A professional service agreement covering everything from payment schedules to force majeure. Customize it with your business details and have it reviewed by a local attorney.
Fillable fields for venues, times, guest count, and a detailed checklist of deliverables (feature film, highlight, social cuts, raw footage, drone).
Three-payment structure (retainer, second payment, final), itemized pricing table, accepted payment methods, and late fee terms.
Tiered cancellation policy (90+, 30–89, under 30 days), free reschedule allowance, and pandemic/natural disaster clause.
Videographer retains copyright, client receives personal non-exclusive license, restrictions on re-editing, social media credit requirements.
Backup equipment clause, overtime billing, travel/mileage rates, destination coverage terms, and meal provision.
Included revision rounds, major re-edit fees, delivery timeline, data retention period, and signature fields.
Section 4 — Cancellation Policy:
Section 7 — Copyright:
The Videographer retains full copyright. The Client receives a personal, non-exclusive license for private use and social media sharing with credit.
...18 sections total including model release, dispute resolution, and addendum for special requests
A contract protects both you and your clients. It sets clear expectations about deliverables, payment, timelines, and what happens when things don't go as planned. Without one, disputes about scope, cancellations, and copyright become personal arguments instead of straightforward resolutions.
Define exactly what the client is paying for: coverage hours, number of videographers, deliverables (highlight reel, ceremony edit, raw footage), and the delivery format. Specify whether photos are included if you're a hybrid shooter. Ambiguity here is the number-one source of client disputes.
Standard practice is a 30–50% retainer to secure the date, with the balance due 14 days before the event. Include late payment fees and specify what happens to the retainer if the client cancels. For guidance on pricing these packages, see our Pricing Guide for Wedding Videographers.
Wedding postponements spiked during 2020–2021 and remain common. Your contract should distinguish between cancellation (client gets partial refund based on timeline) and postponement (date moves, retainer transfers to the new date). Include a force majeure clause for events beyond anyone's control — weather, venue closure, travel restrictions.
You own the copyright to the footage and the edit. The client receives a personal-use license. Specify whether you retain the right to use clips in your portfolio, social media, and marketing materials. This is non-negotiable for building your brand.
State the expected turnaround time (8–12 weeks is standard for a highlight film). Specify how you'll deliver: a branded online gallery is the professional standard in 2026, replacing USB drives and Dropbox links. With a platform like OurStoria, you deliver via a permanent branded link — no expired files, no re-sends.
Include a clause limiting liability to the total contract value. Cover the unlikely scenario of complete equipment failure or data loss. Professional insurance (business liability + equipment) should be mentioned as a separate requirement, not as a contract guarantee.
This template is provided for educational purposes. Laws vary by jurisdiction — we strongly recommend having your contract reviewed by a local attorney before using it with real clients. The small cost of a legal review is worth the protection it provides.