Simple Photographer’s Contract

It’s not often I need to use a contract but it came up recently and thought it may be helpful to other photographers to have a scaled down simple 2 page agreement. Here is one you can just copy and paste. There is an option to ask for ½ of the fees up front which you can delete if you are comfortable with billing out on 30 day terms, as I generally do. Also there is a model clause that you can delete unless you are shooting people (portraits) or models. I used some real numbers in the estimate of fees that you can change out for your own purposes. Here you go:

This agreement is between ____________________________(hereafter “Photographer” “the Photographer” or “Photography Company”)

and ____________________ (hereafter referred to as “CLIENT”).

Scope of Work:

This contract is for services and products related to a photography shoot (hereafter “shoot” or “the shoot”) to take place at the following time and place:

__________________________________________________________

PHOTOGRAPHER will also perform retouching, post-processing or digital image editing services on these photos where artistically necessary. The final post production and editing styles, effects, and overall look of the images are left to the discretion of the Photographer.

Fees:

In consideration for the photography services provided by PHOTOGRAPHER, CLIENT agrees to pay the sum of

CLIENT agrees to pay the photographer $___________ which is due within 30 days of the day of the SHOOT.

[[Option: CLIENT agrees to pay the photographer ___________ or the initial payment totaling 50% (fifty-percent) of the total price of the photography services upon signing this contract. The balance of the payment for photography services must be paid in full no later than 30 days after the SHOOT]]

If CLIENT is required to purchase photos separately after the SHOOT, payment for those photos is due immediately upon delivery of photos to client.

Expenses:

When applicable, the CLIENT is responsible for all travel, accommodation, meal and transport costs unless provided by the CLIENT.

Travel Expenses:

All travel expenses are based on the distance between the location(s) and the Photographer’s studio address.  The first 10 miles roundtrip of travel are included.  All miles in excess of 10 miles roundtrip are charged at $.58 per mile.

Delivery:

PHOTOGRAPHER will deliver review jpegs (proofs) of photos to CLIENT no more than 3 days after the date of the SHOOT. Final images to be delivered to CLIENT will be hi resolution TIFFs or JPEG images.

Image Rights:

The photographs produced by Photographer are protected by Federal Copyright Law (all rights reserved) and may not be reproduced, shared or sold in any manner without the Photographers explicitly written permission. Photographer extends to client perpetual rights to all images for use online and/or print for the purposes of promoting the CLIENT Company. Photographer will retain full rights to same images for the purposes of selling rights to vendors or for the purposes of promoting Photographer’s website and business.

Indemnification:

If PHOTOGRAPHER is unable to perform the services in this contract due to any cause outside its control, CLIENT agrees to indemnify photographer for any loss damage or liability; however, PHOTOGRAPHER will return in full all payments made by CLIENT to PHOTOGRAPHER in relation to this SHOOT.

CLIENT agrees to indemnify and hold harmless PHOTOGRAPHER for any liability, damage, or loss related to technological failure, including data loss.

CLIENT understands and agrees that PHOTOGRAPHER is not required to maintain copies of the photos from this shoot one year after the photos have been delivered to CLIENT.

CLIENT agrees to hold PHOTOGRAPHER harmless for any personal injury which may occur.

Duty of Client

CLIENT will obtain all permissions necessary for PHOTOGRAPHER to photograph at the SHOOT. PHOTOGRAPHER has no duty to obtain permissions for locations. CLIENT understands and agrees that any failure to obtain these permissions resulting in fines to photographer, or which prevent photographer from photographing the event(s) is not the fault, liability, or responsibility of photographer.

[[Optional for Portraits: Model Release

CLIENT grants permission to PHOTOGRAPHER and its assigns, licensees, and sublicensees, permission to use CLIENT’S image or likeness in any and all forms of media for commercial purposes, advertising, trade, personal use, or any and all other uses. Therefore, PHOTOGRAPHER may use CLIENT’S likeness and image on PHOTOGRAPHER’S website or other advertising. PHOTOGRAPHER may sell photos containing CLIENT’S likeness to third parties.]]

PHOTOGRAPHER Signature __________________________________________________

Date: ___________________________

CLIENT Signature: ______________________________________________________________

Date: ____________________________