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Wedding photography contract

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The Client and the Photographer may be referred to individually as Party and collectively as Parties.

This Wedding Photography Contract (the “Contract”) is entered into and made valid upon signature by both Parties. The date of which is hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Date”.

1. Wedding Date & Description

Wedding Date: [Insert Date]

Start Time & Location: [Insert Start Time & Location]

Ceremony Time & Location: [Insert Ceremony Time & Location]

Reception Time & Location: [Insert Reception Time & Location]

End Time: [Insert End Time]

Additional Information and/or Services Requested: [Insert Additional Information and/or Services Requested].

2. Contact Information

Client Telephone Number & Email: [Insert Client Telephone Number & Email]

Wedding Day Additional Contact 1 Name: [Insert Name]

Wedding Day Additional Contact 1 Telephone Number: [Insert Client Telephone Number]

Wedding Day Additional Contact 2 Name: [Insert Name]

Wedding Day Additional Contact 2 Telephone Number: [Insert Client Telephone Number]

3. Payment

The Parties agree to the following payment and payment Terms:

Total fee for services: [Insert Amount].

Non-refundable deposit due upon execution of the Contract: [Insert Amount].

Balance due on day of wedding: [Insert Amount].

4. Additional Terms and Conditions

The Client agrees to provide a meal for the Photographer if the Photographer’s attendance is required for greater than five (5) hours. The Photographer has the following food allergies/dietary restrictions: [Insert restrictions].
The Client agrees to give/have someone give the Photographer sufficient warning of key events at the wedding to give the Photographer time to prepare (e.g., bouquet toss, cake cutting, speeches, etc.)
The Photographer will endeavor to get photographs of as many guests as possible, which may be limited by guests’ cooperation in having their photo taken.
The Client agrees that the Photographer shall be given precedence in taking photographs over guests with cell phone cameras and other devices. The Photographer cannot be held responsible for lack of photographs or poor quality of photographs if guests are interfering with the Photographer’s work.
The Client acknowledges the Photographer may be limited in scope by rules of the location of the ceremony and/or reception. (e.g., flash photography may not be allowed within a church)

5. Copyright

The Photographer shall maintain the copyright of all photographs. The Photographer grants the Client permission to make copies of the images for personal use by the Client and their family and friends. Sale, publication, or any other commercial use is specifically prohibited without the prior written consent of the Photographer.

‍6. Cancellation

By Client.

The Client may cancel this Contract at any time prior to the event. Upon cancellation, the Client will be entitled to a refund of any monies paid, except for the non-refundable deposit.

By Photographer.

The Photographer may cancel this Contract at any time. If the Photographer cancels, it must provide a suitable replacement for services of the Photographer, subject to the Client’s approval, which shall be obtained in writing. In the alternative, the Photographer shall refund all monies previously paid by the Client, including the non-refundable deposit.

‍7. Dispute Resolution and Legal Fees

In the event of a dispute arising out of this Contract that cannot be resolved by mutual agreement, the Parties agree to engage in mediation. If the matter cannot be resolved through mediation, and legal action ensues, the successful party will be entitled to its legal fees, including, but not limited to its attorneys’ fees.

8. Severability

In the event any provision of this Contract is deemed invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, that part shall be severed from the remainder of the Contract and all other provisions should continue in full force and effect as valid and enforceable.

‍9. Legal and Binding Agreement

This Contract is legal and binding between the Parties as stated above. This Contract may be entered into and is legal and binding both in the United States and throughout Europe. The Parties each represent that they have the authority to enter into this Contract.‍

10. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

The Parties agree that this Contract shall be governed by the State and/or Country in which both Parties reside/do business. In the event that the Parties do business in different States and/or Countries, this Contract shall be governed by [Insert name of State or country] law. Each Party irrevocably submits for all purposes in connection with this Contract to the exclusive jurisdiction of the [courts/venue] of [insert court/venue].‍

11. Entire Agreement

The Parties acknowledge and agree that this Contract represents the entire agreement between the Parties. In the event that the Parties desire to change, add, or otherwise modify any terms, they shall do so in writing to be signed by both Parties.

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Disclaimer: Template does not constitute any form of legal advice, and the User is at all times encouraged to request external specific legal advice in respect of the execution of legal documents.

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What is a wedding photography contract?

A wedding photography contract is a formal agreement between the ones getting married and a photographer.

It spells out all the important stuff, like when and where the wedding is happening and how they want the photos to look. Plus, it outlines what the photographer is responsible for during the big day. It's like having a roadmap that keeps everyone on the same page and captures those beautiful matrimonial memories just right.

What should a contract for wedding photography include?

To avoid future issues and conflicts, a wedding photography contract should include all the necessary details regarding the photography services.

The essential details are as follows: the names of the bride and groom, dates of issuance of the contract and the wedding, complete mailing address, the couple’s contract details, time and location of the setup and wedding ceremony, time and location of the reception, the products and services provided to the couple, the inclusions of the package, additional charges, required deposit, payment terms and conditions, and signatures of both the client and the photographer.

The wedding details must include the date, location, and time of the ceremony and reception, as well as the setup time.

The photographer must provide a list of the services to be performed as requested by the client. Lastly, the amount of payment and deposits, due date, and modes of payment must also be included.

Typically, a photography contract has stipulations regarding the following: pre-wedding consultation, cooperation, schedule, paparazzi wedding guests, house rules, copyright law, model release, the limit of liability, booking fee or deposit, payment terms, and breach of contract. Finally, to acknowledge that both parties agree to those stipulations, they must affix their signature at the bottom of the contract page.

Copyright: The photographer typically holds all media ownership rights until the couple has made full payment.
Separate charges: The photographer usually charges a fee to shoot the wedding and another fee to produce the photos (digital or physical prints).
Non-refundable deposit: A deposit usually becomes non-refundable either at the signing of the contract or within 30 days of the wedding.
Food: If the photographer will be shooting the reception and food is provided, commonly a meal is provided to the photographer.
Requesting prints after the wedding: The couple typically has up to 180 days after the wedding to request prints and any additional editing of the photographs.
Watermarks: The photographer will send watermarked versions of the photos taken, and the couple can select which ones to purchase.
What about the weather? The photographer will be paid the total amount if the weather does not allow the wedding. The photographer cannot guarantee professional photos if the wedding is during inclement weather.

What do you do if the wedding photographer cancels?

This is where a contract proves valuable!

If the photographer cancels, the couple will receive refunds for any deposits made, and the photographer is not held liable. In most cases, if a photographer can't attend the wedding, a colleague or associate will often step in to do the job.

When should you use a wedding photography contract?

You should use a wedding photography contract when you're ready to seal the deal and capture those precious moments for your clients.

Let’s be honest: The bride's cousin takes excellent photos with their smartphone, but is that how the couple wants to immortalize their special day?

Probably not. That makes wedding photography a sought-after service and worth signing a contract over.

After a couple has browsed through your portfolio and is ready to talk business, they'll inevitably ask about pricing. Before jumping into your packages, step back and ask some meaningful questions to understand their wedding vision.

What's the significance of their guest list?
What's the story behind the venue?
What's their personality as a couple?

This insight allows you to tailor your packages to their unique needs and preferences. Remember to include a copy of your contract to formalize the agreement.

It's all about creating a personalized experience and securing your role as their trusted photographer for the big day.

Why every wedding photographer needs a contract (before agreeing to the job)

Here are 5 reasons why every wedding photographer needs a contract before agreeing to the job:

You’ll get paid on time. Using a contract communicates your fees and payment terms. It helps explain how deposits work and when you expect payment of the outstanding balance.
You’ll know about dates and times in advance. A contract encourages clients to confirm the date and location, which is crucial for planning as wedding photographers are often booked months in advance.
No one will come up with last-minute surprises. Clear expectations set in a contract prevent disputes by outlining the scope of the shoot upfront.
You’ll be seen as professional. Presenting a contract shows professionalism and commitment to the shoot's success.
A contract removes any doubts or questions. Signing a contract marks the transition from lead to paying client, providing motivation and financial certainty.

How do I end a wedding photography contract?

When it comes to a wedding photography contract, there are a few scenarios where it might come to an end:

The job wraps up, and all those beautiful images are handed to the happy couple.
If anyone breaks the rules laid out in the contract, that could be a deal-breaker.
Sometimes, everyone just agrees it's time to call it quits.

Here's the catch: if you pull the plug without a good reason, as the client, you might wave goodbye to that deposit you made.

And photographers, listen up! If you're the one saying "so long" before the job's done, you might find yourself scrambling to find a replacement.

Centralize all your service-level agreements with Contractbook

A wedding is a grand and memorable celebration for the loving couple that must be treasured in their hearts forever. However, because our memories will inevitably fail us, there will come a time when we can no longer recall and recount the essential details of the wedding day. For this reason, photographers document the special day.

Contractbook has a wedding photography template within its vast contract template library. Anyone looking to work with a photographer can do so quickly and easily. With this template, you can achieve an elegant, professional contract, establishing your photography branding and credibility.

The work can begin far sooner than if a contract were drawn up from scratch. Additionally, Contracbook's software means that both sides of the agreement can collaborate and negotiate the terms of the agreement efficiently — without the inefficient communication that emailing and snail-mailing contracts can create.

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