Should I create a contract??

[Brentano]

A friend who is in beauty school and I talked recently about maybe taking some shots of her, she is quite lovely, and she could use them for her advertising and I could use them on my website for promotion. Her school is about to do a "fashion show" where the students do the hair of the volunteer models to show what they have learned. She asked me if I would be interested in shooting the event, No money or anything has been discussed. Probably still assuming the you scratch my back idea stands.
I have been trying to decide if I should charge anything for the shoot. I will at least charge for the prints. Not sure what I should ask or what options to offer. In any case I am not sure if I should go in with a verbal agreement or do I need some sort of contract?
This will be my first time shooting with any kind of formal request or anything. So far have only shot stuff such as landscapes and fine art. Nothing involving pay up front.
I knew this would be the place to ask advice. Love all the willingness to help each other I see on this sight.
Thanks so much
Brent Franklin
BKSqaured Photography

Short answer: Yes.

Longer answer: YEEEEESSSSSSSSS

[Jim Poor]

Da
Si
Oui
Ja

[mng100]

Hi Brent. I think just for both of your benefits, a contract would clearly define both your rights to the images. May I refer you to MWerner's thread on this same page called "Getting screwed over by a friend - AGAIN."

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Short answer: Yes.

Longer answer: YEEEEESSSSSSSSS

Quite... quite.

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by mng100

Hi Brent. I think just for both of your benefits, a contract would clearly define both your rights to the images. May I refer you to MWerner's thread on this same page called "Getting screwed over by a friend - AGAIN."

Exactly. Even if you work for free, you need to protect your images.

As to whether you should charge something, it depends on how you feel. Just keep in mind how much time it'll take (setup time, shoot time, pp time, etc) and decide whether you want to give up that much of your time for (essentially) nothing. Sure, you might sell a print or two but that's not terribly likely (unfortunately).

[Jim Bryant]

Creating a contract...hell yes...especially with friends.

[mandyatm]

Especially since you will be photographing other people besides your friend, you should get their permission to use the pics for advertising. Some people (like the dud in the thread mentioned a couple posts up) are nutzos even if you DO know them. As far as charging, I have no idea because I don't know what your friend expects and what all is involved. I would say take your friend's pics for free, but the show is a whole nother story. If you need the shots though, it might be worth it.

[MWerner]

Originally Posted by mng100

Hi Brent. I think just for both of your benefits, a contract would clearly define both your rights to the images. May I refer you to MWerner's thread on this same page called "Getting screwed over by a friend - AGAIN."

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEES!

Sign a contract. TRUST ME.