Book: Business and Legal Forms for Photographers

Business and Legal Forms for Photographers 4th Edition by Tad Crawford is an 11×8.5,” soft cover, 207 page tome stuffed full of 34 forms and supporting information that will be of great use to both professional and those serious amateur photographers who engage in any form of commerce or are interested in rights protection, licensing, or releases. The volume is published by Allworth Press and co-published by ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers).

The table of contents:

1. Contracts and Negotiation
2. Oral Contracts
3. Letter Contracts
4. Standard Provisions
5. Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
6. Organizations for Photographers
7. Using the Negotiation Checklist

Form 1: Assignment Estimate/Confirmation/Invoice
Form 2: Wedding Photography Contract
Form 3: Portrait Photography Contract
Form 4: Photographer – Agent Contract for Assignments
Form 5: Book Publishing Contract
Form 6: Collaboration Contract
Form 7: Contract for the Sale of Fine Art Photography
Form 8: Delivery Memo
Form 9: Photographer – Gallery Contract with Record of Consignment and Statement of Account
Form 10: Photographer’s Lecture Contract
Form 11: Licensing Contract to Merchandise Images
Form 12: Model Release
Form 13: Pocket Model Release
Form 14: Property Release
Form 15: Video Contract
Form 16: Contract to Create a Video for Transmission, Sales, or Rentals
Form 17: Stock Photography Delivery Memo
Form 18: Stock Photography Invoice
Form 19: Stock Agency Agreement
Form 20: Contract with an Independent Curator
Form 21: Permission Form
Form 22: Nondisclosure Agreement for Submitting Ideas
Form 23: Copyright Transfer Form
Form 24: Application for Copyright Registration of Photography
Form 25: License of Rights
Form 26: License of Electronic Rights
Form 27: Trademark Application
Form 28: Employment Application
Form 29: Employment Agreement
Form 30: Restrictive Covenant for Employment
Form 31: Project Employee Contract
Form 32: Commercial Lease
Form 33: Sublease
Form 34: Lease Assignment
Index

For each chapter there’s a brief introduction that explains the form, a section on how to fill it in, and a “negotiation checklist” to aid in client discussions and help round out the photographers understanding of each (form) section and how they impact the agreement.

Several of the forms, such as Form VA for copyright registration, in the book are freely available online, but having them included in the volume not only saves time, but the easily understood explanatory text makes it easy to complete and digest a process/form that might otherwise be rather opaque.

There’s also a very nice index in the book that will help you find the topic you need quickly and efficiently.

My experience with these kinds of books and stock forms has been one of reference and revision. They offer a great place to begin and greatly aid in understanding the many things that go on in a client/vendor relationship. And since the book also includes a CD with all of the forms in Word format they’re easy to customize, add your logo/letterhead, etc.

All in all it’s a terrific book that is a valuable addition to any photographers library. Check it out on Amazon (any purchase from our links helps to support F295!)