Free Photography Proposal Template

Fully editable with custom branding and templated offering.

Free Photography Proposal Template

Fully editable with custom branding and templated offering.

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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 Proposal Template

Fully editable with custom branding and templated offering.

Free Photography Proposal Template

Fully editable with custom branding and templated offering.

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

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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 proposal?

A photography proposal is a legally binding document drafted for clients looking to contract photography services for events or other occasions. The proposal includes proposed deliverables, pricing structure, and delivery timeline. 

Simply put, a photography proposal highlights a clients’ needs and how they can be met by a photographer’s skillful work. 

Writing a proposal can be overwhelming. You want to provide enough detail to inform prospective clients, but not so much that it overloads them. That’s why it’s good to know what to include. 

What to include in the photography proposal

Retaining a potential client’s interest becomes a whole lot easier when you’ve got a good starting point. Consider adding these important points in photography proposals for portraying your value for money.

Cover letter

This is your first chance to impress clients with a dazzling introduction that tells them you’re the perfect fit for their photography assignment. A beautifully designed cover letter will pique clients’ interest, compel them to keep reading, and give a sense of your offerings. 

this image shows Bonsai's photography template cover letter that introduce clients to the proposal by highlighting why they need photography services and how you're their best option

Executive summary

An executive summary sums up the main points of a proposal. This section helps clients to understand whether what they want is included or not. A good executive summary grabs clients’ attention with a condensed version of what’s in the proposal

Company overview

A company overview is an essential element of your proposal. This is the place to provide background information on yourself or your photography business. Here’s an idea of what to include:

  • History: for offering a narrative about how the company came to be
  • Photography services: that you provide to clients
  • Photography gear: you use to take picture-perfect shots
  • Strengths: you have gained over the years
  • Testimonials: from working with other clients

Team members

If you work with a team of photographers, this is your chance to show who they are and what they’re good at. If you run your firm solo as a freelance photographer, that’s great too—use this section to highlight your achievements and unique approach to photography projects. 

The length of this section varies depending on the number of team members. Here’s what you can include in this section:

  • Name and photo: for introducing team members
  • Team roles: so that the client know who they’ll be working with on what
  • Specialization: for showcasing the individual photography skills of each team member
  • Biography: add some information about your team members, such as education, experience, accolades, and interests
  • Contact information: include information on how to get in touch with your team

Photography portfolio

This is your time to shine. A photography portfolio showcases your best work to potential clients. It shows the breadth of your skills and should be tailored to the client you are sending it to. Here are some key pointers to keep in mind when creating a portfolio:

  • Make it job-specific: so that the client understands your ability to deliver the project in question
  • High-quality images: that showcase your best work
  • Image styles: for showing a wide variety of artistic abilities
  • Include sub-categories: for highlighting your different areas of expertise

Project description

A project description elaborates the details of the proposed project. This section offers a high-level overview of the project scope. Consider including:

  • Project timeline: to mention when key events will take place, such as a photoshoot or editing session
  • Expected hours: you’ll spend on the project, including before and after the event
  • Rescheduling details: such as how many days notice is required for rescheduling
  • Project location: to specify where photographs will be taken
  • Client requests: to detail any specifics requested by the client for the event date
this image shows a dark photography setup illuminated by lights focusing on a white backdrop
Source

Project deliverables

This section outlines the number and types of photographs you’ll deliver upon the completion of the project. Project deliverables help clients to understand whether you understand their requirements correctly. 

Here’s an idea of what you can look to include in the photography project deliverables: 

  • Images: add the number of images and their resolution
  • Image delivery: to mention how you’ll deliver the images and in what form
  • Prints: add if you’ll be providing professional prints or albums
  • Aerial images: if you are offering aerial shots or videos
  • Post-production: if your client needs image post-production services, such as image editing

You can also include some information on the legal side of your images, such as certificates of authenticity and property rights. This will all be further developed in the photography contract, where terms are binding and concrete.

When creating a winning proposal, it’s a good idea to  talk to clients first. Understanding their requirements and making any necessary changes to project deliverables will help ensure your proposal meets their expectations.

Fees and finances

This section mentions the proposed fees for completing the project. Based on a client’s needs, you can either add service-specific pricing tables, package pricing, or an hourly rate. Don’t forget to mention inclusions and exclusions to avoid performing services you’re not being compensated for.

Photo delivery

Use this section to outline photo delivery milestones. Add these milestones only if you allow clients to choose from raw images for editing or print delivery. This helps ensure clients are on the same page about timelines for raw and edited photos. Here are some important milestones to consider:

  • Raw images: for selecting raw files based on the clients’ preferences
  • Edited images: for showing first-round edits to clients and taking their feedback
  • Final delivery: for delivering the final image files
  • Print delivery: for delivering prints in preferred formats

Ownership, responsibilities, cancellation and rescheduling

This section lays out usage rights, obligations, and cancellation/rescheduling clauses. For creating a truly informative and transparent photography proposal, consider adding:

  • Photography copyrights: to reassure the client that final images belong to them
  • Usage rights: to mention clients can use these photos however they prefer
  • Credit: request clients to give you credit while sharing photos on social media
  • Alteration: specify whether alteration are possible after final delivery of images
  • Additional hours: for which photographers must be compensated
  • Degraded coverage: clients can’t hold freelance photographers responsible for degraded coverage due to unforeseen factors such as lighting, space, and natural calamity
  • Cancellation/rescheduling: to mention policies related to rescheduling, cancellation, and refund

You can add more details on these in the contract which acts as a legally binding document. 

this image shows a person sat in front of a laptop configuring the photography setting on a professional camera
Source

How to write a photography proposal

Writing successful proposals is all about conveying that you understand clients’ needs and preferences, and are the best bet to adequately meet them. Now that you know what to include in a photography proposal, let’s look at how to put it all together:

Find out exactly what the client wants

Understanding client needs is at the heart of any successful business. Clients want to see that you understand what they want and have a clear idea of the deliverables. To ensure you tick all the boxes, consider having a chat with your client about:

  1. Image styles they like
  2. Custom photoshoot requirements
  3. Photography gear preferences (if any)
  4. Number of photos required and the desired quality
  5. Number of crew members allowed on site

Highlight what sets you apart 

Photographs capture memories and tell stories. That’s why clients want the very best photographer on the job. You must convince them why you’re the one. Use this section to explain how your previous experience as a professional photographer along with your photography skills makes you a perfect fit for this job.

Include a CTA

Help the client understand what’s next. Whether you want them to sign the proposal and send it back, or pay an advanced booking fee, mention the next step in detail. You can also use this section to mention what happens after they sign the proposal, and how prospective clients turn into new clients.

this image shows some text telling prospective clients what they need to do to proceed and includes a high-quality image of some beauty products and flowers to highlight past projects

Creating a photography proposal is simple with Bonsai 

Writing a photography proposal may not be your forte, but it doesn’t need to be. Bonsai offers customizable photography proposal templates--and other related templates--so that you can focus on what you do best. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Sign up for free to Bonsai
  2. Find the photography proposal of your choice
  3. Edit and customize your contract

Now, send the photography proposal to your client for acceptance and signature—without ever leaving the platform.

Photography Proposal FAQs

What information goes into a photography proposal?

The information that goes into a persuading and appealing photography proposal is:

  1. Cover page
  2. Executive summary
  3. Company overview
  4. Team members
  5. Photography portfolio
  6. Project description
  7. Project deliverables
  8. Fees and finances
  9. Photo delivery
  10. Ownership, responsibilities, and cancellation/rescheduling policy

A photography proposal is a photographer’s chance to showcase skills and expertise that align with the job at hand.

How long should a photography proposal be?

A photography proposal doesn’t have a specific word count. It doesn’t really matter as long as a photography proposal has what it takes to persuade the client. 

Consider making it simple, easy-to-read, and error-free while keeping the tonality engaging. When possible, use free photography proposal templates that make your job easier.

Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this template.

How do you write a photography proposal?

Begin by customizing Bonsai's proposal templates. Add your intro, portfolio, services, testimonials, payment cost, and terms of service. With our software, you'll be set up to land new clients in no time.

hat is the format of a proposal for photography?

The format of a proposal is typically an introduction which states the problem, your proposed solution, costs of engagement and terms of the agreement. If you want a pre-formatted template to edit, just sign up and customize Bonsai's free one.

How do you write a business proposal sample?

Start with a title, table of contents, provide a summary, state a solution, include pricing packages or options, and summarize with a conclusion. Show what you can offer as a photographer.