When couples engage a wedding photographer, there would usually be a face-to-face discussion to ensure both parties are on the same picture before signing the contract. A wedding photography contract should generally include everything from the major details of the venue and date to the preparation of any unforeseen circumstances and scenarios.
This contract serves to protect both the photographer and also ensure the couple gets what they paid for. For an amateur wedding photographer just starting out in the business, here are key points to consider when finalising your wedding photography contract.
1. Major Details
The major details can be remembered by the 4Ws.
What services are the couple engaging you for? Is it only the actual day wedding photography or is a pre-wedding photoshoot session included? How long are you offering each service for? Be clear on the exact number of hours you will be shooting their wedding or pre-wedding shoot. Do not use a vague term like ‘all-day’ that can be intepreted in various ways.
Where will the wedding take place? Where will the pre-wedding photography shoot be held at, if any?
When will the wedding be? When will the pre-wedding session take place? While you can afford to be more flexible with the pre-wedding session and allow some changes later on, the actual wedding day should be fixed. This is because you would have to block out the whole day for the couple. If any postponement were to happen, you may not be available on the postponed date.
Who is the couple engaging your services? It would be embarrassing and unprofessional if you were to mix up the couples you’re photographing.
2. Price + Deliverables
Be clear and detailed about the price and the deliverables that will be included for the price they are paying for. It should have a clear number of the digital files, prints or albums that the couple will receive at the end of the wedding.
3. Cancellation
Cancellations are probably the worst case scenario to happen. If you as a wedding photographer happen to have an emergency case to attend to that prevents you from attending their wedding, you should state clearly in your contract what you would do. You should therefore have the contacts of a few backup photographers you can engage to cover their day instead.
If the couple is the one initiating the cancellation, make sure it is clear how much of the payment is refundable. If a wedding is postponed, you may also add some additional charges the couple has to pay. If the postponed date is one where you are already booked for another event, typically the deposit is forfeited just as with a cancellation.
4. Editing
Include how much editing you will do to the photographs before delivering it to your clients. From colour correction, to removing blemishes and tan lines, there may be many requests from the couple. You can also add a list of additional costs for anything that is not included. For example, if you have submitted the photos to the couple but they reply with more demands for further editing, you can charge a second round of editing fee. However, you should also be reasonable that you are not charging them for an edit you should have done previously.
5. Deadlines
Deadlines are essential to ensure you are responsible and can commit to the deadline. Give the couple a rough deadline on when they can expect to receive their deliverables. You can give them the time frame of a week instead of an exact date if that is more comfortable for you.
Deadlines only apply to the money the couple should pay you for your service. What is the deposit amount and when should the remainder be paid latest by? Deposits are crucial to protect you against any unfortunate back-outs and covers any time investment you may have. These are all important details to include in the contract.
6. Rights to Photographs
Your contract should have a rights clause that details who owns the rights to the photographs and what rights the couple will have. An ideal one would be where the photographer retains the copyright to the images and the couple may not sell their images but is able to share them on their own social media for personal purposes. Not only do you get to share your own work online, letting the couple do so opens up new doors for possible referrals online.
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