Common commercial photography line items
Commercial photography invoices need to clearly separate creative fees from licensing. Here are the standard line items agencies and brands expect to see:
| Line item | Notes |
|---|
| Creative / day rate | Full-day or half-day rate for on-set shooting |
| Pre-production planning | Mood boards, shot lists, location scouting, logistics |
| Post-production & retouching | Per-image or hourly rate for compositing, colour, retouching |
| Image licensing — web & social | Usage rights for digital channels, specify territory and duration |
| Image licensing — print / OOH | Extended rights for print, packaging, or out-of-home advertising |
| Equipment rental | Specialised lighting, grip, lenses beyond standard kit |
| Travel & expenses | Transport, accommodation, meals for location shoots |
Built for commercial photographers
Licensing line items
Separate creative fees from usage rights on the same invoice. Clearly specify territory, duration and media type for each license.
Contracts & e-signatures (coming soon)
Send a usage agreement or scope-of-work contract alongside your invoice. Clients will sign electronically before the shoot.
Online card payments (coming soon)
Every invoice link carries your bank-transfer and MobilePay details today. Stripe-powered card payments directly on the link are coming soon.
Payment-gated file delivery
Upload final images and lock them to the invoice. Files unlock when payment clears — protecting your commercial work.
Recurring invoices
For retainer clients and ongoing campaigns. Set up monthly invoices that generate and send automatically.
Multi-currency
Invoice international agencies in GBP, USD, EUR and 30+ currencies. Add VAT or withholding tax as needed.
Frequently asked questions
What should a commercial photography invoice include?
A commercial photography invoice should include creative/day rate fees, pre-production planning, post-production and retouching, image licensing fees with usage terms (territory, duration, media), equipment rental and travel expenses.
How do I invoice for image licensing rights?
List licensing as a separate line item specifying the usage scope. For example: "Web and social media usage, 12 months, UK territory." This makes the terms clear and justifies the fee to the client or agency.
Should I charge a day rate or per-image for commercial shoots?
Most commercial photographers charge a creative day rate plus separate licensing fees. This separates the cost of shooting from the value of usage rights, which is standard industry practice.
Is this commercial photography invoice template free?
The template page is free to browse. It uses the Bold design which is part of the Pro plan.
