Basic Subject vs Portraits & People
Which you need, what each costs, and when a project wants both — basic subject compared with portraits & people.
Last revised
Both sit under Background Remove, and clients regularly ask which of the two they actually want. The short answer is below; the rest of this page is how to tell, what each costs, and the cases where a project needs both.
In one line each
- Basic Subject
- Background removal for simple shapes with smooth, clear outlines, such as boxes, books and bottles, the fastest and lowest-cost tier.
- Portraits & People
- Background removal for photos of people, handling hair and clothing edges for headshots, directories and marketing.
Head to head
| Basic Subject | Portraits & People | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | From $0.39 per image | From $0.39 per image |
| Services underneath | — | 3 |
Pick Basic Subject when
Basic Subject:
- The difference here is one of emphasis rather than deliverables — basic subject
Pick Portraits & People when
Portraits & People:
- The job is specifically events & parties, which sits under this one
- The job is specifically newborn baby, which sits under this one
- The job is specifically wedding, which sits under this one
When you need both
Verdict More often than the question implies — the same job frequently touches both, and one team covers them, so moving between them is a conversation rather than a second supplier. If you are not sure which your files need, that is what the free trial is for. The process is the same either way: whichever you pick, the work runs through the same stages and is checked against the same bar. Background Remove sets that out.
Questions we get on this specific choice
Is one of them cheaper?
They start at the same rate, so the choice is about what the job needs rather than about budget. Complexity moves both.
Which is faster?
Much the same, and volume moves the number far more than the choice between these two does.
Can you tell me which one my files need?
Yes, free. Send two or three real files — that judgment is part of the trial rather than something quoted separately.
Can I switch after we start?
Yes. If the files say the other one is the right answer, we re-quote before doing the work rather than after.
Where to go from here
- Basic Subject — what it is, in full, with its own pricing
- Portraits & People — the same for the alternative
- Background Remove pricing — both rates side by side with the US market ranges
- Try it free — 2 images, edited to your brief, and we will tell you which of the two your files need
- Get a quote if the scope is already clear
- Every rate we publish, on one page
