Skip to main content

Signing a contract

Your photographer sent you a link. Open it and the contract is there to read. No printing, no scanning, no account.

Before you sign​

Read it. That sounds obvious, and it's the whole point of the exercise.

The parts worth finding: what's included and what isn't, what happens if the date moves, what happens if either of you cancels, and who can use the photos afterwards.

If something doesn't match what you agreed, ask before signing rather than after. Photographers expect this and it isn't awkward.

Filling in your bits​

Some contracts have blanks for you, under Client Fields. A venue address, an emergency contact, who mustn't be photographed. Fill those in as you go. They appear in the contract text as you type, so you can see exactly what you're agreeing to.

Signing​

Scroll to Sign Below, or use Jump to signature at the top.

You have two options:

  • Draw your signature with a finger, a stylus or a mouse. There's a Clear button if it goes wrong
  • Type your name and it's written in a signature style

Both count the same legally. Pick whichever is less annoying on the device you're holding.

You can't upload a photo of a handwritten signature. Draw or type is what there is.

The tick box​

Below the signature is a box saying you've read and understood the contract, that you consent to signing it electronically, and that your signature is legally binding.

It has to be ticked. It's the part that makes an online signature stand up.

Pressing sign​

Press Sign Contract. Sign this contract? asks you to confirm, and says the action is legally binding and cannot be undone. That's accurate, so take the extra two seconds.

After you sign​

One of two things happens.

"Contract completed" means your photographer had already signed and you're both done.

"Contract signed" means they still need to add their signature. That's normal and usually quick. You'll get an email once they have, with a View completed contract button.

If the contract came from a proposal or a booking, Back to proposal or Back to booking at the top takes you there.

Getting a copy​

The Download PDF button appears once the contract is complete, meaning both of you have signed. If you've just signed and there's no button, that's why: your photographer hasn't countersigned yet.

Once it's there, download it and keep it. The PDF includes the contract as agreed, both signatures, and a certificate page showing when it was sent, opened, signed and completed.

You can come back to the same link any time to read it again.

If you'd rather not sign​

There's a Decline button, and an optional box to say why. Use it if something's wrong. It's a message to your photographer, not a door slamming. Most declines lead to a changed contract rather than a cancelled booking.

Contracts can be given a deadline, and can be withdrawn if something changed. Ask your photographer for a new link. Nothing is lost.

If the page says the agreement is still being prepared, you've arrived before accepting the proposal it belongs to. Go back to the proposal, confirm your choices, and the agreement will be waiting.

Last updated on