No matter the occasion or type of shoot, you should sign a contract if you hire a photographer. The contract will help you and your photographer better establish expectations and can keep both parties out of any legal disputes. While the contract can seem intimidating, there are some essential items you will want to pay particular attention to.

Photographer Contracts Must Haves

The basics.

Make sure to include general information in the contract. The name, address, and contact number should be in the contract for you and the photographer. If you are shooting at a location, include it in the contract and the date the shoot takes place. If you are expecting there to be a second photographer, their name should be listed as well.

The total price and any tax should be included. There should be a clear breakdown of what is included in the price, such as hours of the shoot, prints, additional hour fees, and extras. It should state any deposits you have made, the method of payment, and the date you need to pay in full.

The rights.

Who will own the copyright of your images is something many people overlook. You want to read carefully about how you and the photographer can use the images after the shoot. Will you be restricted from posting them to your social media accounts? Do you have the right to make prints? Will your photographer be using them for promotional items or on their website? You want to discuss this carefully with your photographer to avoid legal issues in the future.

The clauses.

The contract will have a section that protects the photographer against unforeseen circumstances that make it impossible for them to be present or complete the shoot. Equipment failure, medical emergencies, and other unavoidable situations can prevent photographers from completing the job. It will typically state whether there is a backup photographer on call, refunds that will be given, and other liability issues you will want to be aware of. 

Refunds.

You want to know the cancellation policies for you and the photographer. How long before the shoot do you have to inform the photographer you are canceling to be able to get your money back? While most photographers rarely give a full refund, you can expect to get something back if you cancel within an appropriate time frame. This also goes for if your photographer has to cancel. Be sure to know what their refund policy is.

Timeline/Shot list.

You want to ensure that you and the photographer are on the same page, so having an outline of what you expect from each other is a good idea to include in the contract. You want to ensure the time your photographer is expected to show up on the day of the shoot is clear and what time they are expected to stay too. This should also be included if you have a shoot with different locations, like for a wedding. This allows you to avoid any miscommunication on the day of the shoot.