A Binding Contract: Your Wedding Photographer and You
Although you’ll be signing one very important document soon, there are a few that need to be signed before the big day. One of these is the contract between you and your wedding photographer.
Wedding photographs are the documents that you cannot express in writing, that capture the emotions behind the words, and that preserve the smiles of the guests. This makes the contract’s contents especially important. Reading your contract should not be rocket science, the clarity of the information and the extensiveness of the explanations are a testament to a thorough and thoughtful photographer.
Before you sign any wedding photographer contract , you’ll want to discuss with your photographer the breakdown of the package and the plans for post production and delivery.
Questions to keep in mind include:
- How will proofs be delivered, online or in print?
- How many photos will be retouched and what will that process include?
- When will the proofs be available and final order be complete?
Included in your contract should be the package details and even the list of desired shots if the photographer provides a checklist prior to the wedding day. It is always best to go over the information with the photographer prior to reading the contract as well as when you sign because you can never be too prepared.
Be sure that the photographer wedding contract contains the contact information for both parties, the dates, times and duration of time to be photographed, and the addresses of photography sites. These are the critical pieces of information that you want to be especially clear. (Make sure that if there are different days, such as the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner as well as the wedding day, that each is specified on the contract.) Another equally critical piece of information is the pricing including deposit amount, balance due, and date of final payment.
Have your photographer specify what you are paying for so that there are no surprises after the fact. Check to see that there is an approximation of number of shots to be taken, so that both you and your photographer know what to “shoot” for. If you are expecting a very high number of proofs and your photographer is thinking only a few hundred, this is a good time to work that out. You might want to have an “Ownership of Work Product” clause in your contract, to clarify who will retain ownership of the photos, along with a “Confidentiality” section if you want to restrict the use of your photos for advertising or other purposes.
Even though you’ve planned far ahead for everything to be perfect on your wedding day, you must keep in mind that there is a chance for roadblocks to pop up. To prepare for these “unexpected” roadblocks, be sure your photography contract include cancellation and refund policy information and emergency information just in case your photographer comes down with the flu or your wedding day gets interrupted by an act of nature.
Avoid any photography scams by looking into references, checking the validity of the contact information, and making sure the contract is clear. Last but not least, make sure all of the parties sign the contract and that there are duplicate copies for safe keeping. When you’ve covered all of your bases, you can sign your photography contract with confidence.
You might also be interested in reading about:
