What Should Be In Every Wedding Photography Contract

…Because protecting your business should never be optional.

When I booked my first wedding, I pieced together a contract from Google and prayed it covered everything. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. 🙈 A solid contract is more than just a formality—it’s the foundation of a smooth, professional client experience and your best protection when things don’t go as planned.

Whether you’re booking your first wedding or your fiftieth, here are 5 essentials your contract should always include:

Retainer + Payment Schedule
Be crystal clear about what’s due, when it’s due, and what happens if payment is late or missed. Also, you want to call it a retainer vs a deposit. This is the legal jargon attorneys like to see!

Cancellation + Rescheduling Terms
Life happens. Your contract should explain what clients are entitled to (or not!) in the event of a cancellation or date change.

Delivery Timeline
Avoid awkward follow-ups by outlining exactly when your clients can expect their gallery or album

Model Release Clause
Want to use their wedding images in your portfolio or on social media? You need written permission in your contract.

Liability + Backup Plans
Protect yourself in case of emergencies, equipment failure, or circumstances out of your control.

Your contract doesn’t just protect you – it sets the tone for your professionalism and client communication. Don’t leave it to chance (or google!).

Ready to protect your photography business with confidence?
A beautifully written, legally-sound wedding photography contract—crafted by me and my business attorney—is coming soon to the SSP Shop!

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