Can contracts/agreements be signed and valid for a period of time?

So I'm curious what my options are... I do have an agreement, and currently have it with the Client name, address of shoot, date/time, and price at the top. Just something stating they cannot sell the images, and that I'm the copyright owner, returned check fee, overdue payment fees etc...

I'm wondering if I can just have a client name and remove other fields, and have 1 signed contract good for a calendar year or something.

My issue is, with some of my usual clients, I rarely see them in person for a shoot. I usually just get a call, so having something signed each shoot seems a little crazy.

What are my options?

An inked signature is no longer a legal requirement to show an agreement has been formalized. You could have them send a signed pdf and signing can be just them typing their name onto the pdf.

aparis99 wrote in post #16706247
So I'm curious what my options are... I do have an agreement, and currently have it with the Client name, address of shoot, date/time, and price at the top. Just something stating they cannot sell the images, and that I'm the copyright owner, returned check fee, overdue payment fees etc...

I'm wondering if I can just have a client name and remove other fields, and have 1 signed contract good for a calendar year or something.

My issue is, with some of my usual clients, I rarely see them in person for a shoot. I usually just get a call, so having something signed each shoot seems a little crazy.

What are my options?

I would think a "standing" agreement would be fine, which specifies the various terms, but doesn't list the specific job. Then work with just e-mail, fax or whatever so that you have something in writing that says the new job will use your standing agreement terms. If they are frequent repeat customers, it probably wouldn't matter anyway if you both trust each other to do the right thing.

there should definitely be a start date or effective date, but beyond that, the contract is usually good until opted out by either party in writing (typically with a required notice period - 48 hours or 7 days).

Generally-speaking in the US any contract with a contemplated period of performance over one year must be in writing (Statute of Frauds); beyond that it's simply a good idea. It's easiest to stipulate a reasonable term unless canceled or modified by a later written agreement.

aparis99 wrote in post #16706247
So I'm curious what my options are... I do have an agreement, and currently have it with the Client name, address of shoot, date/time, and price at the top. Just something stating they cannot sell the images, and that I'm the copyright owner, returned check fee, overdue payment fees etc...

I'm wondering if I can just have a client name and remove other fields, and have 1 signed contract good for a calendar year or something.

My issue is, with some of my usual clients, I rarely see them in person for a shoot. I usually just get a call, so having something signed each shoot seems a little crazy.

What are my options?

Hmmm,

Depending on what you shoot and your business model it's possible you might be in the perfect scenario to go to a Purchase Order or Blanket Purchase Order model.

Instead of outlining your T's&C's in each document you work in the land of RFQ, Quote, PO, SOA. You attach your T's and C's to your Quote, including language indicating that upon receipt of a PO your Terms govern unless there is a separate written, SIGNED agreement. When a customer (specifically a repeat customer) needs something they submit a PO with the pertinent information. You reply with your SOA and fulfill. When you received the PO is when you indicate whether or not you're available. If you don't send an SOA, you never agreed and there's nothing binding.

This model falls apart in many scenarios, but if you're working commercial or anything else that's transactional with standard terms, it can work. Your major commercial customer often tend to prefer to work this way...except for the part where you indicate your payment terms are Net 30. Good luck with that one.

Obviously this doesn't work for some types of photography (weddings, portraits) as the customer won't have the foggiest idea what you're talking about.

Fernando wrote in post #16707239
Hmmm,

Depending on what you shoot and your business model it's possible you might be in the perfect scenario to go to a Purchase Order or Blanket Purchase Order model.

Instead of outlining your T's&C's in each document you work in the land of RFQ, Quote, PO, SOA. You attach your T's and C's to your Quote, including language indicating that upon receipt of a PO your Terms govern unless there is a separate written, SIGNED agreement. When a customer (specifically a repeat customer) needs something they submit a PO with the pertinent information. You reply with your SOA and fulfill. When you received the PO is when you indicate whether or not you're available. If you don't send an SOA, you never agreed and there's nothing binding.

This model falls apart in many scenarios, but if you're working commercial or anything else that's transactional with standard terms, it can work. Your major commercial customer often tend to prefer to work this way...except for the part where you indicate your payment terms are Net 30. Good luck with that one.

Obviously this doesn't work for some types of photography (weddings, portraits) as the customer won't have the foggiest idea what you're talking about.

Good point; P.O. may be the way to go with regular customers.