THE VSCO ONE business education VIDEO SERIES
Learn how to land your first paying gig and scale your photography business with this tailored video program exclusively for VSCO One members.
LEARN TO land clients and build YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS
Join us on July 21 for live workshops designed for photographers ready to grow their existing business or land their first big paying job.
Whether you're looking to move beyond occasional side-hustle or have an existing business, in two different workshops we will walk through the practical steps professional photographers use to get their business to the next level.
You'll learn how to:
Choose a niche to stand out with clients
Build a portfolio that attracts opportunities
Handle inquiries and discovery conversations
Price your work with confidence
Deliver a professional client experience
Whether you're booking your first shoot or managing a full schedule, these sessions show you how to run it like a business.
WEBINAR DETAILS
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Live Q&A included.
REGISTER TO JOIN
Free to attend. VSCO One subscription not required to register.
Ready for work in commercial photography? In this complete online video series you’ll learn everything you need to professionally position yourself, be a creative partner to brands and land commercial clients.
Let’s begin.
00. INTRODUCTION
Paul Weaver, VSCO's Director of Education, started The Freelance Photographer to help commercial photographers build a sustainable business. Meet Paul and learn about his 6 P's framework, designed to help photographers successfully land consistent commercial work.
01. POSITIONING
Positioning allows you to carve out your own lane in the freelance industry. We'll take you step-by-step through developing messaging that speaks to your target clientele, allows for you to charge premium rates, and sets you apart from other photographers.
02. PORTFOLIO
Design a well-thought-out portfolio that does the heavy lifting for you. We'll help you understand all of the necessary components to include and perfect on your website and social media channels so that brand decision-makers can quickly understand that you'd be a good fit for their projects.
03. PITCHING
Pitching can be light and fun, and effective. TFP shows you strategies that showcase the value you provide to brands and charge premium rates for your services. Get confident in the process of landing new clients.
04. PRICING
TFP's approach to pricing involves tailoring your rates to the project at hand. Learn to craft bids based on your skill level, comparable references, and the unique scope of the projects. We also help you implement proven upsell strategies to unlock bigger profits.
We help commercial photographers build a sustainable business.
PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE RAVING ABOUT VSCO ONE EDUCATION
ON business knowledge
“I feel like I have gained invaluable knowledge as to how I should be running my business, pricing my services and gaining even more clients.”
ON BUILDING CONFIDENCE
“Paul’s lessons are super informative and I come away with ideas and knowledge that continue to propel me forward.”
ON APPLYING SKILLS
“What kept me excited was the feeling that this wasn’t just inspiration. It felt like, ‘Okay, I can actually apply this.’ There was a path. Not a shortcut.”
MORE Business basics from the VSCO Learn library
Navigate key aspects of how to start a photography business like calculating potential income, building a business plan, and marketing your services.
A successful photography business is so much more than capturing the best images – you often need to be just as creative in marketing yourself as a photographer as you are behind the lens.
This comprehensive guide to photography pricing will clarify the complexities of monetizing your craft, whether you're an experienced professional or an emerging photographer.
Photography is more than just capturing beautiful moments. Finding clients, managing relationships, and growing your reputation are all essential elements of a successful career.
As a photographer, building a portfolio that highlights your unique style and skills is key to landing new opportunities. But it’s crucial to make your portfolio easily discoverable.
This simple guide to photography contracts will help you to ensure smooth payment, protect your rights, and avoid confusion and disputes with your client.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I start if I want to turn photography into a business?
Start with the VSCO One Business Education Video Series. It's a structured on-demand program that walks you through the foundational moves: picking a niche, building a portfolio, setting rates, pitching clients, and delivering a professional experience.
If you want some help getting started, join the webinar. There's a track for wherever you are in your career.
What is the VSCO One Business Education Video Series?
On-demand video lessons covering everything it takes to build a working photography business. Positioning, portfolio development, client acquisition, pricing, pitching, and client management. Included with VSCO One membership.
Is this for beginners or working photographers?
Both. The series is built for photographers at multiple career stages. If you're booking your first paid shoot, the foundational lessons give you a clear starting point. If you're already working and want to move into commercial, the positioning and pitching modules are built for that jump.
Can this help freelance photographers find commercial clients?
Yes. The series teaches the pitching and relationship-building strategies that working commercial photographers rely on. Freelance photographers find commercial clients through referrals, networking, targeted outreach, social media, portfolio websites, and direct brand pitches. The VSCO One Business Education Video Series covers all of it.
Will I learn how photographers price their work?
Yes. Photography pricing depends on your experience, project scope, licensing requirements, production costs, and deliverables. The pricing module shows you how to weigh all of it, build accurate project estimates, and communicate your rates with confidence.
How do I build a portfolio that attracts brand clients?
The portfolio lessons focus specifically on commercial work: what to include, how to demonstrate consistency, how to show the type of work you want to book. If your current portfolio isn't doing that, this is where to start.
How can photographers stand out in a competitive market?
By getting specific. A clear specialty, a recognizable visual style, and a defined audience will differentiate you faster than trying to shoot everything. The positioning lessons help you identify what makes your work distinct, and how to communicate it to the clients you want.
Is the video series only for commercial photographers?
The series is built around commercial principles, but the core skills—positioning, portfolio building, pricing, pitching, client management—apply across portrait, wedding, editorial, and event photography. If you're running a business, the fundamentals transfer.
What is The Freelance Photographer?
It's the coaching and mentorship community built into VSCO—discussion forums, direct messaging, and live calls that put you in contact with working photographers. There are also 1:1 and group coaching options if you want more direct guidance. Learn more here.
Starting a business looks complicated, where do I begin?
Review some of our VSCO Learn articles on the business of photography. Then try to find existing photographers in your community and apprentice for them. As you find your style and your genre of photography, you will develop the confidence to start charging for your work. Come back to the videos on this page and start applying some of these techniques to grow your one-off projects into a sustainable business.
WHERE PHOTOGRAPHERS TURN PRO
Land your first client. Here’s how.
The VSCO Business Education Video Series is included as a part of VSCO One.
The VSCO Business Education Video Series is included as a part of VSCO One. Upgrade today.
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The VSCO Business Education Video Series is included as a part of VSCO One. Upgrade today.
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