Writing up a photography contract can be a tricky thing. There are a few things to consider when writing up your own.
1. Call it a “Photography Agreement” rather than a contract. The word contract has negative connotations while “Photography Agreement” lets your client know that you are also agreeing to hold up your end of the deal.
2. Your deposit should be called a retainer or booking fee. Deposit implies that should the event be canceled, the client can get their deposit back, and legally they can since they are putting a deposit on a non physical item. By calling it a booking fee this is what they are paying to book you, not to shoot the wedding. This fee is then applied to the balance of the wedding fees.
3. Try to condense your terms of service to one page. It can be over bearing to have to read through 8 pages. If they are on one page, section them out so it is easily digested.
4. Make sure both bride and groom sign the agreement. If they are not the ones paying and a parent is, then you will need to get that person’s signature as well.
I have included what my contract looks like.
Click HERE for copyable text of the “Terms of Service.”
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