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Capturing the biggest day of someone's life on camera is a huge responsibility, so you don't want to worry about disagreements afterwards. Drawing up a clear, concise wedding photography agreement will spell out everything clearly for both you and your client.
Read on to see what to include in this document and where to find free and well-designed templates.
A wedding photography agreement is a contractual agreement drawn up between a wedding photographer and a client, usually the bride and groom. This agreement clearly states what's expected from the photographer on the wedding day and who is responsible for specific tasks.
The agreement will cover pricing, dates, times, and all manner of terms and conditions, ensuring that both sides of the agreement know where they stand.
As a wedding photographer, you should always use a wedding photography agreement whenever you are starting working with new clients. This will set out from the very start what is expected from both sides. This will not only make everything a lot clearer for the clients but also cover yourself in the event of legal action further down the road.
In the unlikely event that you are the client whose wedding day it is, and a wedding photography agreement hasn't been presented, drawing one up yourself is advisable. Again, this just covers any mishaps or legal liability if they should occur.
A wedding photography agreement will include everything from financial agreements down to who is responsible for getting everyone together for certain photographs. Here's what's included, and what is not:
Each wedding photographer can edit and change certain points of their own agreement to suit them or the clients. Often the agreement will not include specifics such as certain photographs that should be taken or particular poses and arrangements. This is left to the photographer and the couple.
A wedding photography agreement is extremely effective in a number of ways. The agreement sets out a clear guideline and vision for both the photographer and the clients. This ensures both the photographer and the couple are clear about what they expect from the service.
The agreement also keeps both sides covered in the eyes of the law. If any legal action is taken by either party, there is a clear and concise contract to reference from. Any post-wedding disagreements on payment schedules or use of the photos can easily be rectified by a quick glance at your wedding photography agreement.
A lawyer is not strictly needed to draw up an agreement, but having one that is legally binding is important. To make sure yours is, you can use a template from a reputable source (we list a few below).
When writing a wedding photography agreement, it is important to cover all bases from your own point of view. Include the names, dates and destinations of the wedding and highlight clauses and points that need to be agreed on. You also need to include personal requests such as the type of photos the client wants.
Write a clear and concise section on payment and a payment schedule if required. Complete the document with the dates and signatures of both clients and the photographer.
There are a number of online sources that provide clear and well-written legal documents and templates. Websites such as Lawpath and Wonder Legal are great websites in which to source these documents. Governmental websites such as ACCC.gov and Gov.au can provide you with further legal information and examples of documents.
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