For photographers

Contracts for photographers

Photographers often need to agree the shoot, the fee and the usage rights before the camera comes out. Contracts.io drafts that with Lex and your client signs from one link.

Draft this with Lex

Free for the other side

Lex drafts it in Plain English beside the legal wording. Share one link; both sides agree and sign.

Templates photographers use most

NDAs & IPPhotography licenceA photography licence lets a client use your photos for set uses, places and time, while you keep the copyright.Read →Client workFreelancer agreementA freelancer agreement sets the brief, deliverables, rate, rights and payment terms between a freelancer and a client.Read →Client workServices agreement (MSA)A services agreement sets the standing terms for every project with a client, so each new job needs only a short statement of work.Read →NDAs & IPMutual NDAA mutual NDA lets two businesses share confidential information both ways before a deal, and says what each side can do with it.Read →PartnershipsInfluencer agreementAn influencer agreement sets the posts, platforms, dates, usage rights and payment for a brand campaign with a creator.Read →

Do I license my photos or sell the rights?

Many photographers keep ownership and grant the client a licence to use the images. The licence usually says where the images can be used, for how long, in which territories and whether use is exclusive. Wider or longer use commonly costs more. Some clients ask for a full transfer of rights instead, which is usually priced higher. Lex drafts either version in Plain English.

What if a client cancels the shoot?

Photography contracts commonly include a cancellation clause with a kill fee or a non-refundable deposit. The fee often rises as the shoot date gets closer, because the date may have been held and other bookings turned down. The clause usually also covers rescheduling, bad weather for outdoor shoots, and costs already spent on crew, studio hire, travel, models or props.

What goes in a photography contract?

A photography contract usually covers the date and location, what is being shot, how many edited images are delivered and when, the fee and deposit, payment terms, the licence or rights, model and property releases, and cancellation. For commercial shoots, many also include confidentiality for unreleased products. Lex asks about each point in turn and builds the agreement from your answers.

Frequently asked questions

What is a photo licence?

A photo licence gives the client permission to use images in agreed ways, for example on a website for two years, while the photographer keeps ownership.

What is a kill fee in photography?

It is a payment due if the client cancels a booked shoot or commission. It is commonly a percentage of the fee that rises closer to the shoot date.

Can my client sign on their phone?

Yes. You share one link, and the client can read the agreement in Plain English, agree and sign on any device. It is free for them.

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