Comments on: Wedding Photography Agreement (Contract) Tips

By: Gerald Woods

Gerald Woods — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:25:04 +0000

You should have your form of photographer contract reviewed by an attorney in your jurisdiction. For example, the sample indemnity clause may be too vague in some states. Further, as a lawyer I would never sign an agreement to purchase services with such a clause, because it tries to impose upon the purchaser liability for the negligence of the photographer! Make sure your contract is fair and reasonable, for you AND the purchaser of your services.

By: Wedding photographer

Wedding photographer — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:36:20 +0000

We place all pictures, with the permission of our wedding couple or customer.
So i don’t think so, it is illegal.

By: bscottie

bscottie — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:48:40 +0000

I’m curious about facebook-type useage as well. When clients purchase digital negatives, does anyone have advice on whether/how to regulate the posting of photos on sites like facebook? The digital negatives I provide to clients do not have watermarks, so is it best to just stipulate that a photo credit be included when posted online? Without a watermark, it seems like it would be awfully easy for a third party to pick them up off facebook and use/sell them (not that a watermark is fullproof). I want to be flexible for clients who like to share online (plus it can be good exposure for me), but online useage is tricky. I’m also curious it others who sell digital negatives to clients allow them to post the photos on sites like Shutterfly for relatives to purchase (not at a profit to the client).

By: randa

randa — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:35:53 +0000

Is it legal for the couple to put photos on facebook (with credit to the photographer/ watermark on picture), if the photographer owns the copyrights, and he placed low resolution picson his website (access with password)?

Thks!

By: Marina

Marina — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:09:27 +0000

The real wedding photographer not simply makes money. He is your friend and helper in a time of wedding. He is responsible and careful, initiative and ?????????, with exceptional traction and love to the work. And if you found such photographer, be sure – making even small pushes from the side, in your house, on the most prominent position, your only and the best wedding album will proudly lie.

By: photog-art

photog-art — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 05:33:29 +0000

This has been a freaking lifesaver!
I just did a wedding for a close friend… the last person you would expect to pull a fast one!
Now they won’t pay for the coverage, won’t pay for prints, or for copyrights, but want ALL of it. Also, they want to bring my photos to another photographer… more like her high school cousin who just bought his first film camera. to make an album for her. No way!
Since they signed the contract, they are legally stuck until they pay.
Sucks for our friendship, but it saved my sweet butt from being swindled.

And a note for Paul- or those with similar thoughts… If you want to limit the photographer’s usage of your photos, tell them directly (in written form… ahem.. a contract) where they can NOT use the photos. Beyond that, it is legally copyrighted to the photographer as per the Federal Copyright Act, and unless you pay for the copyrights, you don’t get a say. Sorry, but its true, and it saves us from stories like my ‘friends’ above.

By: PatriciaD

PatriciaD — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:53:46 +0000

Wow, I have REALLY enjoyed reading all this information about doing a wedding. I did one for a friend years ago and wish I’d had this information but now feel much more prepared to do a “real” wedding photography session. And THANKS so much to David for supplying a sample contract.

By: Tori Marrama

Tori Marrama — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:35:14 +0000

Darren –

Good post. I agree with you that a proper contract simply sets expectations for the parties involved.

I wonder if you’d be interested in a low cost e-signature tool I built. It’s called Agree ‘n Sign: http://www.AgreeNSign.com. It may be of value to your readers by speeding up the contract signing process using email and the web.

Try if free and let me know if you’d like an account upgrade to evaluate it further.

Thanks,
Tori

By: Neil Hargreaves

Neil Hargreaves — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:17:57 +0000

I have recently introduced an amended version of my wedding assignment contract to remove references to bride & groom. I’m booking more and more same sex marriages / commitment ceremonies – bride & bride and groom & groom was still causing issues, so now they are all just clients.

I’ve also introduced a “paparazzi” clause, which grants me permission to restrict photography by guests if they are interfering with my photos (not that I have ever used it), and absolves me of responsibility if my photos are ruined by guest photographers distracting my subjects / blasts a flash in my shot / etc.

In Australia, copyright in wedding photographs lies with the client (Copyright Act 1968) as wedding photography is deemed to be “private or domestic”. My agreement includes a clause which overrides this and provides me with copyright.

WRT model releases – mine allow me to use the images for self-promotion and also for entry into competitions.

By: Holly

Holly — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 07:26:16 +0000

Great info! Thanks for sharing!