The Case for The Contract

You are not underpaid because you lack talent. You are underpaid because no one taught you leverage.
 
If you’re a photographer or content creator who is tired of “exposure,” tired of vague contracts, tired of wondering if you’re allowed to charge more — this is the book that changes that.
 
In The Case for the Contract, bestselling author and globally hired hotel photographer Alexandra Hallman breaks open the part of the industry no one explains: how creative work becomes real money.
 
Inside, you’ll learn:
 
• How real photography contracts actually work — including force majeure clauses, cancellation terms, exclusivity and non-competes, NDAs, payment schedules, late fees, and licensing structures
• How studying art in Paris, economics in London, and communication in Cape Town quietly built the foundation for a photography empire
• The moment she realized billion-dollar brands run on images created by us
• How to structure usage rights that make legal and financial sense
• The difference between full usage rights and limited licenses — and how to price each correctly
• How to protect yourself when working internationally
• How to structure commissioned shoots properly from pitch to payment
• How to enforce payment without chasing or sounding desperate
• How to negotiate with billion-dollar brands without losing leverage
• How to structure usage rights, deliverables, and payment terms so you’re protected
• Real-world deal breakdowns and case studies of weak contracts versus strong ones
• Practical clause explanations in plain English
• And the exact system Alexandra used to build consistent five-figure months from commissioned photography
 
But this book is more than contracts.
 
It’s the story of a girl who survived bullying, depression, and suicide attempts — who once didn’t know if she would live long enough to build anything at all. It’s the story of sleeping on an air mattress in Los Angeles, broke and exhausted, pitching hotels between shifts. It’s the story of standing in five-star suites she once couldn’t afford to enter — now being paid thousands to photograph them. It’s the story of turning survival into strategy and creativity into a million-dollar business.
 
This is not hustle culture.
This is clarity.
No influencer gimmicks.
No fake overnight success.
No vague inspiration.
Just real contracts.
Real numbers.
Real negotiation scripts.
Real deal breakdowns.
Real mistakes.
And a system that works.
 
You are not “just” a freelancer.
You are a business.
 
And once you understand that, everything changes.