CNAE codes for photography, videography and photo labs in Brazil
The main CNAE code for photographers and photo studios in Brazil is 7420-0/01 – Atividades de produção de fotografias, exceto aérea e submarina (Photography, except aerial and underwater). Event videography uses 7420-0/04 and printing labs use 7420-0/03. To prospect this segment, search codes 7420-0/01, 7420-0/04, 7420-0/03 as both primary and secondary CNAE, keep only active CNPJs, then filter by company size and city.
CNAE codes for photographers and photo studios
CNAE (Classificação Nacional de Atividades Econômicas) is Brazil's official activity classification. Every company registered with a CNPJ declares one primary CNAE and any number of secondary ones. These are the CNAE 2.3 subclasses most used by photographers and photo studios:
| CNAE | Official description (pt) | English | When it shows up |
|---|---|---|---|
7420-0/01 | Atividades de produção de fotografias, exceto aérea e submarina | Photography, except aerial and underwater | Photographers and studios |
7420-0/04 | Filmagem de festas e eventos | Filming of parties and events | Wedding and event videography |
7420-0/03 | Laboratórios fotográficos | Photo labs | Printing and developing labs |
Search primary and secondary CNAE
Many photographers and photo studios register their real activity as a secondary CNAE, because the CNPJ was opened under another primary activity or because they do more than one thing. Event photographers often declare photography and video together. Filtering on the primary code alone misses part of the market.
Who sells to photographers and photo studios
Photographers buy gear, software and services, and are natural partners for event and brand suppliers.
- Camera stores and gear rental
- Editing software, online galleries and storage
- Print labs and album makers
- Event organizers and venues (partnerships)
- Accounting for service providers
How to build a list of photographers and photo studios in Brazil
- Pick the codes: start with
7420-0/01and add7420-0/04,7420-0/03depending on what you sell. - Search them as primary and secondary CNAE.
- Keep only active registrations (situação cadastral ativa) to drop unfit, suspended or closed CNPJs.
- Narrow by location (state, city, neighborhood) and company size (MEI, ME, EPP, other). Most are MEI or ME; ME and EPP studios have a physical space and staff.
- Keep companies with contact data (email or phone) and save the filter as a reusable segment.
- Write a segment-specific opener and track replies in a pipeline.
1Lead runs all of these filters in one search over Brazil's public company registry, and its AI suggests adjacent CNAE codes from a plain-language description such as "I make wedding albums and want wedding photographers in Santa Catarina". The product interface is in Portuguese.
Qualification signals
- Photography + video: event professionals with recurring purchases.
- Studio with a commercial address: physical space and equipment.
- Wedding and graduation season: purchases concentrate before peak season.
How to approach this segment
Photographers respond to samples and portfolios. Show turnaround, quality and partner terms.
Example first message (in Portuguese, with translation)
Frequently asked questions
What is the CNAE code for a photographer in Brazil?
7420-0/01, photography except aerial and underwater.
Where is the official CNAE table?
IBGE publishes it in the CONCLA online search, with the full hierarchy (section, division, group, class, subclass) and notes on what each code includes and excludes.