Not legal advice. These are general templates; laws and enforceability vary by state. Consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Photography contract template
A photography contract is a written agreement between a photographer and a client that covers the session, the fee and retainer, delivery of images, who owns the copyright, how the client may use the photos and what happens if either side cancels. Fill in the short form to build one and read it in full before you decide to download.
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What the contract settles
Photographers run into the same questions again and again: whether a deposit is returned, when photos are delivered, whether the client can print and post them, and what happens if the weather or an illness cancels a shoot. Writing the answers down before the session avoids hard conversations afterward.
Photo release and model release
A contract covers your relationship with the client. A photo release is a separate document in which a person allows you to use their image. If you plan to use a client's pictures in your marketing, add the photo release form from this site.
Tips
Be specific about the number of edited images, if you promise a number, in the session description. Keep a signed copy with the booking. Have a licensed attorney in your state review the final contract, especially for commercial shoots.
Build it in four steps
- Enter the photographer and client. Studio and client names.
- Describe the session and fee. Include any retainer.
- Choose the client's usage. Personal, personal and social, or commercial.
- Preview and edit. Change any clause, then download when downloads open.
Related templates
Questions and answers
What should a photography contract include?
The session description, fee and retainer, delivery timing, copyright and the license the client receives, cancellation and rescheduling, limits on liability, and signatures. This template includes all of those and an optional portfolio-use line.
Who owns the photos?
Under many legal systems the photographer owns the copyright unless the contract says otherwise. The template keeps the copyright with the photographer and gives the client a license. Ask an attorney how it works in your state.
Is the retainer refundable?
The template says it is credited toward the fee and, unless otherwise agreed in writing, not refundable if the client cancels. Edit the clause if you want different terms.
Do I also need a photo release?
If you want to use the images in your marketing, a separate photo release or the portfolio-use lines in the contract make that permission clear.