About this template
Commercial photography campaigns — product launches, advertising shoots, brand photography — require careful budget planning across multiple production departments. This template covers the full scope from pre-production planning through final retouching, with dedicated groups for styling, beauty, and talent that are specific to photo production. It's structured for multi-day shoots with professional crews, but scales down easily for simpler projects.
Perfect for
Photography producers managing commercial campaigns, brand managers budgeting product or lifestyle photography, and agencies producing photo assets for advertising.
How to customize it
- Add specific deliverable formats (e-commerce, social, print) as separate Retouching line items
- Include usage rights and licensing terms as a line item under Talent
- Add a Props / Set Design group if the shoot requires custom environments
- Break down Camera / Lighting further for complex lighting setups (medium format, strobes, C-stands, etc.)
What's inside this template
These are the line items the template comes with, organized by stage. Adjust amounts, quantities, and rates to your project.
Pre-Production
- Moodboard / call
- Shot planning
Crew
- Photographer
- Producer
- Digital Tech
- Photo Assistant
Camera / Lighting
- Camera kit
- Lighting / grip
Styling / Beauty
- Styling
- Hair & Make Up
Talent
- Casting
- Model fees
Studio / Location
- Studio rental
- Location fees
Retouching / Post
- Retouching
- File delivery
Production Expenses
- Catering
- Miscellaneous
FAQ
How many retouching rounds should I budget for?
Two rounds of retouching is standard for most commercial shoots. Budget advanced retouching (compositing, heavy skin work, background replacement) separately from basic color correction and cleanup.
Should talent usage rights be in the budget?
Yes. Usage rights often represent a significant portion of a photo budget. Specify the usage terms (channels, duration, geography) and price accordingly. Extended or exclusive usage commands higher fees.
What about digital asset management?
For large-volume shoots (50+ final images), consider adding a DAM / Asset Organization line item under Retouching / Post to cover file naming, metadata, and delivery.
Related templates
Photography
Editorial / Lookbook Shoot
A budget template for editorial and lookbook shoots where the team is smaller, the eye matters more, and the budget still needs to feel professional.
8 groups · 15 items
Video Production
Branded Content Shoot
A budget template for brand shoots that need structure without the weight of a big commercial budget. Clear enough to quote well, light enough to move fast.
8 groups · 17 items