10 Questions Your Wedding Photography Contract Should Answer
Charlotte Wedding Photographer Gavin Boulware, with almost 20 years of Wedding Photography experiences shares insight on questions you should be able to answer after reading your Wedding Day contract.
So you’ve read your wedding contract, but can you answer these questions?!
1: When will you receive your photos?
I cannot overstate this. EVERY Newlywed I speak to, after they tell me about all the ups and downs of their wedding day, ask me this question. My response is simple: check your contract! In your contract, the photographer should have a “Time of Delivery” section where he or she will state, when you should expect your images. The average delivery time of most wedding photos is anywhere between 4-8 weeks.
2: How many photo will you receive?
Typically full day wedding coverage is 8-10 hours. After 8 weeks you receive a email stating “Your Wedding Gallery is Ready” and you open your long awaited wedding gallery to see only 200 images. Is that okay with you? Each photographer has in their mind how many shots they hope to take during your big day. Your wedding day contract should state how many images you will receive per hour.
3: When is your final payment due? Every wedding day vendor has different timeline on when your wedding day payment is due.
4: What happens if your Photographer suddenly is unavailable?
When I was getting married, my photographer need emergency surgery the day before my wedding! While I panicked, I knew EXACTLY what would happen next due to his contract! If something happens to your photographer, what happens to your wedding day? Refund? Replacement Photographer? Nothing?
5: What is your payment schedule?
To help clients avoid paying large lump sums of money, many creators allow payment plans for their clients. It’s important to know and understand the payment schedule because some contracts have “penalties” for late or missed payments. The biggest question that should be answered is “if my wedding is cancelled, what happens with my payment schedule?”
6: What is the details of your day?
So you know your day, you have the vendors list, the outline and more. Make sure your photographer has the relevant information in your contract. Every contract should have the date, shooting time, and location in the contract. Nothing is worse than having a legal debate and nobody has proof of the agreed upon date.
7: Where will your images be shared?
Most Photographers generally want to do a few things with your images, after your wedding day: Develop marketing pieces (albums, prints, etc), display within their portfolio and share to social media. While it’s not uncommon for clients to reach out to have their images removed from the internet, it’s “tough” talk to have when a contract is signed.
8: How long do you have access to your images?
30 Days? 3 Months? 1 Year? What if you need you need access to your images in 5 years?
9: What’s the deal with my deposit?
What is the percentage? Is it Refundable? What if you paid more than the requested amount?
10: Who covers expenses?
More than likely you will cover all expenses your photographer incurs while covering your celebration. Are you okay with that? What if your photographer needs batteries? Okay that doesn’t sound bad. A new camera? ehhh not so much. While you will cover most cost, it’s important for you to approve any expenses your photographer will want you to cover!
