In 2026, Fair Work compliance in Australian photography studios is under the spotlight. Small mistakes in payroll can lead to massive "back-pay" liabilities and legal headaches. For Australian studios, the broad Commercial Arts Award or similar industry frameworks provide the rulebook.
This guide breaks down the essential payroll rules so you can keep your talent happy and your studio safe from audits during project deadlines.
A major shift in 2026 is the strengthening of the definition of studio grades. You must pay based on their actual experience level, not just their job title.
The "Unpaid Intern" is nearly a thing of the past in 2026. If the work performed provides a "commercial benefit" to your studio, the intern must be paid. More importantly, Superannuation (currently 11.5%) must be paid for all workers, regardless of how much they earn in a month. The old "$450 per month" threshold for Super has long since been abolished.
⚠️ Warning: Even if an assistant *says* they are a "Sub-contractor" with an ABN, if you provide the camera gear, the lighting equipment, and the shoot brief, the ATO and Fair Work will almost certainly view them as an employee for payroll tax and super purposes.
Photography is famous for 12-hour wedding days or complex studio setups. In 2026, you must either pay the overtime rates specified in the Award or have a formal Averaging Agreement in place. Simply saying "everyone works until the job is done" is a high-risk strategy that will lead to Fair Work fines.
If your assistants use their own gear (like a second camera body or personal MacBook for on-site editing), you should be paying a gear allowance. This is both a Fair Work best practice and a great way for the assistant to cover their own insurance and depreciation costs tax-free.
Our payroll experts help photography studios set up automated Single Touch Payroll (STP) that is hard-coded with the latest industry rates. Never worry about an assistant underpayment again.
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