Wedding photography contracts and deposits
Couples book the next season over Christmas and New Year. Here’s what your contract should cover, how to set a deposit that’s fair, and the consumer rules to know before you take bookings.
Checked against official guidance on 5 November 2026.
What your contract should cover
- The day: date, venue, start and finish times, and what extra time costs.
- What’s included: hours of coverage, number of edited images, a second shooter, an album.
- Delivery: how images are delivered (an online gallery, for example) and by when.
- Payment: the deposit, when the balance is due, and how to pay.
- Usage: you keep copyright; what the couple can do with the images; whether you can use them in your portfolio.
- What the couple will do: a shot list and key contacts by a set date, venue permissions.
- Changes and cancellation: what happens if either side cancels or the date moves.
- What happens if you can’t make it: illness or emergency, a replacement photographer, refunds.
Our free photography contract template covers all of these, with the parts to fill in highlighted.
Setting a deposit that’s fair
Most couples are consumers, so consumer law applies to your contract. A deposit that’s kept if they cancel needs to be fair: the Competition and Markets Authority’s view is that a non-refundable deposit shouldn’t be more than you need to reserve the date for them.
A practical way to set it: think about what holding that date really costs you, such as other enquiries turned away and work already done on the booking. Set the deposit around that, explain it clearly before they book, and take the rest as a balance before the wedding.
The same goes for cancellation charges. A sliding scale that lets you keep more than you’d likely lose if they cancel can be unfair, and an unfair term may not be enforceable even if the couple signed it. Keep any charge in line with what you’d really lose, for example because a date close to the wedding is hard to rebook.
A simple payment schedule
| When | What |
|---|---|
| On booking | The deposit, with the signed contract |
| A set time before the wedding | The balance, so you’re not chasing money after the day |
| After delivery | Any extras, such as additional photos or an album |
Booking couples online or by phone
When a booking is made at a distance (by email, online or by phone, rather than face to face), consumer law can give the couple a 14-day right to cancel. Whether it applies, and how it works if you start work within those 14 days, depends on the details, so check the current guidance or take advice before relying on a deposit being non-refundable in that window.
This guide is general information for UK photographers, not legal advice. If a booking is high-value or unusual, or a couple disputes a cancellation, get advice from a solicitor or Citizens Advice.
Quick answers
Can a wedding photographer keep a non-refundable deposit?
Usually, if it’s fair. The CMA’s view is that a non-refundable deposit shouldn’t be more than the business needs to reserve the date. A large deposit labelled non-refundable can be an unfair term, and unfair terms may not be enforceable even if signed.
What should a wedding photography contract include?
The date, venue and hours; what’s included and how images are delivered; the deposit and balance; copyright and usage; what the couple needs to provide; and what happens on changes, cancellation, or if you can’t attend.
Do couples have 14 days to cancel?
If they booked at a distance (online, by email or phone), consumer law can give them a 14-day right to cancel. Whether it applies depends on the details, so check the current guidance or take advice.
Is there a wedding photography contract template?
Yes: our free photography contract template covers the shoot, delivery, deposit, usage rights and cancellation. It’s a starting point, not legal advice.