Circumstances you work with no contract?

I pretty much always use a contract, even if my mother wanted to hire me, she'll get a contract.  Over the years I've lost clients because they didn't like my contract or the idea of contracts for "only photos".

I have a corporate client, well a prospect rather, that I would REALLY want as a client.  They have reached out to me, I quoted them.  Both parties are excited about doing business, and they said "let's see how this first job works out, then we can formalize things with contracts for moving forward".

Would you risk it, and do the first gig with no contract? 

I used to work on a handshake, a verbal contract. Things are different now and I would definitely make a contract if I was to do any work for pay these days.

 Tempting, nearly all other circumstances I would only work with a contract. In this case, if I felt there was a lot more future business. I think I would likely go for it. 

You haven't provided enough information. You have terms of delivery and payment that you're happy with? You have witnesses? You have clearly laid out terms and procedures and garnered agreement? Will you have to deliver images before you get paid? How will you get paid? Net 30? Net 90? What if they take delivery then decide they don't really like them and don't pay you? Then use them anyway? What guarantee do you have for terms of usage and licensing if they won't agree to a contract?

If you're willing to walk away, with nothing but experience when all is said and done, by all means, work without a contract.

Gary's final statement pretty much sums it up: "If you're willing to walk away, with nothing but experience when all is said and done, by all means, work without a contract."

It's all about weighing risk to potential business in the future.  

It's like jumping into a rodeo with out any clowns, you know they aren't there to save your butt, so if you jump in, you are doing so at your own risk.  Same thing applies with your situation.  

If this is a corporate client, it doesn't make sense to me that they wouldn't want to contract with you and get it in writing. The contract is for the benefit of both you and the client. What if they hire someone else and the person with the camera never shows up or never provides the work (the photos)? A contract would cover that so it's to their advantage to have a contract, as well as for your benefit to have payment and usage specified. 

This 'let's see how this works out' is nonsense. If they like your work, they can hire you for future jobs. If not, they can go look elsewhere. But I can't see doing a lot of work and putting time into it and providing photos without payment and a contract on the hope of future work (which may never pan out and you did it all for nothing).

Photographers often set up a password protected gallery for clients to view and choose photos. But for corporate work? there should be a contract to license usage and you need to find out what they need and provide the finished product (photos ready for use).

icepics wrote: If this is a corporate client, it doesn't make sense to me that they wouldn't want to contract with you and get it in writing. The contract is for the benefit of both you and the client. What if they hire someone else and the person with the camera never shows up or never provides the work (the photos)? A contract would cover that so it's to their advantage to have a contract, as well as for your benefit to have payment and usage specified. 

This 'let's see how this works out' is nonsense. If they like your work, they can hire you for future jobs. If not, they can go look elsewhere. But I can't see doing a lot of work and putting time into it and providing photos without payment and a contract on the hope of future work (which may never pan out and you did it all for nothing).

Photographers often set up a password protected gallery for clients to view and choose photos. But for corporate work? there should be a contract to license usage and you need to find out what they need and provide the finished product (photos ready for use).

I've had corporate clients that didn't want contracts, they are rare and few, but I've been asked before.  Usually it's the small company before the contract is there to protect both sides.  

Crammer wrote: I pretty much always use a contract, even if my mother wanted to hire me, she'll get a contract.  Over the years I've lost clients because they didn't like my contract or the idea of contracts for "only photos".

I have a corporate client, well a prospect rather, that I would REALLY want as a client.  They have reached out to me, I quoted them.  Both parties are excited about doing business, and they said "let's see how this first job works out, then we can formalize things with contracts for moving forward".

Would you risk it, and do the first gig with no contract? 

Of course.  Ask them to provide a purchase order that lists your rates.

I never will take a job with out a contract.  Been there and done that.  Get burned once and you learn really fast.  

Sure and while at it, let's jump out of an airplane with something that looks like a parachute, who knows it might be a ordinary backpack.  There may be something in there that allows me to float to the ground safely, there might be someones geometry homework.  

Seriously, ALWAYS have a contract. It provides a clear blue print and protection for both parties.  Did they let you know why they don't want to do contract?

There are no times I would work with out a contract.  Simple as that.