Photography contracts that lock the date and protect your images
Most photographers don't lose money on the shoot — they lose it on the booking that was never secured, the client who uses a headshot in a national ad campaign, and the gallery that has to be re-edited three times. A clear contract with a retainer paid at signature fixes most of it before the camera comes out.
Draft my contract freeNo card needed. Your client signs from their phone, without an account.
The contract and payment problems you actually run into
01
Dates held without a retainer
A client says "we're definitely booking", you turn down another shoot for the same day, and then they go quiet. Without a signed contract and a non-refundable retainer, the date was never really yours.
02
Usage that outgrows the fee
You priced a shoot for a website and social posts; six months later the images are on billboards and packaging. If the licence (where, how long, which media) isn't written down, you have no basis to charge for the extra use.
03
Endless re-edits and RAW requests
"Can you make me look a bit thinner in all 80 photos?" and "just send us the RAW files" are where hours disappear. Your contract needs a number of edited images, a retouching scope and a clear answer on RAWs.
04
People in the frame, and your portfolio
Commercial work with recognisable people needs a model release, and you want the right to show the work in your portfolio. Both are easy to agree in advance and awkward to ask for afterwards.
How it works with Clinch
- 1
Describe the job in a sentence or two: the AI drafts the contract from a template made for your trade.
- 2
Send one link: your client reads and signs on their phone in about 30 seconds, no account needed.
- 3
Collect the deposit at signature, then invoice the balance from the same place.
Contract templates to start from
Clauses worth adding
Free tools
Questions
Who owns the copyright in the photos?
By default in most countries the photographer does, and the client gets a licence to use the images. Your contract should say exactly what that licence covers — media, territory, duration, exclusivity — and what it costs to extend it.
How big should a photography retainer be?
Many photographers take 25–50% to hold the date, non-refundable because the date can't be resold. The deposit calculator above helps you pick a figure you can defend.
Send your next contract in minutes
Start from the template for your trade, edit anything, and get paid the moment it's signed.
Other trades
General information, not legal advice. For high-stakes deals, have a lawyer review your contract.
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