I'm a photographer so this is really out of my realm. How can I make a nice looking denim jacket look older and more worn. I found it at a thrift store for $8.00 but it looks new and I need it to look old.

I would wash it a few times, and make it dirty, and walk on it some, just before the shoot. (Disclaimer: not a tried technique).
-Don

Sometimes a little sandpaper applied in the right places can give a worn look after is is washed- it causes frayed threads. Also, a little bleach in the wash a couple of times helps

If you want to fray hems etc like you see in Levis etc they use a bench grinder gently along the hems and then wash with enzyme and pumice.  The grinder just gets the fraying process started weakening the fiber.  If you want to create holes and wear on the elbows etc then a dentist drill or like is used to weaken the area where you want the effect again followed by enzyme and pumice wash.
If you just want to age the jacket try and find some large particle size dicalite/diatomaceous earth and wash with a small amount of detergent, the dicalite will act like an abrasive.  It is better to fill the machine with a few garments as the action of the garments rubbing against each other in combination with the abrasive leads to a more even wear.

Use a cheese grater to toughen up the edges, also steel wool and sandpaper and razors work well. Soak it in a "bath" of tea to alter the color, then wash without soap in the cycle.

You can have someone wear it and roll around in the dirt for a couple minutes, then use some sandpaper on the knees, elbows or other parts of the garment. Plains dust by Ben Nye and other formulas can go a long way toward making a garment look aged.

I second the sand paper. You can also try a dremel for detailed work.

I have wanted to do a similar thing with a pair of jeans. There are lots of techniques on youtube.

Thanks for all the great ideas

There are a whole bunch of people devoted to authentic wear patterns on "raw denim," which I guess is created by wearing the stuff a lot and almost never washing it, bacause washing and fake wear techniques never quite look right to their discerning eyes.

http://www.reddit.com/r/rawdenim

http://www.rawrdenim.com/2011/09/the-es … h-article/

http://www.highsnobiety.com/2012/11/27/ … raw-denim/

or something.

http://nailthefit.blogspot.com/2013/02/ … xample.jpg

You will find the ultimate technique here:

The Adventures of Spin and Marty (1955– )
TV Series

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047775/

all of the above suggestions work also if you wanted to get some fading in certain areas dilute bleach and water and spray where you want it then rinse with some vinegar and wash as normal.

Steel brush and a few cycles through the washer and dryer.

acid...diluted, sprayed....more washing,