 550 and Full-Day Shift AED 900, each with one edited vertical reel and the raw footage.
- A fixed price becomes a custom quote when you need more hours, more than one photographer, several locations, permits or a faster turnaround.
A professional event photographer in Dubai costs from AED 700 for up to three hours when you book through Servia, and every price quoted here includes VAT. If you want video as well, the most economical route is often a fixed videography package with the AED 250 stills add-on, which gives you 30 edited photos from the same shoot. The rest of this guide shows exactly what each option includes, how to combine photo and video without paying twice, and what pushes a booking into custom-quote territory.
# Photographer and videographer prices at a glance
These are the same figures published on the photography and videography service pages. Servia connects you with vetted professional photographers and filmmakers, and the price you see is the price you pay.
| Option | Price (AED, incl. VAT) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Event photographer | from 700 | Up to 3 hours of coverage, edited photos |
| Single Reel Shoot | 300 | 1-2 hours, 1 edited vertical reel, raw footage |
| Half-Day Shift | 550 | Up to 4 hours, 1 edited reel, raw footage |
| Full-Day Shift | 900 | Up to 8 hours, 1 edited reel, raw footage |
| Photography stills add-on | 250 | 30 edited photos from a videography shoot |
| Longer events and weddings | custom quote | Scoped to your schedule |
Every videography package comes with one professional filmmaker who also edits your reel. The edited reel is delivered within 24-48 hours, one round of revisions is included, and you own the footage.
# Photo only, video only, or both?
Most people overpay because they book two separate professionals when one would do. Think about what you will actually use afterwards.
- You want a proper photo album of a birthday, engagement dinner or company gathering: book the event photographer from AED 700. A dedicated photographer concentrates entirely on stills, which matters for group shots and candid moments.
- You mainly want something for Instagram or TikTok: a Single Reel Shoot at AED 300 is the lightest option, with raw footage included if you want to cut more later.
- You want both, on a budget: take a videography package and add the stills add-on for AED 250. One professional films and photographs the same shoot, so you get a reel plus 30 edited photos.
- You want both, done properly: book the event photographer and a filmmaker side by side, so neither has to compromise.
| Combination | How it is priced (AED) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single Reel + stills | 300 + 250 | Short product or content shoots |
| Half-Day Shift + stills | 550 + 250 | Parties and launches up to 4 hours |
| Full-Day Shift + stills | 900 + 250 | All-day activations and conferences |
| Event photographer + Single Reel | 700 + 300 | Family events where the album matters most |
# Useful add-ons and what they cost
The videography add-ons are fixed, so you can budget before you book:
- Extra hour on set: AED 120
- Rush 24-hour reel delivery: AED 150
- Second camera operator: AED 300
- Drone or aerial shots, only where permitted: AED 350
- Subtitles in English or Arabic: AED 60
- Professional voice-over: AED 150
- Long-form 2-5 minute highlight or corporate edit: AED 400
If you already have your own footage, the editing-only service turns it into one reel for AED 120.
# What turns a fixed price into a custom quote
The fixed packages cover the majority of home, party and small business shoots. A custom quote comes into play when the job grows beyond them:
- Hours. Photography coverage beyond 3 hours, or filming beyond 8 hours, is scoped individually. Multi-day events and weddings are always custom.
- Number of photographers. A large wedding or a conference with parallel sessions may need two or more photographers working at once.
- Locations. Moving between a hotel ballroom in Downtown and a beach in Dubai Marina on the same day adds travel and setup time.
- Permits. Commercial filming in public places and any drone work need permits first. Nothing is promised until they are issued.
- Turnaround. Standard reel delivery is 24-48 hours; the AED 150 rush option gets a reel to you within 24 hours.
# How to get more from your budget
Send a short brief when you book: the date, the address, how long the event runs, and a list of must-have shots or people. A clear brief lets the professional plan the light and the timing, which shows in the results. If you are filming in Business Bay or another tower district, check with building management about filming in lobbies or on rooftops before the day.
Privacy is built in. Your photos and footage are private by default and are never published by Servia or the professional without your written consent. That matters particularly for children and women-only events, because UAE law restricts capturing and publishing images of people without their consent. A female photographer is available on request, subject to availability.
If you are organising the whole event, Servia's event management starts from AED 999 for a managed private event, and photography or video can be added alongside it.
# FAQ
Is AED 700 the full price for an event photographer in Dubai?
AED 700 is the starting price for an event photographer covering up to 3 hours, VAT included. Longer events, weddings, multiple photographers or several locations are quoted as a custom package, and you see that price before you confirm.
Is it cheaper to book a videographer with the photo add-on than a separate photographer?
Usually, yes. A Single Reel Shoot at AED 300 plus the AED 250 stills add-on gets you one edited reel, the raw footage and 30 edited photos from one professional. A dedicated photographer from AED 700 is the better choice when a full photo album is the main priority.
How quickly will I receive my edited reel?
Edited reels are delivered within 24-48 hours with one round of revisions included. If you need it within 24 hours, add the rush option for AED 150.
Can I post the photos online, and will the photographer post them?
You own your videography footage and can use it as you wish. Servia treats every shoot as private by default, and nothing is published by Servia or the professional without your written consent.
Ready to book? Compare photography and videography options, or view the pages for Downtown Dubai and Business Bay.
Based on Servia booking volume across all 7 emirates over the past 12 weeks. Highlighted bar = the emirate this article focuses on.
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