CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for photography studios in South Carolina
171 photography studios operated in South Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 171CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.1U.S. 3.4
- State rank
- 24th of 51by count
Photography studios in South Carolina by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 171 photography studios in South Carolina in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 541921). That is the 24th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Photography studios make up 0.14% of the 122,958 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) South Carolina has 3.1 photography studios, 7.6% below the national rate of 3.4.
| Measure | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 171 | 11,483 |
| Mid-March employees | 398 (high noise) | 37,479 (moderate noise) |
| Annual payroll | $11,837,000 (moderate noise) | $1,279,256,000 |
| Employees per establishment | — | 3.3 |
| Payroll per employee | — | $34,133 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.1 | 3.4 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Photography studios by metro area in South Carolina
Census published photography studio counts for 10 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of South Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 108 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 89% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 108 | — | 3.7 |
| Charleston, SC | 56 | — | 6.4 |
| Greenville, SC | 42 | 72 | 4.2 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 16 | — | 3.9 |
| Columbia, SC | 15 | — | 1.7 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 11 | 26 | 4.6 |
| Augusta, GA-SC | 7 | 23 | 1.1 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 6 | — | 1.5 |
| Florence, SC | 3 | 8 | 1.5 |
| Sumter, SC | 3 | 5 | 2.9 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at photography studios in South Carolina
90.1% of South Carolina's photography studios with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 87.7% nationally. 95.3% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 154 | 90.1% | 87.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 9 | 5.3% | 7.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 2.9% | 2.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 3 | 1.8% | 1.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.6% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for photography studios in South Carolina
Photographers are often behind the camera when the phone rings, and inquiries for weddings, portraits and events tend to go to whoever responds first. Capturing every inquiry and calling back quickly matters. That holds for photography studios in South Carolina as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to photography studios in South Carolina:
- A parent calls about family portraits.
- A client calls about when photos will be delivered.
- A couple calls to check availability for a wedding date.
Calls after closing time
Evening inquiries are common, so a voicemail that is transcribed and flagged helps prioritize callbacks.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
What a phone system costs a photography studio in South Carolina
The comparison uses a 3-person team, the rounded U.S. average for photography studios. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 3 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $90.00 a month and 3 on Ooma Office Pro cost $74.85. Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 3 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $57.00 | $684.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $69.00 | $828.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $74.85 | $898.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $81.00 | $972.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $90.00 | $1,080.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in South Carolina
South Carolina has 6 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 839 |
| 864 | 784 | Eastern | 1995 | 821 |
| 843 | 783 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 839 | 190 | Eastern | 2020 | 803 |
| 854 | 182 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
| 821 | 42 | Eastern | 2024 | 864 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for photography studios in South Carolina
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in South Carolina, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many photography studios are in South Carolina?
171 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
Which South Carolina metro area has the most photography studios?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 108 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 3-person photography studio?
$90.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $74.85 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a South Carolina number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.