Business forms and contracts

ellepixels

hello everyone!

I was looking for some help from the pros in the house.
1.Do you sign contracts with your clients before a session? if so, what is included in this contract.
2.Do you make them sign a models release if you are going to use pictures of there shoot, on your site? if so, what is in it?
3. what business tip can you offer?
4. what business forms do you use?
thanks for you help:wink

Bob Bell

ellepixels wrote:

hello everyone!

I was looking for some help from the pros in the house.
1.Do you sign contracts with your clients before a session? if so, what is included in this contract.
2.Do you make them sign a models release if you are going to use pictures of there shoot, on your site? if so, what is in it?
3. what business tip can you offer?
4. what business forms do you use?
thanks for you help

I have 2 forms for this topic, Model Release and Property Release.

Anything I do commercially I require signature before the shoot. If I am shooting a model on a car, I get a model release and property release for the car.

Business Tip, remember that you are running a business regardless of the size. You need to have insurance for our gear, liability, umbrella coverage, etc... your insurance person can tell you all the gory details. Its about $500-600 a year. Right now I have 25k worth of replacement.

I didn't know much when I started shooting commercially in 2000. It took a few conversations with attorneys to get a very basic understanding of releases. I just did a quick google search and this came up: http://www.dpcorner.com/all_about/releases.shtml

I would say that it has the basics covered. Put your business name and your name into the form and leave blanks for the shoot details. Once you have it figured out in word, have a lawyer friend review them quickly

I work with a couple people, a graphics designer, a hair and makeup guy and we split fees essentially when we work together so one of use has the releases but usually don't make 2 additional copies.

The last thing is, put your copyright on every image you edit in photoshop.

Hope this helps.

ellepixels

Bob Bell wrote:

I have 2 forms for this topic, Model Release and Property Release.

Anything I do commercially I require signature before the shoot. If I am shooting a model on a car, I get a model release and property release for the car.

Business Tip, remember that you are running a business regardless of the size. You need to have insurance for our gear, liability, umbrella coverage, etc... your insurance person can tell you all the gory details. Its about $500-600 a year. Right now I have 25k worth of replacement.

I didn't know much when I started shooting commercially in 2000. It took a few conversations with attorneys to get a very basic understanding of releases. I just did a quick google search and this came up: http://www.dpcorner.com/all_about/releases.shtml

I would say that it has the basics covered. Put your business name and your name into the form and leave blanks for the shoot details. Once you have it figured out in word, have a lawyer friend review them quickly

I work with a couple people, a graphics designer, a hair and makeup guy and we split fees essentially when we work together so one of use has the releases but usually don't make 2 additional copies.

The last thing is, put your copyright on every image you edit in photoshop.

Hope this helps.

thank you Bob, this information and tips really helped me alot.!

cambler

My standard model release is here: http://release.amblerphoto.com

I put it online and annotated it in plain English for obvious reasons :-)

Feel free to allow it to help you if you wish, with the clear understanding that it is not legal advice and may not be suitable for any purpose, especially yours. It is also not a floor wax or a dessert topping.

Erik B

Thanks for the link to your model release...I have been digging around for something to work off of.

Thank you very much!
-Erik

Angelo

ellepixels wrote:

hello everyone!

I was looking for some help from the pros in the house.
1.Do you sign contracts with your clients before a session? if so, what is included in this contract.
2.Do you make them sign a models release if you are going to use pictures of there shoot, on your site? if so, what is in it?
3. what business tip can you offer?
4. what business forms do you use?
thanks for you help

elepixels: search is your friend... at the top of this forum you'll find a sticky thread titled "Photogs Resources" which contains links to lots of important information

good luck