Learn how to build and run a successful commercial photography business
Do you love photography, but you're struggling to make a living from it?
Do you feel like you're not charging enough for your services?
Do you want to work with brands that pay you well, but you don't know how to get started?
If so, you’re not alone.
Many photographers struggle to make a living from their passion.
They don’t know how to price their services, they don’t know how to market their business, and they don’t know how to land high-paying clients.
Help is here
The Business of Commercial Advertising Photography Course
In this course, you’ll learn everything you need to know to build and run a successful commercial photography business. (Except for the making photos part. That part’s on you.)
What you’ll learn
Learn how to
Price your services
- price for profit
- estimate simple shoots
- bid complex shoots
- maximize revenue
- simplify pricing
- get help from pros
Learn how to
Market your business
- identify your strengths and weaknesses
- target clients from small to large
- get your first commercial client
- develop a marketing plan
- learn what needs to go on your website
- pick strategies that work best for you
Learn how to
Land high-paying clients
- create competitive bids for big shoots
- determine expenses like a boss
- crunch numbers for big usage fees
- stand out amongst your competitors
- maximize value for clients + revenue for you
- create a dream client list
WHAT’S INCLUDED
22 Elements
Informative guides, real-world bids, marketing resource and more
Templates
Template contracts, call sheets, change order and releases and more
Lifetime access
Download and learn as needed, on your own time and at your own pace
Reviews
‘…this is a massive amount of information to digest. Jamie has done a lot of work for us, that otherwise is almost impossible to find ( and I have tried to find it). This is worth way more than the price tag attached to it. Thank you Jamie!! I can not wait to get all the way through the mountain of information!’
-Suzanne S.
‘The content and value that you get is mind-blowingly epic. To be completely honest, I would have gladly paid A LOT more for this content.‘
-Sara R.
‘This course is absolutely incredible! If you’re looking for a few generic tips and a 5-minute read, it’s NOT for you – but if you want real-life stories and advice from someone with tons of experience, then I highly recommend this course!’
-Allison S.
Peek Inside
Click on first photo, and then use arrow keys or swipe to move through each photo.
Deep dive
22 UNIQUE ELEMENTS: 8 GUIDES + 14 DOCUMENTS
8 GUIDES
The Big Commercial Photography Guide
440 page PDF
Commercial Photography for Small Businesses & Brands Guide
56 page PDF
The Big List of Assignment Questions
5 page PDF
Fees & Expenses Glossary of Terms
27 page PDF
First-time clients guide
10 page PDF
Real World Work-for-Hire Pitch
8 page PDF
Example Commercial Photography Treatment
15 page PDF
Bid Descriptions & Details Document
12 page PDF
Commercial Photography Marketing Resource List 15 page PDF
14 DOCUMENTS
9 Real-Life Commercial Photography Bids from $2,400-$98,000
5 awarded and 4 not awarded.
9 pages of PDFs
- Bid #1: $2,400
- Bid #2: $9,995
- Bid #3: $16,325
- Bid #4: $45,700
- Bid #5: $59,600
- Bid #6: $98,410
- Bid #7: $24,100
- Bid #8: $7,310
- Bid #9: $29,665
Small Business Proposal + Estimate + Agreement- $5,300 (awarded)
5 page PDF
Adult commercial model release
(pages, word and PDF versions)
Minor commercial model release
(pages, word and PDF versions)
Change Order Form
1 page pdf
Call Sheet template
excel + pages documents
About your instructor
Jamie Piper is a longtime commercial photographer and owner of Jamie Piper Photography, based in San Diego California.
Deets:
- 2003: first commercial photo shoot
- 2008: first commercial photo shoot for global brand
- 2011: first commercial photo shoot for major ad agency representing an $18 billion brand
- locations: completed comissioned shoots in 18 U.S. cities
- clients: major ad agencies & global brands
- type: shoots lifestyle and studio
- niche: animals with people, and kids
- clients include: Purina, Colgate, Pedigree, Merck, J.M. Smucker Co., Mars, Zoetris
Jamie has been one of the top commercial animal photographers in the industry for over a decade and is sought by global brands for her engaging, authentic style. Most of her shoots are of pets with people. Fun? Yes. Challenging? Definitely.
Teaching experience
Jamie has been teaching, mentoring and consulting photographers since 2007, and loves helping photographers avoid the many stresses and hassles she has experienced during her commercial photography career.
Will you be her next student?
20+
Years shooting for commercial clients
500+
Biz of commercial photography Course Students
$150k+
Annual photography & licensing revenue
Reviews
‘Wow! Just Wow! so much information on commercial photography that cannot be found elsewhere. Commercial photography information is hard to wrap your brain around and Jamie has put it all into a simple way to understand.
She gives real life information, quotes and even how to get your models, assistants etc lined up. Worth the small price for amazing information. Thank you Jamie for putting all your hard work into this material!
-Kimberly B.
‘….I’ll now be able to provide a professional looking bid in a timely response to the potential client.
If you have any interest in jumping into commercial photography, this (course) is for you.’
-Kristy T.
FAQ
Who is this course for?
The course was designed for established professional photographers of any genre who are new (or newish) to commercial photography.
It was created with the assumption that the photographer already has an established business and is looking to add commercial photography to their services.
What kind of commercial photography is this course about?
The course is heavy on the business side of traditional commercial advertising photography, which is working for an agency (ad agency, design firm, marketing firm of any size), who is representing a brand that is the agency’s client.
The course also includes a Commercial Photography for Small Businesses Guide for photographers planning to shoot primarily for small brands and solopreneurs.
What does the course NOT include?
The course does not include any of the following:
- information on photography, lighting, editing or retouching how-to’s (‘how to take pictures’, ‘how to use lighting’, ‘how to edit photos’, etc)
- information on editorial/magazine photography
- information on selling images as stock through stock agencies (with the exception of pricing usage licenses)
- information on working as an hourly or salaried employee photographer for a company
- information on ‘influencer’ photography (e.g. selling space and photography on your social media accounts)
Is this printed books?
No, the course contains a wide variety of downloadable guides and documents that will be available for immediate download after you purchase it.
How do I download the files after I purchase them?
After you complete your purchase, provided you check the ‘create account’ box during checkout and don’t choose to check out as a guest, you will be automatically forwarded to a thank you page where you will see a bright blue link to your zip file download.
The thank you page also contains information on how to access your account in the future.
If you prefer to wait to download the file, you may return to your account at any time after purchase, visit the downloads tab, and click on the file name in the ‘downloads’ column. (The file is a zip file). The download link will not expire.
If you choose to check out as a guest, you can download your purchase from your order confirmation email.
You can set up an account later using the same email address you placed your order with. You just need to click the change password link on the login page and you’ll be good to go.
Can I buy the Big Guide separately?
Unfortunately, no. The Big Guide to Commercial Photography cross-references all of the other elements in the course. The Big Guide and all elements of the course were all designed to function as a set.
Plus, if you need the information in the Big Guide, you definitely need all of the other elements that are included.
Can I print the big guide?
Certainly. You may print one low-resolution (150dpi) copy for your personal use. (You may also print copies of some of the other guides. Please see the Terms of Use document included in the course to learn which guides and documents you can print.)
Can I use some of the documents in my business?
Yes.
The following documents were designed for you to use in the course of your business in a client-facing capacity:
- model releases
- call sheet
- change order form
- commercial photography agreement
- first-time clients guide (if placing on a private web page or sending to a client)
Do the courses contain information specific to architectural, food or product photography?
Not specifically, no. However, the same business rules apply if the photos will be used commercially to advertise/market a product or service.
We plan to add more courses in the future, so please reach out and let us know what you need.
Is follow-up consulting included in the price of the course?
Personalized consultation isn’t included in the course.
The guides include resources for consultants who offer a broad range of support, including portfolio edits, marketing plans, estimating support and more.
If you’d like get support from your peers, you can join our free Facebook group, which is open to all commercial photographers to join, whether they have purchased the course or not. The focus of the group is on the business side of commercial photography.
The guides are also loaded with links to additional (free and paid) resources for commercial photography that you should find very helpful.
What if I change my mind after I download everything? Can I get a refund?
Because the products are digital and available immediately after purchase, all sales are final and refunds won’t be granted for any reason after you have purchased and downloaded the product.
If you don’t see the information you need in order to make a decision and you still have questions before purchasing, please reach out to us.
If I have a problem with purchasing or downloading, what do I do?
Technology is weird sometimes but never fear, we will help you out and get you taken care of!
Just drop us an email.
I never received my order email with the download link
Did you check your spam folder?
Some of our customers’ orders end up there due to the highly aggressive nature of email spam filers these days.
Check there first.
Are you using an external email address through a Gmail account?
If using an external email address through gmail you may also need to go into your gmail account settings, click on ‘accounts & import’ and click ‘check mail now’ to the right of the account you had the order sent to.
It can take an hour or more for Gmail to retrieve external emails if you don’t do that.
If you still don’t see your order email drop us a line and we’ll get you taken care of.
Free gift with purchase
Buy today and receive a free Bid – Estimate Creation Checklist plus a free Commercial Photo Shoot Preparation Checklist (A $50 total value).
Just click the red coupon code in your cart to get the free checklists.
(Free gift with purchase is not combinable with discount promo codes or sales.)
How to buy
Just click the ‘add to cart’ button below and continue to the quick and easy checkout
The Business of Commercial Advertising Photography Course
$349.00
NEW IN 2023
The Business of Commercial Advertising Photography Course is your source for detailed, comprehensive information on shooting for companies and agencies.
READ MORE ABOUT THE COURSE HERE.
This is a downloadable digital product. No physical/tangible products are included.
Description
SEE FULL COURSE DETAILS HERE.
Notice: The Image Crafters is not a law firm or an attorney, and nothing in this product constitutes legal advice. The documents in this course are for your business reference and should be reviewed by your attorney before use. By purchasing this course you agree to our Terms & Conditions.
All Rights Reserved on all course content. U.S. copyright certificate: #1-6387505771
10 reviews for The Business of Commercial Advertising Photography Course
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Reviews
‘An amazing resource chock full of very valuable information! If you’re considering entering the commercial market, you won’t find another guide that has anything close to what Jamie has so generously shared.’
-Carina T.
‘I am now able to intelligently talk with prospective clients about how I can help them with my images. This course is one of the best investments I’ve made in my education.’
-Holly R.
Not ready to dive in yet?
If you don’t think you need any information on shooting for mid-sized brands or advertising agencies, we have another course you may be interested in that’s all about shooting for solopreneurs and small businesses. (FWIW, this ad course contains 100% of the content from the small biz course.)
Start booking more clients and making more money TODAY
You are two easy steps away from getting the knowledge you need to build and grow a thriving commercial photography career and shoot for the brands of your dreams
Kat K. –
I don’t usually leave reviews for products, but I had to for this one. Having gotten a handful of commercial inquiries over these last few years, it’s been a struggle figuring out how this industry works. That is, until I found a consultant to work with who charges $150/hour to help me with putting together estimates I’ve probably spent over $1000 on fees at this point, and although it has been well worth it, it definitely adds up! I ordered this, and while some information I already knew, there’s enough new material there to add a significant amount of value. I already know it’ll help save time/energy all around from figuring out other things, so I can focus it on doing more important stuff. For the price this is definitely a steal. Thanks so much Jamie, for putting this together. Well worth the investment!
Holly R. –
I loved that Jamie takes the mysterious and confusing world of commercial photography and dissect it bit by bit. I walked away with a much better understanding of, not only the commercial photography industry, but of the worth of my work. I am able to intelligently talk with prospective clients about how I can help them with my images. This course is one of the best investments I’ve made in my education.
Allison S. –
This bundle is absolutely incredible! If you’re looking for a few generic tips and a 5-minute read, it’s NOT for you – but if you want real-life stories and advice from someone with tons of experience, then I highly recommend this guide! Jamie shares the perfect mix of actionable strategies and specifics alongside the overarching general mindset that you need to have as a commercial photographer… I’m so glad I bought it and I think it’ll keep re-proving its value as I pick it up to refresh on various topics over the next several years. This info is golden!
Kristy T. –
Jamie has created a very detailed guide for commercial photography. It has so much information that I never would have thought to consider! I’m so glad I ordered this bundle so that I can be prepared when the opportunity for a commercial shoot comes. I won’t have to spend hours searching the internet to find the info I need. I’ll be able to provide a professional looking bid in a timely response to the potential client. If you have any interest in jumping into commercial photography, this is for you.
Sara R. –
If you’ve ever tried to put a commercial bid together, you know that you literally cannot find or buy this kind of information anywhere remotely near this price. The content and value that you get is mind-blowingly epic. To be completely honest, I would have gladly paid A LOT more for this content.
Carina T. –
An amazing resource chock full of very valuable information! If you’re considering entering the commercial market, you won’t find another guide that has anything close to what Jamie has so generously shared.
Jo L. –
This course is absolutely amazing! I have so much to learn about commercial photography as I want to start working with other pet-related businesses but really had no idea on even where to start, so this guide is very valuable to me. There is so much information provided so I’m now setting the task to get through it all and start approaching businesses I know I can help, but ensure I get paid appropriately.
Cathy P. –
So, I’ve been trying to find information on selling commercial photography for while. I recently sold an image to a greeting card company and I wish I had these guides in my hands before I did it. I spent hours on-line trying to find the information I needed, some information I found – a lot I didn’t – and Jamie has put together a concise, easy-to-read and comprehensive guide to selling your work in the commercial world. She has put a wealth of information into these Guides. I’ve only got a small way through all of it and already had many of my questions answered. I’m excited to continue to read it and I’m sure get the rest of my questions answered. Jamie has always been very generous with her time and knowledge with other photographers and this product is no different. If you are contemplating seeing your photography in the commercial world, run to buy this course!
Kimberly B. –
Wow! Just Wow! so much information on commercial photography that cannot be found elsewhere. Commercial photography information is hard to wrap your brain around and Jamie has put it all into a simple way to understand. I do not have to scour the internet anymore to find incomplete information.
She gives real life information, quotes and even how to get your models, assistants etc lined up. Worth the small price for amazing information. Thank you Jamie for putting all your hard work into this material!
Suzanne S. –
I just received this a few days ago….and let me say it is a massive amount of information to digest. Jamie has done a lot of work for us, that otherwise is almost impossible to find (and I have tried to find it). This is worth way more than the price tag attached to it. I have not met other photographers who are so forthright and open with the knowledge that they had to work so hard to obtain. She has given us the tools, we just need to use them! Thank you Jamie!! I can not wait to get all the way through the mountain of information!