A photography contract is a legally binding written agreement between a photographer and an employer. It outlines everything from the job responsibilities, the payment terms and schedule, copyright ownership, cancellation policy, and much more.
Depending on your area of expertise and your photography business, you may need a specific contract to cover all your requirements. This could be a wedding photography contract, an event photography contract, a portrait photography contract, or even a photography contracts bundle should you offer more than one service to a client.
Note: Ready to get clicking? Sign up to Bonsai now and have your contract finished in minutes.
A photography contract in general is going to keep your business relationship with a client formal and your agreements legally protected. We’ve all heard of clients taking advantage of a photographer, either by ghosting them or refusing to pay. A contract is your safeguard against this kind of behavior.
Below, we’ll cover the three main reasons why a photography contract is important and how it’s going to help you.
No one wants to take on a job not knowing exactly what is expected of you. For photographers, there are many different services you can provide a client, so by having a written agreement you’ll make sure your responsibilities are clear and avoid any miscommunication.
This section should be one of the first things you discuss with the client. If the services you offer don’t align with the client’s expectations, then you won’t have wasted too much time when you decline their proposal.
One big advantage of a photography contract is that it’s going to protect the interests of both parties.
Whether it’s an unforeseen circumstance, a dispute over services provided, or issues with payment details, a contract is going to make sure everything you agreed to is in writing and understood by each party.
A photography contract is also going to set out your payment terms, including your rates and the dates you will be paid.
You should outline your working hours as well, stating your start and end date, when in the day you’ll begin, and when you’ll have your breaks. This is a good opportunity to agree to any overtime charges.
A photography contract template is for any photographer who knows they’ll be getting more clients in the future and wants to steamroll through the negotiation stages (without the risk of missing out on something important).
Creating your own photography contract template can take a lot of time, effort, and legal advice (and fees) to make sure it’s a legally binding document. You can make this process a lot easier on yourself by using one of Bonsai’s free photography contract templates. They’re all vetted by legal experts and hundreds of freelancers like yourself, so you can have some peace of mind that your interests will be protected when you and your client come to an agreement.
Whether you're a wedding photographer, a portrait photographer, or a commercial photographer, all photography contracts will need to include certain essential elements.
While only you can know everything you specifically need for your own photography contract, below are some of the key elements to include (with further explanations):
Contact details of both parties should include your names (including company names if required), the job description, and the preferred method of contact. You may also want to include a physical address for shipment or invoicing reasons.
For every service you offer, you should have a certain cost assigned to it. This is so the client can pick and choose everything they want from you and know what the cost is going to be.
Remember to include your start date, end date, and any breaks you’ll take throughout the session. Some photographers also offer touch-up and editing services post-session, which should be outlined here too.
Unforeseen circumstances can lead to an event being canceled or postponed. For this reason, you should have a cancelation policy and a non-refundable deposit in place.
Meaning ‘Force Superior’ in French, this term is based on the fact that there are unavoidable events that can stop you from delivering the work. By including this in your photography contract, you can waive liability should anything like this occur which stops you from completing the job.
Include any copyright clauses that you need to, which can include the transfer of ownership and permissions given.
Offering photography services almost always means you’re traveling somewhere and even staying overnight in another town. It’s important to include any expenses that you are likely to accumulate and how the client will reimburse you.
Every signed contract should include reasons for terminating the contract. This could be when you hand over the photos, the final payment, or for any reasons that both parties agree to.
You may want an agreement around being the only photographer at an event. You can also include details on any second shooter contracts.
Sometimes, faulty equipment can affect even the most experienced and professional photographers. It’s a good idea to outline who is liable in these situations.
Sometimes you’ll be requested to print pictures or to use a Polaroid camera during your session. Include who’s liable should any printing errors occur.
This can occur when there’s bad lighting or color which affects the quality of an image. Outline your responsibility should this happen.
You can’t be everywhere at once! Photographers can overbook themselves, so include an agreement around hiring a replacement photographer.
Sign up to Bonsai now for free and start creating your photography contract. It includes all the basic requirements a photographer needs in their contract. You can also edit and customize it to your liking.
In 2020, the average cost of a photographer throughout the U.S was almost $20 per hour or $41,280 annually. Of course, whatever you charge now will depend on what type of photography you offer, your experience, what state or city you’re based in, and even the individual you’re dealing with.
Yes, of course! Photography is a well-known business and is very important for companies and private events. To have some peace of mind about security, and to show professionalism, a legally binding contract is always a good idea.
You can, but you’ll need to put a lot of time, effort, and resources into making it a professional and legally binding document—this means hiring a lawyer to write it for you.
At Bonsai, we make it a whole lot easier for you by offering a bundle of vetted and free contract templates. Whether you’re a wedding photographer, a commercial photographer, or just getting started—one of our free photography contract templates will work for you.
Writing a photography contract has been made easy by Bonsai. With their photography contract template, all you need to do is edit the details to your specifications.
You don't need to sit down with a lawyer to write a photography contract. Bonsai has already done the leg work for you with all the proper legal agreement provisions you need. Simply download the templated and edit.
There are multiple types of photography contracts. To name are the following: Model release contracts, Photo session agreements, Rights to photos, Property release, Wedding photography, Gallery sales, and Equipment rental.
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This Contract is between Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC (the "Photographer").
The Contract is dated [DATE BOTH PARTIES SIGN].
1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Photographer to do the following: Capture and edit photos
1.2 Schedule. The Photographer will begin work on [START DATE] and will continue until the work is completed. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Photographer at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 4, Term and Termination.
1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Photographer a [PROJECT RATE]. Of this, the Client will pay the Photographer [DEPOSIT AMOUNT] before work begins.
1.4 Expenses. The Client will reimburse the Photographer's expenses. Expenses do not need to be pre-approved by the Client.
1.5 Invoices. The Photographer will invoice the Client at the end of the project. The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within [X DAYS TO PAY] of receiving the invoice. Payment after that date will incur a [LATE FEE PERCENTAGE]% per month on the outstanding amount.
2.1 Client Owns All Work Product. As part of this job, the Photographer is creating “work product” for the Client. To avoid confusion, work product is the finished product, as well as drafts, notes, materials, mockups, hardware, designs, inventions, patents, code, and anything else that the Photographer works on—that is, conceives, creates, designs, develops, invents, works on, or reduces to practice—as part of this project, whether before the date of this Contract or after. The Photographer hereby gives the Client this work product once the Client pays for it in full. This means the Photographer is giving the Client all of its rights, titles, and interests in and to the work product (including intellectual property rights), and the Client will be the sole owner of it. The Client can use the work product however it wants or it can decide not to use the work product at all. The Client, for example, can modify, destroy, or sell it, as it sees fit.
2.2 Photographer's Use Of Work Product. Once the Photographer gives the work product to the Client, the Photographer does not have any rights to it, except those that the Client explicitly gives the Photographer here. The Client gives permission to use the work product as part of portfolios and websites, in galleries, and in other media, so long as it is to showcase the work and not for any other purpose. The Client does not give permission to sell or otherwise use the work product to make money or for any other commercial use. The Client is not allowed to take back this license, even after the Contract ends.
2.3 Photographer's Help Securing Ownership. In the future, the Client may need the Photographer's help to show that the Client owns the work product or to complete the transfer. The Photographer agrees to help with that. For example, the Photographer may have to sign a patent application. The Client will pay any required expenses for this. If the Client can’t find the Photographer, the Photographer agrees that the Client can act on the Photographer's behalf to accomplish the same thing. The following language gives the Client that right: if the Client can’t find the Photographer after spending reasonable effort trying to do so, the Photographer hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Client as the Photographer's agent and attorney-in-fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for the Photographer and on the Photographer's behalf to execute, verify, and file the required documents and to take any other legal action to accomplish the purposes of paragraph 2.1 (Client Owns All Work Product).
2.4 Photographer's IP That Is Not Work Product. During the course of this project, the Photographer might use intellectual property that the Photographer owns or has licensed from a third party, but that does not qualify as “work product.” This is called “background IP.” Possible examples of background IP are pre-existing code, type fonts, properly-licensed stock photos, and web application tools. The Photographer is not giving the Client this background IP. But, as part of the Contract, the Photographer is giving the Client a right to use and license (with the right to sublicense) the background IP to develop, market, sell, and support the Client’s products and services. The Client may use this background IP worldwide and free of charge, but it cannot transfer its rights to the background IP (except as allowed in Section 9.1 (Assignment)). The Client cannot sell or license the background IP separately from its products or services. The Photographer cannot take back this grant, and this grant does not end when the Contract is over.
2.5 Photographer's Right To Use Client IP. The Photographer may need to use the Client’s intellectual property to do its job. For example, if the Client is hiring the Photographer to build a website, the Photographer may have to use the Client’s logo. The Client agrees to let the Photographer use the Client’s intellectual property and other intellectual property that the Client controls to the extent reasonably necessary to do the Photographer's job. Beyond that, the Client is not giving the Photographer any intellectual property rights, unless specifically stated otherwise in this Contract.
3.1 Overview. This section contains important promises between the parties.
3.2 Authority To Sign. Each party promises to the other party that it has the authority to enter into this Contract and to perform all of its obligations under this Contract.
3.3 Photographer Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Photographer promises that it owns the work product, that the Photographer is able to give the work product to the Client, and that no other party will claim that it owns the work product. If the Photographer uses employees or subcontractors, the Photographer also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Photographer giving the Photographer any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Photographer's background IP and work product.
3.4 Photographer Will Comply With Laws. The Photographer promises that the manner it does this job, its work product, and any background IP it uses comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.
3.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Photographer promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else’s intellectual property rights, that the Photographer has the right to let the Client use the background IP, and that this Contract does not and will not violate any contract that the Photographer has entered into or will enter into with someone else.
3.6 Client Will Review Work. The Client promises to review the work product, to be reasonably available to the Photographer if the Photographer has questions regarding this project, and to provide timely feedback and decisions.
3.7 Client-Supplied Material Does Not Infringe. If the Client provides the Photographer with material to incorporate into the work product, the Client promises that this material does not infringe on someone else’s intellectual property rights.
This Contract is ongoing until the work is completed. Either party may end this Contract for any reason by sending an email or letter to the other party, informing the recipient that the sender is ending the Contract and that the Contract will end in 7 days. The Contract officially ends once that time has passed. The party that is ending the Contract must provide notice by taking the steps explained in Section 9.4. The Photographer must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice, unless the notice says otherwise. The Client will pay the Photographer for the work done up until when the Contract ends and will reimburse the Photographer for any agreed-upon, non-cancellable expenses. The following sections don’t end even after the Contract ends: 2 (Ownership and Licenses); 3 (Representations); 6 (Confidential Information); 7 (Limitation of Liability); 8 (Indemnity); and 9 (General).
The Client is hiring the Photographer as an independent contractor. The following statements accurately reflect their relationship:
- The Photographer will use its own equipment, tools, and material to do the work.- The Client will not control how the job is performed on a day-to-day basis. Rather, the Photographer is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.- The Client will not provide the Photographer with any training.- The Client and the Photographer do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.- The Photographer cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.- The Photographer is not entitled to the Client’s benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).- The Photographer is responsible for its own taxes.- The Client will not withhold social security and Medicare taxes or make payments for disability insurance, unemployment insurance, or workers compensation for the Photographer or any of the Photographer's employees or subcontractors.
6.1 Overview. This Contract imposes special restrictions on how the Client and the Photographer must handle confidential information. These obligations are explained in this section.
6.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It’s possible the Client and the Photographer each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Photographer each promise that it will not share with the other party confidential information that belongs to third parties, unless it is allowed to do so. If the Client or the Photographer is allowed to share confidential information with the other party and does so, the sharing party promises to tell the other party in writing of any special restrictions regarding that information.
Neither party is liable for breach-of-contract damages that the breaching party could not reasonably have foreseen when it entered this Contract.
8.1 Overview. This section transfers certain risks between the parties if a third party sues or goes after the Client or the Photographer or both. For example, if the Client gets sued for something that the Photographer did, then the Photographer may promise to come to the Client’s defense or to reimburse the Client for any losses.
8.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Photographer agrees to indemnify the Client (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of: (i) the work the Photographer has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Photographer of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Photographer of the promises it is making in Section 3 (Representations).
8.3 Photographer Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Photographer (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of a breach by the Client of its obligations under this Contract.
9.1 Assignment. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Photographer. The Photographer cannot assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the Client’s written permission. In contrast, the Client may assign its rights and delegate its obligations under this Contract without the Photographer's permission. This is necessary in case, for example, another Client buys out the Client or if the Client decides to sell the work product that results from this Contract.
9.2 Arbitration. As the exclusive means of initiating adversarial proceedings to resolve any dispute arising under this Contract, a party may demand that the dispute be resolved by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules.
9.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Photographer must agree to that change in writing and sign a document showing their contract. Neither party can waive its rights under this Contract or release the other party from its obligations under this Contract, unless the waiving party acknowledges it is doing so in writing and signs a document that says so.
9.4 Notices.
(a) Over the course of this Contract, one party may need to send a notice to the other party. For the notice to be valid, it must be in writing and delivered in one of the following ways: personal delivery, email, or certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested). The notice must be delivered to the party’s address listed at the end of this Contract or to another address that the party has provided in writing as an appropriate address to receive notice.
(b) The timing of when a notice is received can be very important. To avoid confusion, a valid notice is considered received as follows: (i) if delivered personally, it is considered received immediately; (ii) if delivered by email, it is considered received upon acknowledgement of receipt; (iii) if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), it is considered received upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt. If a party refuses to accept notice or if notice cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then it is considered received when the notice is rejected or unable to be delivered. If the notice is received after 5:00pm on a business day at the location specified in the address for that party, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice is considered received at 9:00am on the next business day.
9.5 Severability. This section deals with what happens if a portion of the Contract is found to be unenforceable. If that’s the case, the unenforceable portion will be changed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, unless that change is not permitted by law, in which case the portion will be disregarded. If any portion of the Contract is changed or disregarded because it is unenforceable, the rest of the Contract is still enforceable.
9.6 Signatures. The Client and the Photographer must sign this document using Bonsai’s e-signing system. These electronic signatures count as originals for all purposes.
9.7 Governing Law. The laws of the state of [STATE] govern the rights and obligations of the Client and the Photographer under this Contract, without regard to conflict of law principles of that state.
9.8 Entire Contract. This Contract represents the parties’ final and complete understanding of this job and the subject matter discussed in this Contract. This Contract supersedes all other contracts (both written and oral) between the parties.
THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO THE FOREGOING AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW.
