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Videography Contract

A Videography Contract is a service contract between the videographer and a client. It outlines details such as the time, place and duration of the job plus pricing information and cancellation policies. It also includes two-sided protections such as "act of God" protection and an agreement to arbitrate rather than going straight to court with an issue.

Without a contract, the videographer and the client have little protection from default. If you do not have a contract, it can be difficult to collect payments from your clients and the client may find themselves without a video of their one-time event with little opportunity for recourse. Plus, the contract outlines the parameters of the job, so everyone is on the same page before the event begins.

Making a Videography Contract is simple using our document builder. You just need a bit of information to complete the form. The legalese parts of the contract are automatically generated based on how you answer the form questions.

To make a Videography Contract, you'll need the following information:

• Contact information for videographer and client
• Time and date of filming including the duration
• Description of services
• Number of days to provide sample video and final product
• Price and deposit information (including overtime fees)
• Whether a cancellation policy is included and time to cancel
• When the contract terminates
• Who retains ownership of the video footage
• Days to correct a default for both sides
• If both sides will be protected from "acts of God"
• Whether arbitration is to happen before going to court

If you are hiring a videographer to film your wedding or event, you'll want to ask prospects a few questions before you hire them. You want to ensure that the videographer can deliver the results you want and that they'll be easy to work with. Besides making sure they're available when you need them, you may also want to ask them about:

Style. What is your style and can I see examples? What kind of music do you use? Can I dictate what music is used? If you know about video editing software, you may ask them what software they use.

Subject. If recording a wedding or formal event, what parts do you film? Can I make special requests? Do you have additional videographers available if needed? You may want to pay for additional time or an additional videographer if you want other activities filmed such as setup, backstage, guests assembling and more.

Equipment. What kind of equipment do you use? Does it capture audio well? Do you have backup equipment? What do I need to provide for you? You'll want to know in advance what you need to provide for the videographer such as additional power or cover from sun or rain.

Product. What packages do you offer? How do I request copies? Can I get unlimited online access? How is the product delivered? How long does it take to deliver final product? How much do revisions cost? Can I get a copy of the entire collected video? Do you archive backup copies in case I lose my version?

Privacy. Will I own my video footage? Would you be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement to protect my business or family information? Will you ask permission before using our video for your marketing? If I share the video online or otherwise, how do you want to be credited?

Videographers. Will you be the videographer or will you be sending a member of your company or a subcontractor? If you do not do the work, can I see samples of the assigned videographers work before signing? If you cannot make a shoot, who is your backup videographer?

While you may enjoy capturing and editing video, if you are charging for your work, you'll benefit from being as professional as possible to gain new clients and to be able to price your services optimally. The more jobs you complete, the more you'll be able to know how best to manage your gigs. But there are a few areas that new videographers can concentrate on to avoid common issues.

Stick to a strict schedule
Weddings, concert and corporate events can run late into the evening well past your agreed upon schedule. To avoid being overworked without adequate compensation, make sure to communicate how much you charge for overtime hours. Also, let them know if you cannot work extra hours.

Don't undercharge
Often new videographers, to gain experience or new clients, undercharge for their work. You not only need to account for your time but also additional expenses such as travel, extra editing time, wages for second shooters, and hardware bought specifically for the client (such as storage devices).

Add extra editing time
You'll benefit from adding time to your due date to accommodate for unforeseen circumstances. Equipment failures happen, and life gets in the way sometimes, so it is best to agree to a later due date than to deliver a product late.

Accommodate for amateur videographers
People capturing images and video with their mobile devices can greatly interfere with your assigned work. Consider speaking with your client in advance about how best to prevent guests from disrupting the recording. Your client may have to ask that mobile phone use be limited or that event attendees stay a certain distance from the subject.

Equipment damage
At the minimum, your clients should have event insurance that helps cover your equipment. You should also have your own insurance. In your agreements, you can also include that the venue or couple agree to pay for equipment damage caused by their event or guests.

If you are an event planner or need other types of wedding-related contracts, please check out our customizable service contracts. If you are just launching your videography business, we can help you start your business.