Writing a contract for your client(s) is an important step before you do an assignment. It will protect you and set everything in stone. It also can generate revenues for you. However, each contract may be different. A contract for an editorial client can be different for an event job. If a client comes to me and asks me to shoot a birthday party for them and is also willing to pay me $500, a contract is in need. Some of the factors I would include in this contract are the signatures and circumstances if there is a change to the job.
According to Best Business Practices for Photographers by John Harrington, all contracts must have my signature and the client’s signature. The reason of signatures is due to protection for the client and me. A contract is to put everything on paper; so nothing is a surprise or someone else claiming they are pulling a fast one. Therefore the placing of the signatures is very important; “the assigning client’s signature appears on the bottom of page two of our contract and above the signature are all of the terms and conditions”. Therefore, if a client says ‘I do not remember this on the client’, you can show your signed contract and say ‘you signed at the bottom indicating you have read the contract’. Signatures are a very important detail to have in a contract.
According to Best Business Practices for Photographers by John Harrington, all contracts must have my signature and the client’s signature. The reason of signatures is due to protection for the client and me. A contract is to put everything on paper; so nothing is a surprise or someone else claiming they are pulling a fast one. Therefore the placing of the signatures is very important; “the assigning client’s signature appears on the bottom of page two of our contract and above the signature are all of the terms and conditions”. Therefore, if a client says ‘I do not remember this on the client’, you can show your signed contract and say ‘you signed at the bottom indicating you have read the contract’. Signatures are a very important detail to have in a contract.
Another element I would include would be an agreement for the circumstances if there is a change to the job. The client in this situation wants me to shoot a birthday party. If the clients want me to photograph more than a party it would cost more. If the clients wants more prints than he agreed upon would cost more. If the party goes longer than what is on my contract, then I can charge more. However the only way I can charge more like this is because of the contract. The contract should be in precise detail. That way the client cannot attempt to pull a fast one, and I have a better chance to earn extra money.
No comments:
Post a Comment