Most wedding disputes aren't about bad photos. They're about expectations nobody wrote down: how many edited photos, when the album arrives, whether the advance is refundable, or whether you can post the couple's photos online.
A clear contract settles those questions before the wedding. This checklist covers the clauses Indian wedding photographers most often need. It isn't legal advice, so have a lawyer review your template once.
Key takeaways
- List every function, date and hour you'll cover.
- Write down deliverables with numbers, not adjectives.
- State the payment schedule and whether the advance is refundable.
- Link album timelines to the couple's selection.
- Agree portfolio usage in writing, and have a lawyer review your template.
1. Scope of coverage
Be specific about what you're covering. 'Wedding coverage' means very different things for a one-day ceremony and a four-day celebration.
- Each function covered, with dates, venues and hours
- Number of photographers and videographers
- Rate for extra hours or extra functions
- Who covers travel, stay and food for out-of-town weddings
2. Deliverables
List exactly what the couple receives, so there's no argument about numbers later.
- Approximate number of edited photos
- Album details: size, pages and how many photos the couple selects
- Films: highlight length, full film, and formats
- Whether RAW or unedited files are included (most photographers don't include them)
- How photos are delivered, and how long the online gallery stays available
3. Advance and payment schedule
Write down each payment, its amount and its due date. A common pattern is a booking advance, a payment on or before the wedding, and the balance before final delivery.
State clearly whether the advance is refundable. Many photographers treat it as non-refundable because the date is blocked for other clients.
Tie the final delivery to the final payment. In Eventbit you can keep gallery downloads off until the balance is paid, then switch them on.
4. Cancellation and postponement
Weddings move. Decide in advance what happens if the couple cancels, postpones, or changes the date to one you're already booked on, and what happens if you can't attend because of illness or an emergency.
5. Delivery timelines
Give realistic dates for each deliverable, and link the album timeline to the couple's selection. If the couple takes three months to choose album photos, the album can't arrive on the original date.
Using a selection gallery with a deadline keeps this moving: the couple hearts their picks within the album limit, and you export the filenames to start the design.
6. Usage rights and privacy
Say who owns the copyright and what each side may do with the photos. Typically the photographer keeps copyright and the couple gets personal-use rights.
Ask permission to use photos on your website and social media, and respect the answer. If you'll use face search for guests, mention it so the couple can tell their families how guests' selfies are handled.
Make signing easy
A contract only works if it's signed before the wedding. Eventbit's client management includes contract templates with e-sign fields, so you can send the same reviewed template to every couple and keep the signed copy with their bookings and invoices.
Deven
Eventbit Team
Frequently asked questions
Should the wedding photography advance be refundable?
That's your decision, but put it in writing. Many photographers make the booking advance non-refundable because the date is blocked for other clients.
Who owns the copyright of wedding photos in India?
Usually the photographer, with personal-use rights for the couple, but your contract should say so explicitly. Ask a lawyer for wording that suits your business.
Should I give clients RAW files?
Most wedding photographers don't. Whatever you decide, state it in the contract.
Can I send contracts for e-signature in Eventbit?
Yes. Eventbit's CRM includes contract templates with e-sign fields, kept next to the client's bookings and invoices.
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