Everything You Need To Know About Wedding Photography Contracts

Booking a wedding photographer is a monumental moment in the wedding planning process! Since you’re probably up to your ears in vendor contracts, it can be difficult to keep track of what you need to pay attention to. Your Wedding Wingman, Vanessa Mir, lead photographer at Heirloomsnaps, breaks down the legal jargon and shares what you need to make sure is included in your wedding photographer contract.

Read Now, Or Forever Hold Your Peace

We get it, vendor contracts aren’t exactly light reading. Make sure to double and triple check your wedding photographer contract includes all the little details such as your date and correct timing. In addition to your venue’s address, make sure it specifies any other places you want photos such as where you will be getting ready.

While it’s important to check and see if the locations you’re shooting at require a permit, it’s equally important to check to see if your contract defines who is in charge of obtaining any permits. Reading every detail will ensure that you aren’t responsible for something without realizing it.

Make sure the contract has not only your contact information but your wedding photographers. This is a great way to check if your package includes a secondary photographer and their name so you can look into their work in preparation for your big day! 

Time Is Money, Honey

When you sign a contract you will have to pay a retainer fee/deposit. This percentage of your total cost is paid upfront to “save your date”. Vanessa says “This may seem pointless however this ensures the client is serious at the time of signing and potential clients are not turned away.

Make sure the contract has not only your contact information but your wedding photographers. This is a great way to check if your package includes a secondary photographer and their name so you can look into their work in preparation for your big day! 

Defining The Deliverables

Your wedding photographer contract should spell out exactly what both parties will be responsible for. Defined in your contract should be the photographer’s start and end time, the number of images you will be receiving, and an estimate of when after the wedding you can expect your images. 

Often your photographer will release a preview of your wedding on their social media very soon after your wedding. However, just because they post on social media does not mean that they are done with your photos. Vanessa says a standard and reasonable time to expect your photos is about three months later. This can differ based on the photographer but your contract should state when you’ll be getting your images. 

Seal The Deal

Most photographers will deliver your images either via an online gallery such as Google Photos, Dropbox, or WeTransfer or in person via a flash drive or prints if you ordered them. When it comes to online galleries, make sure to ask your photographer how long they will be viewable online. After some time they will delete these images and you want to make sure you have already downloaded them.

One of the main causes for concerns in a wedding photographer contract is the rights to the photos. Most photographers include in the contract that they have the right to use your wedding photos for promotional purposes. If you do not want your images on social media or advertised on their website, you need to discuss this with your photographer and make sure that your contract reflects your wishes.

The rights you have to your photos are usually shared in something like a “Consent and Release” section. Copyright retains ownership over the products delivered and consent will have the release of the deliverables or vice versa. Vanessa says “in most cases, the photographer retains the copyright to the images and the client retains the release.” Generally, both you and your photographer can share on your social media, but you may need to check the fine terms if you are interested in redistributing your content in other ways such as submitting your wedding for publication.