Photography invoice template

What to list on a photography invoice

• Your business name and contact details, and the client’s name and billing address.
• The shoot or event name, the date and the location.
• Coverage as hours times your rate, or a package price, such as 8-hour wedding coverage.
• Extra sessions, such as an engagement session, as their own line.
• Editing, prints, albums or second-shooter fees if they are not in the package.
• Usage or licence terms in one short line, if the client is a business using the images.

Describe coverage clearly, such as “8-hour wedding coverage, one photographer, online gallery included”. That one line sets out what the price includes and what it does not. Delivery date and format, for example edited images in a private gallery, can sit in a short note near the bottom.

Retainers, balances and usage

Most photographers take a retainer to book a date. It is often non-refundable, and your contract should say so. On the final invoice, show the retainer as already received and list the balance and its due date. For weddings, the balance is often due a few weeks before the day, since you will not see the couple for payment on the day.

For business clients, the price often depends on how the images will be used. Say what the licence covers, such as web and social for a year, on the invoice or in your contract. Travel and accommodation, if they are not included in the package, should be listed as expenses.

Payment terms for photography

Portrait sessions are often paid in full when booked or on the day. Weddings and events usually have a retainer and a balance due before the event. Business clients are often on Net 14 to Net 30 after delivery. Write the due date on every invoice. See invoice payment terms for choices.