Product Photography Contract: What to Include

A product photography contract should list what is being photographed, how many images are included, how samples are handled and returned, how many edits are covered, how the images may be used and when payment is due. Product work involves physical items, so it needs clauses that wedding contracts do not. Keep the wording plain and have a local lawyer review it. This is general information, not legal advice.

Scope and shot count

Scope is where most disputes start. "Photograph our products" can mean ten items or a thousand.

Describe the job in terms you can count:

• Number of products (SKUs).
• Number of images per product, and what each shot is. For example: one front view, one side view, one detail shot.
• Background and style, such as white background, lifestyle, flat lay or on-model.
• Image size and format for web or print.
• Props and styling, and who supplies them.
• Retouching level, from basic clean-up to full composite.

A shot list attached to the contract helps. See photography client questionnaire for collecting this information before you quote.

Example wording:

The studio will photograph 20 products, with three images per product (front, side and detail) on a white background, delivered as web-ready JPEGs. Additional images or styles are charged separately.

Say what happens if the client sends extra products on the day. A per-item rate keeps it simple.

Product handling and damage

Products arrive from the client and need to be handled with care.

Clauses to cover:

• Delivery of samples. Who ships, who pays, and by what date.
• Condition on arrival. The studio notes damage or missing items within a short time.
• Storage. How long the studio keeps items and where.
• Return. Who pays return shipping, and by when.
• Damage and loss. What the photographer is responsible for.
• Insurance. Whether the client should insure valuable items.
• Perishables or fragile items. Special handling and timing.

Photographers often limit liability for samples to a stated amount and ask clients to insure anything valuable. The right wording depends on your location, so have a lawyer check it. See photography force majeure clause for how unexpected events that stop a shoot are usually covered.

Example wording:

The client is responsible for insuring samples in transit and while in the studio. The studio will take reasonable care of samples. Liability for damage is limited as set out in the Liability clause.

Keep a simple check-in and check-out list with photos of each item's condition on arrival. It protects both sides.

Usage and licence

Clients usually want to use the images on their website, marketplace listings, social media and print. Some want to use them in advertising.

State:

• The licence type: for example, a licence for e-commerce and social media.
• The territory and the period, if limited.
• Whether the licence is exclusive.
• What is excluded, such as paid advertising or packaging, unless agreed.
• Who keeps copyright.
• Whether you may use the images in your portfolio.
• Whether the client can pass the images to a reseller or agency.

Example wording:

The studio retains copyright. The client receives a non-exclusive licence to use the images on its website, online marketplaces and social media for as long as it sells the products. Use in paid advertising requires a separate licence.

Read photography outsourcing tasks if you plan to use retouchers or assistants, because the contract should allow you to use them.

Edits and revisions

Editing is a large part of product work, and clients like to tweak.

Define:

• The standard edit: colour correction, crop, background clean-up.
• The number of revision rounds included.
• What counts as a revision, such as a small fix, versus a change to the brief, such as a new background.
• The time window for requesting changes.
• Rates for extra work.

Example wording:

One round of revisions is included, requested within seven days of delivery. Changes to the original brief are charged at the studio's hourly rate.

Set a delivery timeline and stick to it. Say whether images are delivered in batches or all at once. State what happens if the client is slow to approve.

Sample wording

Use these as a starting point only. They are examples and not legal advice.

Payment. A booking payment of 50 percent is due on signing. The balance is due on delivery of the final images. Late payments may be charged interest.

Cancellation. If the client cancels within 48 hours of the shoot, the booking payment is not refundable.

Approval. Images not queried within seven days of delivery are treated as approved.

Check that each clause matches your own practice. A contract that says one thing while you do another causes more confusion than none.

Line items in the contract

Product shoots are easier to agree when the contract matches the quote, line by line. ClickBook lets you build a proposal with line items and attach the contract, which the client signs on their phone from one link. See the demo. A spreadsheet plus a PDF can work for smaller volumes.

Mistakes to avoid

• Leaving shot count undefined.
• Not documenting sample condition.
• Granting unlimited usage by accident.
• Forgetting return shipping.
• Accepting changes to the brief without a new quote.

Frequently asked questions

What should a product photography contract cover?

The number of products and shots, how samples arrive and return, who is responsible for damage, how many edits are included, delivery and the licence for using the images.

Who is responsible if a sample is damaged?

Decide and state it. Many photographers limit liability for samples to a reasonable amount and ask the client to insure valuable items. Check wording with a local lawyer.

How do I define what counts as one shot?

Describe it. For example, one product from one angle on a white background counts as one image. Extra angles, props or styled scenes are separate.

Should I limit revisions?

Yes. State how many rounds are included and what counts as a revision. Charge extra for changes to the brief.