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Free template

Photography contract template

Pick your type of shoot and your clauses: the contract outline builds up as you go, each clause explained. Léa then drafts it in Pelli, and your client signs online.

Type of shoot

Contract clauses

Contract outline

Photography services agreement — Wedding

  1. 1.PartiesYour details and your client's
  2. 2.Scope of servicesType, date, location, duration, package
  3. 3.Fees and paymentAmount, schedule, payment methods
  4. 4.DepositAmount, due date, refund conditions
  5. 5.DeliveryTimeline, number of photos, format, online gallery
  6. 6.Usage licenseMedia, duration, territory; you keep the copyright
  7. 7.Model releaseWritten consent of the people photographed to publish
  8. 8.Timeline and breaksTimes, locations, photographer's meal and breaks
  9. 9.Portfolio and social mediaYour right to show a selection of the photos
  10. 10.Cancellation and reschedulingSliding scale by notice period, rescheduling, cancellation by you
  11. 11.Force majeure and replacementReplacement photographer or refund
  12. 12.LiabilityBest efforts, not guaranteed results; limits (weather, venue, schedule)
Online signature in Pelli: your client types their name, ticks the agreement box and answers Yes/No questions (publication, consent). You receive the signed contract as a PDF.

Have Léa draft this contract

Create your account: during the trial, Léa drafts your contract from this outline (copy it to give it to her), and your clients sign online.

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Copyright and model release: two different things

Copyright protects your photos: you remain the author and grant your client a specific license to use them. A good contract names what is licensed, on which media, for how long and where. Your right to be credited as the author generally stays with you.

A model release protects the people in the photos: to publish their image, in your portfolio or on social media, you need their written consent, specific about the media and duration, and a parent's consent for a minor. In Pelli, this consent takes the form of Yes/No questions the client answers when signing.

The clauses that protect you

The ones that make the difference the day something doesn't go to plan.

Deposit and payment

The deposit amount, when it's due, when the balance is due, and what happens to the deposit if the booking is cancelled. Write down whether it's refundable.

Cancellation and rescheduling

A sliding scale based on notice, for example the deposit kept up to six months before, then a growing share of the fee, and the option to reschedule rather than cancel. Cover the case where you have to cancel, too.

Delivery

The timeline, with a safety margin, the number of photos, the format, the delivery method (private online gallery) and how long it stays online.

Usage license

What the client may do with the photos: personal use, social media, marketing, advertising. The broader the use, the more it's worth, and it's written down in black and white.

Force majeure and replacement

Illness, accident, unforeseeable events: what you offer (a replacement photographer of the same level, a refund) and what is beyond your control.

Liability

You commit to your best efforts, not to a guaranteed result. The contract sets your limits: weather, venue restrictions, schedule delays, equipment failure despite backup gear.

What changes from one type of shoot to another

The basics stay the same; some jobs call for extra clauses.

Weddings

The day's timeline (times, locations, key moments), the photographer's meal and breaks, a possible second shooter, and consent to photograph guests.

Portraits and families

The location, duration, number of photos included and how they're selected, the price of extra photos, and consent from the people photographed for your portfolio.

Newborns

Parental consent, the baby's safety (a parent within reach, no risky poses), a flexible date and a longer session.

Corporate and products

Client approval of the images, confidentiality about what you see on site, any exclusivity, and a detailed usage license, often the real value of the job.

Events

Access conditions (badges, zones), times, and how crowd photos are handled: individual consent is usually needed for a portrait, less so for a wide shot where no one is singled out. Rules vary by country.

Real estate

Access to the property and the owner's consent, no identifiable people or personal items, and the rights granted to the agent for listings.

This information is a guide, not legal advice: Pelli is not a law firm. Laws differ between countries and states; for a specific case, have your contract reviewed by a legal professional.

Frequently asked questions

Do photographers need a contract?

The law rarely requires a written contract for a photo session, but without one, nothing proves what was agreed: services, timelines, rights, cancellation. For a wedding or a corporate job, it's essential.

Signed quote or contract: what's the difference?

A signed quote commits you both to the price and the services. A contract goes further: cancellation, rescheduling, usage license, model release, liability. Many photographers send both together.

How do I get a contract signed online?

Send it from Pelli: your client reads it in their browser, answers the Yes/No questions (publication, consent), types their name and ticks the agreement box. You receive the signed contract as a PDF.

Do I need a separate usage license agreement?

Not necessarily: the license can sit in the services contract, as long as it names what is licensed, the media, the duration and the territory. For an advertising campaign, a dedicated document is clearer.

Why doesn't Pelli offer a ready-made contract?

Because a copy-pasted contract protects you poorly: every job and every photographer has their own rules, and laws differ between countries. You pick your clauses here, and Léa drafts them for your business, for you to review and adjust before sending.

The photographer's toolkit, step by step

All tools
Pricing calculatorThe right price for your job, from your real working time and your local market.Quote templateA clear quote, ready to send and get accepted online.Invoice templateInvoice, deposit or final balance, with the right details.

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Quotes accepted online, signed contracts, proper invoices and delivery galleries: Pelli brings your whole client workflow together.

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Photography contract template: the essential clauses | Pelli