Which contract to use

[esanchez]

I took a look at the sticky with the contracts and there are some shorts one's and some long ones. Is going with either contract safe?? I want to use one for some people that I know so I can use their photos, but I don't want to scare or over whelm them with the long version. It looks very intimidating and I'm afraid they are going to scare them. Is the short version just a good as the long version. Does it really matter just as long as you have something on paper???

[island bound]

pick one that will CYA
I am always updating and adding new things that I hear horror tales of along the way.

[esanchez]

So I assume the longer and more legal stuff in it the better??

[bondarnes]

It all depends on the situation. Our usual contract is very short and sweet and it does not say CONTRACT. It says AGREEMENT. It is all that is necessary for most situations. The real problems arise when you use the images in ways not specified in the agreement. If I am going to do anything with an image, other than to hang a print on the studio wall, I will ask the client to sign the more legalese version. Most will do it, some will ask for a few extra prints, and some say no.

[andyz]

The right contract is the one that does what you want. The longer version (and I haven't read either) could impose obligations on you. Read them both and if you don't understand them, ask questions here or better yet of a legal professional. Remember that you too are entering into an obligation here.

One of the worse things I see is something that is already signed and when you start reading it, it says ""Insert name here" agrees to the following..."

[esanchez]

andyz and bondarnes thank you both for the advice. The only thing I can think of that I will be doing with the pictures is posting them on my website as work I created and printing them to place them on a printed portolio I have for those with out web access or being at a place without web access. Other then that I have no intentions of selling or modifying the pictuers in any other way. Which contract would you go with the short version and include web display in the disclosure???

Thank you so much.

Originally Posted by bondarnes

It all depends on the situation. Our usual contract is very short and sweet and it does not say CONTRACT. It says AGREEMENT. It is all that is necessary for most situations. The real problems arise when you use the images in ways not specified in the agreement. If I am going to do anything with an image, other than to hang a print on the studio wall, I will ask the client to sign the more legalese version. Most will do it, some will ask for a few extra prints, and some say no.