Templates / Photographer

Photographer scope of work template

Photographers get scope creep at the shoot and after it. "Can we do a few of my partner too", "can we get all the raw files", "just retouch these 40 more". Write hours on site, final image count and retouching level.

Grab the template Or lock it in Scopease, free

Scope of work

[Project name]: brand photoshoot

Photographer: [Your name]Client: [Client name]Date: [Date]

Deliverables

[3] hours of shooting at one location
[30] edited final images
Basic retouching: color, exposure, blemish cleanup
Online gallery delivery within [10] working days
Usage license for the client's website and social media

Revisions

1 round of retouching tweaks on delivered images.

Not included (out of scope)

Extra hours on site, extra locations or people
More than 30 final images
Advanced retouching, compositing, background swaps
Raw files
Print, billboard or paid advertising usage
Travel beyond [city] and props or studio rental

Anything not listed under Deliverables is out of scope. If you want it, I will send a short change order with the price and the timeline impact. Work on it starts once you approve.

Timeline

Shoot date: [date]
Gallery delivered within 10 working days

Dates assume feedback within 2 working days. Late feedback moves the dates by the same amount.

Payment

50% deposit to book the date, 50% before the gallery is released.

Approval

Client approval

Date

Template from Scopease, scope locking for freelancers

A Google Doc doesn't stop anyone. In Scopease the client approves this scope through one private link, every extra ask becomes a priced change order, and the invoice builds itself from approved work. Free for your first project. First 10 new signups get 6 months of Pro free, automatically.

Start free Have us set it up for you ($79)

The scope creep every photographer hears

"Can we stay another hour?"

Why it is not free: Time on site is the product.

How to price it: Hourly on-site rate.

"Can we have all the other shots too?"

Why it is not free: Every extra image needs culling and editing.

How to price it: Per image fee or a package.

"We want to use these in an ad campaign."

Why it is not free: Commercial ad usage is a different license.

How to price it: Usage fee.

Turn the next ask into a change order

Here is one already filled in for a typical photographer job: 20 additional edited images from the same shoot, 4 hours at $50/hour. Change the numbers to yours and send it.

Open this change order (free)

Not sure what the freebies already cost you? Run your numbers in the scope creep calculator.

Questions

What should a photographer scope of work include?

The exact deliverables, how many revision rounds and what counts as a round, a clear out of scope list, the timeline, and payment terms. The out of scope list does most of the work when the client asks for extras.

How do photographers handle scope creep without losing the client?

Point back to the approved scope, then send a short change order with the price and the new date. Start the extra work only after the client approves it. Most clients are fine with it when it is written down from day one.

Is this template free to use?

Yes. Copy it, edit it, send it. No signup. It is not legal advice, so for big contracts have a lawyer look at your terms.

Templates for other freelancers

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