Chris Pieta’s Creative Biz Launch Review: 4-Step Framework for Your Photo & Video Business

Chris Pieta’s Creative Biz Launch is a 5-module training program for setting up a photography or videography business. It teaches you to do away with project-based pricing and establish monthly retainers. Chris covers the pivotal focus areas of a creative business:

• Niche selection and branding
• Service pricing and positioning
• Client acquisition and onboarding
• Project delivery

Creative Biz Launch is for photographers and videographers who want to quit freelancing. It’s for creative professionals and beginners wanting to develop the systems and frameworks needed to build a stable full-time business.

There are many positive reviews of Creative Biz Launch on Chris’ YouTube account and the course’s landing page. We also found content recommendations from Apple Podcasts, Rephonic, and Trustpilot. Asti Messer secured two leads at a $3,000 total contract price with Chris’ guidance. Victoria Mannes landed a long-term product photography client for $10,000 using the program’s email strategy. However, a Redditor suggested exploring only the free resources from Creative Biz Launch.

Running a creative business is fulfilling because you’re monetizing your passion for photography or videography. You’re also building your portfolio for future client projects. However, it’s challenging to manage multiple clients’ demands and timelines. Plus, administrative and editing tasks take a huge chunk of your time and effort. I’ve experienced first-hand how exhausting it is to create and polish videos on YouTube.

This Creative Biz Launch review explores the course’s inclusions, such as Skool community access and the Sales Pro Toolkit. We talk about Chris Pieta’s background and whether his CBL Method can turn freelancers into 6-figure creative entrepreneurs. We also dive into student success stories like Aaron Villa’s.

Creative Biz Launch Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Creative Biz Launch has tons of student case studies on the website.
• The program has detailed information about its modules and lessons.
• It offers flexible payment plans.

Cons

• The course is expensive for beginners in the creative industry.
• Chris hasn’t done any in-depth studies on the results of mid-ticket clients.
• The program is quite new.

Price

• Creative Biz Launch costs $999. Chris also offers installment payments in 3, 6, and 12 months.

Refund Policy

• Creative Biz Launch has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Origin

• Creative Biz Launch started in 2022.

Reputation

• Chris Pieta has a significant following on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. He has a good reputation on different social networking platforms.

Creative Biz Launch’s 4-Step Framework To Grow Your Creative Business

1. Premium Positioning & Pricing - Select a niche you’re familiar with that has a high demand. These might be events, weddings, and product launches. Then, develop offers that solve the most common problems in a specific market or industry. As per Chris, creatives must build tiered packages that offer better value than competitors and AI platforms. It’s also important to implement a pricing strategy and drive demand based on scarcity and urgency.
2. Marketing: Find & Attract Clients - You need to identify your target market to create online campaigns that convert. According to Chris, the most popular methods for attracting clients are cold emails and warm outreach. Utilize social networking platforms like Instagram and TikTok to build a solid following or audience base. You can also use CRM and AI tools to generate personalized email scripts.
3. Sales: Close Deals - It’s crucial to develop a sales pipeline that converts leads into paying clients. Your process should include initiating discovery calls, handling objections, and following up on high-value leads. Chris stresses the value of crafting sales scripts, contracts, and a “perfect proposal” to close deals.
4. Fulfillment: Get Retainers & Systematize - Establish a seamless onboarding process by discussing project briefs, turnaround times, and production workflows during the client prep call. Develop a straightforward procedure for client deposits and invoicing. Chris recommends using the Creative Biz and Client Portal Dashboards for task management and client communications. In addition, creatives must build social proof through case studies, client testimonials, and social media marketing.

What are the Inclusions of Creative Biz Launch?

• 5 modules and 80+ self-paced video lessons
• A CBL AI coach
• Access to the Creative Biz Dashboard and CRM
• Cold email scripts, templates, flowcharts, etc.
• The Sales Pro Toolkit
• Contract and proposal templates

Top Comments From Creative Biz Launch Students

Aaron Villa achieved a $3,000 to $5,000 monthly income a year after joining Creative Biz Launch. He started with $20 to $30 in talent fees from photoshoot gigs in college. Before taking the course, he was earning $75 to $200 with around 6 months in gap per client. Within 3-4 months of Chris’ guidance, he landed a $2,000 gig. Now, Aaron generates $6,000 to 10,000 monthly for brand videography.

One of Chris’ students learned to niche down and charge premium rates for his services. After taking Creative Biz Launch, he had more confidence to increase his pricing for fitness or lifestyle portrait shoots. He’s in the middle of securing $1,000 per quarter from a gym client. Another individual revealed generating high-quality leads from Chris’ email system. His potential income runs around $10,000.

Luke Kranenburg improved his niche selection, client outreach, and pricing strategy after joining the course. He transitioned from wedding photography to brand-related gigs in the lifestyle and sports niche. Before joining the program, Luke was earning $30,000 to $35,000, doing around 25-30 weddings yearly. Now, he makes $50,000 from brand work alone. Luke charges a minimum of $1,000 per project.

Does Chris Pieta Offer Free Content?

Yes, Chris Pieta offers free content on different platforms and mediums. These include:

• The Client Acquisition Playbook for Photographers and Videographers - This playbook is worth it because you get a list of profitable niches, a cold outreach system, and Chris’ exact pricing strategy.
• A masterclass on pricing, client acquisition, and closing deals - This isn’t worth it because you can easily search for relevant content on YouTube.
• Access to the Creative Biz Builders Skool community - It’s worth it to join this group since you can engage with other creative professionals and discover new trends.
• Access to Chris’ YouTube videos on starting and growing a creative business - His YouTube videos are worth watching since they cover different topics about freelancing and running a photography and videography business.
• The Creative Biz Launch Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts - It’s worth listening to Chris’ podcasts if you’re a busy person who doesn’t have time to watch his YouTube videos.

Who is Chris Pieta?

Chris Pieta is a photographer, videographer, and entrepreneur from Chicago, Illinois. He is the founder of Pieta Productions and Creative Biz Launch. Chris studied Chemistry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He started his career as an undergraduate researcher at the same university in October 2014. He also co-founded Prole Weightlifting in 2016.

In 2017, Chris started learning photography during his free time. Two years later, he founded Pieta Productions and set up his first-ever gallery show. Chris became a full-time photographer and upskilled in videography in 2020. By 2022, he established the Creative Biz Launch course and online resource center.

Chris also offers other online services:

• One-on-one mentorship - This is an application-based coaching that has a $5,000 initial investment when selected.
• The Creative Biz Launch Skool community - This is the paid version of his exclusive community. This group offers weekly coaching and community support.

Chris Pieta’s Claim: Go From Freelancer To Six-Figure Entrepreneur

Chris Pieta claims that Creative Biz Launch can help beginner and seasoned creatives transition from freelancing to building their own business. He also claims that his systems, resources, and community can help photographers and videographers generate 6-figure incomes.

Is Chris Pieta’s Claim Achievable?

Yes, Chris Pieta’s claim is achievable if you land long-term high-ticket clients. The most in-demand niches are portrait, landscape, and wedding photography (Zenfolio and Format). Creatives with a good portfolio and reputation can easily build their own businesses and secure high-value clients. According to Splento, 70.6% of photography businesses are profitable. You can earn a 6-figure revenue, but not as a beginner.

There is no one-size-fits-all system for running a creative business. While Chris’ course and strategies can be helpful, not all students can generate a 6-figure income. The competition in this industry is high, with a 29% growth in creative services from 2017 to 2022. Plus, AI platforms like ChatGPT are becoming common creative tools for many brands.

Can You Make Money With Photography and Videography by Selling Digital Products?

Yes, you can make money with photography and videography by selling digital products , such as:

• Stock photos or videos - Sell on Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Unsplash, and other similar websites. Royalty rates range from 15% to 70% on average.
• Productized services - Build a website to showcase your best output. You can also create profiles on TikTok and YouTube to attract potential clients. Then, offer tiered packages for your photo or video services. This income stream generates around $50,000 monthly (Starter Story), depending on your specialization.
• Digital downloads - List your photos and videos on online marketplaces like Etsy and Creative Market. Sell them as digital downloads for wall art or mobile device wallpaper. You can earn $100 to $2,000 monthly from selling digital copies of your creative works.

Which is More Sustainable: Local Lead Generation or a Creative Business?

Local lead generation is more sustainable than a creative business because it:

• provides a predictable income from monthly retainers.
• offers 80% to 95% profit margins.
• is location-independent and doesn’t require significant initial investment.

A creative business is a profitable venture, with around 13,700 opportunities yearly (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). However, it entails investing in a camera and some lighting equipment. You’re also competing with thousands of creative professionals and popular AI platforms. You may end up underpricing your services to keep up with other service providers.

In local lead generation, you have fewer competitors because of its localized niches. You’re targeting local businesses or services with high demand. Plus, you don’t get too stressed with client expectations since you consistently generate leads for them through rank and rent. Start by determining lucrative niches with long-term demand. Then, create a website for each one and develop SEO-optimized content to organically rank on search engines. Once you rank on Google’s first page, you generate leads at zero cost. Forward these leads to local businesses and earn $500 to $2,000 per site.

I’ve been making over $50,000 in monthly recurring revenue with this business model since 2014. Unlike the complexity of finding clients for a creative business, local lead gen offers unlimited opportunities because of its high-intent customer segments.