The Business of Commercial Photography: The Survival Guide

 

Whether just starting out in the commercial photography industry, or ready for a new chapter in your career, John Keatley shows you how to survive in a competitive field. Known for being innovative, creative and thinking outside the box when it comes to his photography, John applies those same skills into running his business. In this in-depth course, John shares some of the key elements that allow you to be an artist and a business owner. You’ll learn:

  • How to find your style and attract the clients you want
  • How to create a bid
  • The importance of drafting a treatment
  • Estimates and billing for your work
  • Planning and scheduling your production
  • Tips on memorable branding
  • The difference between an Art Director/Agent/Art Buyer
  • Techniques for editing your portfolio

If you’re at the start of your career or ready to expand your client list, this course will be the game changer you need to create a solid foundation for a thriving business.

Lessons

Class Introduction
Understanding the Industry
Finding Your Style
Personal Work
Building a Brand
Visual Identity
Marketing
Marketing Q&A
Marketing Tools
Social Media
Set Goals & Make an Action Plan
Marketing Plan
Marketing Budget
Before the Shoot
Why You Should Have a Team
Production Schedule
Day of Planning / Scheduling
Protecting the Creative & Day of Shoot
Wrap Up
Artist and Agent Relationship
Common Questions for Reps/Agents
Editing Your Work - Portfolio Reviews
Common Mistakes
Creative & Licensing Fees
Estimates & Invoices - Editorial
Estimates & invoices - Advertising, Photo Libraries
Creating a Treatment
Billing & Payment Collection
Opportunities for Growth
Investing in Your Career & Moving Forward
 
 
 
 

Reviews

  • John & Creative Live - Thank you - Best. Class. Ever.! This is a GREAT class! If you are a photographer, this is definitely a MUST GET class, but even if you work with photographers as part of a creative team - you have to take this class. (I'm a Photo Stylist) John covers it ALL in this class - it really, truly is a Survival (Success) Guide. John is so detailed, honest, and generous in his knowledge/experience/wisdom in the commercial photography industry in helping you understand the business and really succeed (& stand out). When I see that John is teaching a class on Creative Live - I'm in! (I have his other valuable courses as well)
  • I was lucky to be part of the studio audience for this course. John is an awesome teacher and did an outstanding job of making sense of a very difficult side of photography for a creative to understand. He shared his 18+ years of experience, including the good and bad he has gone through. The "special guests" alone are worth the cost of this class. John has an amazing team working beside him behind the scenes. Their perspective on his business was priceless!
  • Thanks to John for being so open his experience in the commercial photography industry and giving us so many real world examples. I especially appreciated the contributions by the non-photographers in the second day of the course - Nichelle and Maren. Nichelle gave a good perspective on the finance and business communications side. Maren is John's agent and offered her insight on how agencies worked. I've heard photographers discuss working with agents before, but it was helpful to hear an agent answer questions directly about her experience.
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