Free Photography Brief Template

Fully editable with custom branding and pre-written services. Send and get read receipts.

Free Photography Brief Template

Fully editable with custom branding and pre-written services. Send and get read receipts.

Template

/5 - votes
Downloaded times
Use template
Legally vetted
Track opens & views

First Name
Last Name
Acme LLC.
Client
First Name
Last Name
Corporation Corp.
First Name
Last Name
Acme LLC.
Client
First Name
Last Name
Corporation Corp.

Free Photography Brief Template

Fully editable with custom branding and pre-written services. Send and get read receipts.

Free Photography Brief Template

Fully editable with custom branding and pre-written services. Send and get read receipts.

Bonsai has helped create 1,023,928 documents and counting.

Trusted by 500,000+
business owners

Date: March 8th 2023


Between:

Coach:

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client:

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.

This Contract is between Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC, a California limited liability company (the "Coach").

The Contract is dated January 23, 2023.

1. WORK AND PAYMENT.

1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Coach to develop a coaching relationship between the Client and Coach in order to cultivate the Client's personal, professional, or business goals and create a plan to achieve those goals through stimulating and creative interactions with the ultimate result of maximizing the Client's personal or professional potential.

1.2 Schedule. The Coach will begin work on February 1, 2023 and will continue until the work is completed. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Coach at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 4, Term and Termination.

The Coach and Client will meet by video conference, 4 days per month for 2 hours.

1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Coach an hourly rate of $150. Of this, the Client will pay the Coach $500.00 (USD) before work begins.

1.4 Expenses. The Client will reimburse the Coach's expenses. Expenses do not need to be pre-approved by the Client.

1.5 Invoices. The Coach will invoice the Client in accordance with the milestones in Section 1.3. The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within 15 days of receiving the invoice. Payment after that date will incur a late fee of 1.0% per month on the outstanding amount.

1.6 Support. The Coach will not be available by telephone, or email in between scheduled sessions.

2.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

- A coaching relationship is a partnership between two or more individuals or entities, like a teacher-student or coach-athlete relationship. Both the Client and Coach must uphold their obligations for the relationship to be successful.

- The Coach agrees to maintain the ethics and standards of behavior established by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

- The Client acknowledges and agrees that coaching is a comprehensive process that may explore different areas of the Client's life, including work, finances, health, and relationships.

- The Client is responsible for implementing the insights and techniques learned from the Coach.

3. REPRESENTATIONS.

3.1 Overview. This section contains important promises between the parties.

3.2 Authority To Sign. Each party promises to the other party that it has the authority to enter into this Contract and to perform all of its obligations under this Contract.

3.3 Coach Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Coach promises that it owns the work product, that the Coach is able to give the work product to the Client, and that no other party will claim that it owns the work product. If the Coach uses employees or subcontractors, the Coach also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Coach giving the Coach any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Coach's background IP and work product.

3.4 Coach Will Comply With Laws. The Coach promises that the manner it does this job, its work product, and any background IP it uses comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.

3.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Coach promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights, that the Coach has the right to let the Client use the background IP, and that this Contract does not and will not violate any contract that the Coach has entered into or will enter into with someone else.

3.7 Client-Supplied Material Does Not Infringe. If the Client provides the Coach with material to incorporate into the work product, the Client promises that this material does not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights.

4. TERM AND TERMINATION

This Contract is ongoing until it expires or the work is completed. Either party may end this Contract for any reason by sending an email or letter to the other party, informing the recipient that the sender is ending the Contract and that the Contract will end in 7 days. The Contract officially ends once that time has passed. The party that is ending the Contract must provide notice by taking the steps explained in Section 9.4. The Coach must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice unless the notice says otherwise.

If either party ends this Contract before the Contract automatically ends, the Client will pay the Contractor for the work done up until when the Contract ends. The following sections don't end even after the Contract ends: 3 (Representations); 6 (Confidential Information); 7 (Limitation of Liability); 8 (Indemnity); and 9 (General).

3. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

The Client is hiring the Coach as an independent contractor. The following statements accurately reflect their relationship:

- The Coach will use its own equipment, tools, and material to do the work.

- The Client will not control how the job is performed on a day-to-day basis. Rather, the Coach is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.

- The Client will not provide the Coach with any training.

- The Client and the Coach do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.

- The Coach cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.

- The Coach is not entitled to the Client's benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).

- The Coach is responsible for its own taxes.

- The Client will not withhold social security and Medicare taxes or make payments for disability insurance, unemployment insurance, or workers compensation for the Coach or any of the Coach's employees or subcontractors.

6. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

6.1 Overview. This Contract imposes special restrictions on how the Client and the Coach must handle confidential information. These obligations are explained in this section.

6.2 The Client's Confidential Information. While working for the Client, the Coach may come across, or be given, Client information that is confidential. This is information like customer lists, business strategies, research & development notes, statistics about a website, and other information that is private. The Coach promises to treat this information as if it is the Coach's own confidential information. The Coach may use this information to do its job under this Contract, but not for anything else. For example, if the Client lets the Coach use a customer list to send out a newsletter, the Coach cannot use those email addresses for any other purpose. The one exception to this is if the Client gives the Coach written permission to use the information for another purpose, the Coach may use the information for that purpose, as well. When this Contract ends, the Coach must give back or destroy all confidential information, and confirm that it has done so. The Coach promises that it will not share confidential information with a third party, unless the Client gives the Coach written permission first. The Coach must continue to follow these obligations, even after the Contract ends. The Coach's responsibilities only stop if the Coach can show any of the following: (i) that the information was already public when the Coach came across it; (ii) the information became public after the Coach came across it, but not because of anything the Coach did or didn't do; (iii) the Coach already knew the information when the Coach came across it and the Coach didn't have any obligation to keep it secret; (iv) a third party provided the Coach with the information without requiring that the Coach keep it a secret; or (v) the Coach created the information on its own, without using anything belonging to the Client.

6.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It's possible the Client and the Coach each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Coach each promise that it will not share with the other party confidential information that belongs to third parties, unless it is allowed to do so. If the Client or the Coach is allowed to share confidential information with the other party and does so, the sharing party promises to tell the other party in writing of any special restrictions regarding that information.

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

Neither party is liable for breach-of-contract damages that the breaching party could not reasonably have foreseen when it entered this Contract.

8. INDEMNITY.

8.1 Overview. This section transfers certain risks between the parties if a third party sues or goes after the Client or the Coach or both. For example, if the Client gets sued for something that the Coach did, then the Coach may promise to come to the Client's defense or to reimburse the Client for any losses.

8.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Coach agrees to indemnify the Client (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of: (i) the work the Coach has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Coach of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Coach of the promises it is making in Section 3 (Representations).

8.3 Coach Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Coach (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of a breach by the Client of its obligations under this Contract.

9. GENERAL.

9.1 Assignment​. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Coach. Neither the Client nor the Coach can assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the other's written permission.

9.2 Arbitration. As the exclusive means of initiating adversarial proceedings to resolve any dispute arising under this Contract, a party may demand that the dispute be resolved by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules.

9.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Coach must agree to that change in writing and sign a document showing their contract. Neither party can waive its rights under this Contract or release the other party from its obligations under this Contract, unless the waiving party acknowledges it is doing so in writing and signs a document that says so.

9.4. Noticies.

(a) Over the course of this Contract, one party may need to send a notice to the other party. For the notice to be valid, it must be in writing and delivered in one of the following ways: personal delivery, email, or certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested). The notice must be delivered to the party's address listed at the end of this Contract or to another address that the party has provided in writing as an appropriate address to receive notice.

(b) The timing of when a notice is received can be very important. To avoid confusion, a valid notice is considered received as follows: (i) if delivered personally, it is considered received immediately; (ii) if delivered by email, it is considered received upon acknowledgement of receipt; (iii) if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), it is considered received upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt. If a party refuses to accept notice or if notice cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then it is considered received when the notice is rejected or unable to be delivered. If the notice is received after 5:00pm on a business day at the location specified in the address for that party, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice is considered received at 9:00am on the next business day.

9.5 Severability. This section deals with what happens if a portion of the Contract is found to be unenforceable. If that's the case, the unenforceable portion will be changed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, unless that change is not permitted by law, in which case the portion will be disregarded. If any portion of the Contract is changed or disregarded because it is unenforceable, the rest of the Contract is still enforceable.

9.6 Signatures. The Client and the Coach must sign this document using Bonsai's e-signing system. These electronic signatures count as originals for all purposes.

9.7 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this document shall be governed by the laws of the United States of America.

9.8 Entire Contract. This Contract represents the parties' final and complete understanding of this job and the subject matter discussed in this Contract. This Contract supersedes all other contracts (both written and oral) between the parties.

THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO THE FOREGOING AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW.

Coach

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.
Table of contents

What is a Photography Brief?

Photography briefs lay out all the details for a photoshoot so both the client and the photographer understand the overall goals for the shoot, any special requests, and the style of photos that are needed. This helps the photographer plan the shoot to deliver exactly what the client needs. A good brief for photographers covers:

  • Purpose and context of the photographs
  • Preferred style of imagery
  • Target audience
  • Shot list of must-have photos
  • Examples of styles and reference images
  • Brand guidelines
  • Budget
  • Schedule and deadlines

A photography brief primes the photographer on what needs to be done so preparations for the photo shoot can be made. It also clarifies the business side of a creative project so the budget, schedule and deadlines are clear from the outset. Having a photography brief document to hand clients ensures they’re able to deliver a full brief that covers all the necessary details while allowing room for creative ideas to be shared.

Note: Want to jump right in? Sign up with Bonsai to customize your photography brief now!

What to Include in Photography Briefs

A detailed photography brief provides a framework for the professional photographer that supports their creative ideas. No professional photographer - or amateur - wants to deliver work that the client is unhappy with or doesn’t like. Creative briefs sketch out the style guidelines and the business details so the photographer has a starting point to work with when planning the shoot.

The best briefs are detailed while still allowing room for the photographer to create something original for their clients. Most photographers are able to provide their client with a brief template. This helps to define ideas in a way that gives photographers the information needed to plan a shoot so it runs smoothly and helps a client crystalize their idea for the shoot. A good project brief will include:

Basic information

Whether writing a photography brief or putting together a graphic design brief, contact details for the company hiring a photographer must be given at the beginning. This should include the name of the contact person along with the business address, a landline and mobile number, and an email address.

It is likely that the brief will require further discussion to agree the smaller details before the photo shoot can go ahead. Having this information in the brief makes it easier for a professional photographer to follow up with you.

Project details and goals

Include context for the photos and the goal of the shoot - is it for a marketing campaign, website imagery or a brochure of your products? When the photographer understands to purpose of the images you need and the style you want, they are able to prepare all the other details and make sure they have the right technical equipment for the day of the shoot. Your project details may indicate the need for models to be involved, or your design team may have specific backgrounds and a style they’d like to achieve with the images. All of this should be included with the project details section of the brief.

Logistical details for the brief

Where do you want the photoshoot to take place? Outdoor shoots will allow for an abundance of natural light but will also be slightly at the mercy of the elements. You may need to note an additional date or two as a contingency if mother nature doesn’t agree with your schedule.

Indoor shooting is a little easier to plan, however lighting, location, and background for the images needs to be considered and noted in the brief details.

Shot list

Are there specific images that you are looking for? If so, creating a shot list for the photographer to work from is a must. If products are better demonstrated with a model, photographers are able to arrange the booking of talent, model releases to be signed and photo briefs to be created that will ensure all the basics for the shots are available on the day.

The shot list should also note how many images you need in total. Reference images can also be included with a shot list to give the photographer an example of what you have in mind. This will help the photographer understand how long will be needed for the shoot.

Immediate and future use of photos

Covering not only what the images will be used for in the project details, but also how you may wish to use them in the future will ensure the correct creative licensing is agreed at the outset. Copyright nearly always remains with the photographer and specific usage rights are covered in the image license. Thinking about immediate and future use of images will negate the need to pay for the same images more than once.

Target audience and image specifications

Who the images are aimed at and the mood you wish to evoke with the images are important details for the photography brief. The design team or marketing manager should be able to provide a proper definition of the target audience.

Crafting images that connect with 12 year old girls who are into horse riding will have a very different approach to connecting with first-time home buyers. The photographer can use their creative know-how to plan the shots that will reach your target market with the right feeling. Stylistically, this will incorporate colour, lighting, and the kinds of composition that suit your audience.

Style guidelines

A company employing a photographer for a photo shoot will do well to share their brand guidelines. Even if these have been written for creatives in other industries such as writers or web designers, many of the principles and details noted in branding guidelines will be transferable to a photo shoot.

Having this document available as part of your brief will avoid any potential issues with photographs and give the background content needed to deliver photos to match your brand image.

Budget

Defining a budget for your campaign or shoot will give the photographer a clear idea of the scope for the project. A smaller budget means less flexibility with additional materials, not lower quality images. Larger budgets mean the photographer is able to engage the assistance of stylists, props, lighting assistants, multiple days, etc. to make your project work.

Schedule, deadlines and payment procedure

The brief should also document the business side of the project. When you need final images by, a schedule that provides a provisional day of the shoot and an alternative date should this not be possible, and your proposed payment procedure.

After the shoot, photos will be reviewed and edited before sending to the person allocated to recipe the work. Information about who and when this needs to happen must be included in your brief.

How to Write a Photography Brief for Professional Photographers

When you begin to write a photography brief, it can help to start of by writing notes in bullet point form and then flesh out your idea as you develop to project outline and purpose. While your brief should certainly created a framework for the photographer to work within, you also need to leave room for their creative judgement and input to be involved. 

Discuss the Shots With Your Team

Whether you need a photograph for the banner of your website, or a series of photographs for an event or new prospectus, discussing what you need and involving your team will save you time when communicating with the photographer.

Technical details and style of photography will vary depending on how the images are to be used. There is a difference between print images and online photos. Discussing in detail the image needs will help you to write a clear brief.

Include an example of what you do and don’t want

No matter how detailed you are when you describe the feeling and style you want a photographer to achieve, words can be deceiving. What you mean by ‘crispy colours’ can easily be interpreted as something different by another. Photography is part art and part science. By including example photos, creating a mood board or showing the photographer what you don’t want, you’re helping the photographer take the photos that suit your brand.

Don’t forget logistical shoot details

When writing a photography brief, it’s easy to get caught up with the creative briefs elements - style, the feeling you want to evoke in the viewer, brand colours and more. However, it is important to also include the more mundane detail that the photographer needs to arrange the technical details.

Location, audience, budget, schedule and the date you need final images are all necessary for the shoot to be planned well and ensure everything runs smoothly. Without these basics, the photography session is unlikely to meet your expectations.

Creating a Photography Brief is Simple With Bonsai

It’s not unusual for a client to be unsure of what to provide professional photographers with to help them shoot the photos they want. Having a photography brief template a client can complete, means photographers get a full brief and a client is confident their project will have its need met.

Creating a comprehensive photography brief is simple with Bonsai’s template. Sign up today to customise your template and be ready help interested clients choose you!

A clear creative brief for any kind of artistic project is important as it provides the structure needed for professionals to collaborate and create what their client wants within that framework. A good brief conveys ideas while leaving room for collaboration with the client so the ideal image and emotion is conveyed with each shot.

Photography Brief FAQs

Is an event photography brief very different from product photography?

Although the same elements of a photography brief will cover both event photography and product photography as well as other types of shoots, the emphasis on certain aspects will vary. For example, product photos can be staged and the circumstances agreed before each shot. 

Event photography is about capturing the moment and feeling of the event, making for a far more dynamic shooting experience. Event briefs should include any guests that must be captured on film, location and of course, the date they are taking place.

What type of photography makes the most money?

The life of a photographer sounds glamorous - travelling to far-flung places, taking photos of the rich and famous and rubbing shoulders with beautiful models and fashion icons. However, not all photographers earn the same or live the same jet-setting lifestyle.

The average hourly rate for photographers was around $20 p/h in 2020 however, an experienced food or commercial photographer can earn as much as $92,000 or $100,000 a year respectively.

Can photography be an NFT?

Non-fungible Tokens, or NFTs are unique digital files. Some sell for billions of dollars and other’s for peanuts. Given that NFTs are digital, a photographer is ideally placed to create and sell their work as an NFT. This is one example of how they can make a lot of money from their unique shots.

Examples of Photography brief templates

Photography Brief Template from Orion Creative
Image Credits: orioncreative.com.au
Photography Brief Template Sample from Per Rescue
Image Credits: pernrescue.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this template.