Wedding photography contracts are pretty similar, because the technology and issues faced are the same everywhere --- whether your photographer is in California, Europe or Hong Kong. American contracts are hard to understand --- because they're too brief . (They're overly brief so they won't scare off customers by looking too complicated.) Bottom line is, customers don't really know what they're signing. So whether you select Doug as your photographer or someone else, please look over our Plain English contract.

 Wedding Photography Contract

...written in Plain English

(916) 705-0033

www.rosevilleweddings.com

updated December 16, 2008

 

 

Here is our Standard Contract. Agreement to this is required as a condition of doing business with Doug. Giving payment to Doug implies you agree to the terms of this standard contract.

This contract is written in PLAIN ENGLISH & includes explanations of what key clauses are really about. PURPOSE: Through proper planning and scheduling on the wedding day, most problems won’t ever happen. We’re committed to your wedding day experience being a great one!

· Deposit: $350 retainer required to reserve a wedding date.

· Refunds of deposit: Deposits/retainers are fully refundable if services are canceled for any reason. Example: If bride & groom elopes or changes their wedding date Doug will refund the deposit.

· When payments are due: We prefer to have accounts paid in full on or before the wedding day. We are OK with paying 50% on or before the wedding day, and balance paid when high resolution digital photos are ready for delivery. This averages about 6 weeks after the wedding.

· Fees for any optional services are due in full when they are ordered (for example, albums & photo lab orders.) Some items may be paid through a photo lab subcontractor instead; sales tax is often paid through their bank & tax authority instead of Doug's.

· Payment type: We accept checks or cash but are NOT set up to accept credit cards on the spot. With advance notice we can arrange for credit card processing thru Pay Pal, a division of E-bay.

-Wedding day schedule: Be sure to work out a realistic wedding day schedule with the photographer or with an experienced wedding planner. The following items are important: #1: Enough time must be available for posed group & portrait photos to be done properly. If this time is not available, or if family members don't cooperate, key poses may be missed or done poorly. #2: If wedding starts later than planned, this has ripple effects throughout the wedding day which will affect photography, limousine, ceremony location, reception venue, caterer, DJ, musicians, wedding guests. Our recommendation based upon years of experience: Plan what time you want your ceremony to start, and absolutely stick to that plan.

· Photo request lists: We like to have a list of immediate family members (by name) who should be included in poses. The list helps us work in a faster, more organized way. Photographer prefers to have this list before the wedding date. Photographer may photograph fewer than 100% of the names on the list --- due to time pressure, professional judgment, people scattering, people partying or hiding from the camera, or guests leaving early.

· Sample photos: Doug is allowed to use copies of your images for artist’s samples, promotion, publications, books, internet websites. This is equivalent to an industry-standard MODEL RELEASE. (But if you have a privacy concern tell us and we won't publish your photos.)

-Copyright release: Doug as copyright owner permits clients to make reprints of their wedding photos. Client can legally copy, scan and e-mail photos, post them on personal web pages, duplicate them on CD disks, and make reprints at whatever photo lab you choose.

· Sales tax may be added per legal requirements. Sales tax is sometimes collected through a different tax authority, for example, through photo labs which produce reprints, enlargements, and albums on behalf of our customers.

· Acts of God, terrorism, emergencies, accidents, fire, theft, etc.: Photographer to be held harmless for non-performance. If Doug is unable to perform photography services we will attempt to provide a well qualified substitute photographer, or issue a refund of any deposits or fees, but shall have no other liability.

· Limitation of Liability: By doing business with Doug client agrees to LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Photographer's liability is limited to the dollar amount which the client has paid him (we will refund it) unless a higher liability limit has been specifically agreed to in advance for an additional fee. Statement of care: Doug takes the Utmost Care in how he performs his work, but this is an imperfect world, so this Limitation of Liability shall apply regardless of fault or cause. We are a tiny family operation.

-Solving problems if any: The majority of Doug's business comes from referrals --- Doug cares about his reputation. Doug supports the N.E. Calif Better Business Bureau. The BBB is available as a resource for customers at (916) 443-6668. Client is expected to cooperate with photographer to achieve a solution.

-Contact information: Please keep photographer updated on changes in your phone number and mailing address so Doug can contact you in case of questions immediately before the wedding. And after the wedding I'll need your new mailing address, there is often follow-through with re-edits of digital images, sending archival CD digital photo disks to the client, or albums or reprints.

-Privacy policy: We do not divulge personal information for marketing purposes.

Client's signature and date:_________________________

 

Wedding date: _______ Ceremony time: ________

 

Wedding ceremony location: _________________________

 

Wedding reception location: __________________________

 

Photographer's signature & date: _________________

 

Bride's current contact information: (phone, cell phone #, e-mail, mailing address): __________________________________

 

Bride & groom's contact data after the wedding if known: _______________________________________________

 

Photography package desired & price: _________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

All photography packages include high resolution, copyright cleared, printable images on archival CD or DVD disks.
Booking deposit $350 (refundable). Sign up quickly --- these are temporary "recession" prices and are expected to go up. Contact Doug at 916-705-0033 to confirm your date.
Prices subject to change. We perform photography in Sacramento, Roseville, Placer County, Elk Grove, Lake Tahoe, Dixon, Vacaville , Chico, Paradise --- no travel charge within a two hour drive of the Sacramento area.

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