Is your wedding photography business legally sound? When it comes to protecting your business, you don’t want to leave it up to chance. I can’t stress enough how many stories I’ve come across from fellow photographers who faced challenges because their contracts didn’t offer sufficient protection.
Distinguishing between reliable and unreliable contracts online is hard, and taking chances with the strength of your contract is not a risk worth taking. That’s why I entrust my legal needs to Rachel from the LawTog. She provides the peace of mind I need to ensure that my photography business is thoroughly safeguarded.
What contracts should wedding photographers have? In this article, we’re going to look at:
- Wedding contracts
- Wedding releases
- Wedding outsourcing
- Addendums
Wedding Contracts
- Wedding Photography Contract
As a service provider you need to have a contract for each client you work with (yes, this includes family and friends too!). This contract should address the essential aspects that every photography business owner needs for legal coverage when providing services for a wedding, such as:
- Non-refundable payment (with liquidated damages language)
- Payment schedule and completion schedule
- Late fees for delayed or missed payments
- Cancellation and rescheduling policies
- Copyright and reproductions, whether selling digitals or not
- Client usage rights for images
- Ensuring a safe working environment and client and guest cooperation
- Exclusive photographer clause
- Terms for failure to perform
- Provision for substitute/backup photographer
- Incorporation of a standard price list
- Meals and breaks provided for the photography team
- Venue guidelines and client responsibilities
- Provisions for travel and overage fees
- Plus, other necessary legal considerations
Does your contract include all of these things? Your wedding photography contract might require some updates post 2020 (like a force majeure clause). So, make sure to check out the wedding photography contract in the Lawtog’s shop to ensure that your business is fully covered.
- General Portrait Photography Contract
This is a must-have contract for every photographer. You can use the general portrait photography contract for various sessions: family portraits, maternity photos, newborn and senior pictures, mini sessions, etc. This comprehensive portrait agreement addresses all the vital aspects that any photography business owner needs for legal coverage during a portrait photography session:
- Booking and payment terms
- Cancellation policies
- Rescheduling and late arrivals
- Location and travel details
- Styling considerations
- Completion schedule
- Use of independent contractor
- Photographic materials and artistic rights
- Inclusions and additional purchases
- Cooperation guidelines
- Terms for failure to perform
- Substitute photographer provisions
- Photographer’s standard price list
- Indemnification and liability clauses
- Legal miscellany
Click here to grab your general portrait photography contract from the Lawtog shop.
Wedding Releases
- Photography Print Release
Navigating the legalities of protecting your images can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to printing rights and social media use. But here’s the thing – many clients love having those digital files to share on social media or print themselves. If you want to retain the rights to your images, a print release form gives you the legal protection you need while also giving your clients permission for personal use.
Think of it as an investment in your business’s well-being, and it won’t break the bank. Not only does it provide crucial legal protection, but it also positions you as a pro with clear rules and expectations that clients will respect. Click here to grab your print release.
- Model Release
If you want to use your image in ads or publications, then you need a model release. This form is an agreement signed by the person in the picture, giving you permission to use it. Moreover, this form waives any potential claims the client might have for future compensation related to image usage. So, it keeps you out of legal trouble and makes things clear about using the pictures. Get yours here: Wedding Model Release | General Portrait Photography Model Release
Wedding Outsourcing
- Second Shooter Contract
What’s another photography contract you should have? A second shooter contract. This contract establishes clear guidelines and expectations between the main photographer and second shooter. It also covers things like assignment duties, equipment usage, copyrights, and portfolio sharing. If all of this sounds overwhelming to you, click here to grab the second shooter contract template that will take all the guesswork out.
- Associate Photographer
If you want to scale your photography business, then you might be thinking about building an associate team. Associate photographers basically photograph your weddings and events for you, while you retain the copyright to all images. As you expand your business with associate photographers, this document becomes a crucial tool for eliminating ambiguity, protecting your business, and ensuring a smooth working relationship. If you don’t have an associate photographer contract, click here to grab yours today.
Addendums
- Third-Party Payor Addendum
When third parties, like the parents of the bride, want to pay for your services on behalf of the couple, it’s crucial to include a third-party payor addendum in your contract. Make sure to only use a lawyer drafted legal document, as third-parties may assume rights and responsibilities by paying. This is a must-have legal document for wedding photographers. If you don’t have a third-party payor addendum, click here to grab yours and make sure that you and your business are protected.
- Rescheduling Addendum
There has been a lot of rescheduling in the wedding industry lately which is why you need to add a rescheduling addendum to your contract ASAP. The rescheduling addendum helps reschedule an already contracted wedding without having to draft an entirely new contract from scratch. With a rescheduling addendum, all you need to do is fill it out, have your clients sign it, and attach it to your original contract. Download your rescheduling addendum now and have all of your bases covered.
And there you have it! These are the wedding photography contracts you need to have in your business. Are you missing some of them? Make sure to check out the Lawtog’s website for all of these and more.
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