2nd Shooter Contract

[graciousness]

Does anybody have or know when I can look or copy a 2nd-shooter contract?

Currently in the process of negotiating being a second shooter for someone (and vice versa of getting a second shooter) for future weddings. I've done the google thing, but haven't really found a decent one. I'll do more search again later but though I would ask here, being this is a den of photography info and resources

Basically, I need one that will give me user rights to use the photos I take as second photographer for my own portfolio (print and web). Copyrights, etc, will be common practice standards, of course (main photographer being owner, etc).

Cheers for your replies,

Grace

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by graciousness

Does anybody have or know when I can look or copy a 2nd-shooter contract?

Currently in the process of negotiating being a second shooter for someone (and vice versa of getting a second shooter) for future weddings. I've done the google thing, but haven't really found a decent one. I'll do more search again later but though I would ask here, being this is a den of photography info and resources

Basically, I need one that will give me user rights to use the photos I take as second photographer for my own portfolio (print and web). Copyrights, etc, will be common practice standards, of course (main photographer being owner, etc).

Cheers for your replies,

Grace

I would think this should be under the purview of the primary. Certainly if an assistant presented me with a contract I would certainly not be overjoyed.

Perhaps some negotiated agreement that you both sign without trying to frame it as an official second-shooter contract would suffice? I realise essentially they're the same thing, but what I'm getting at is something slightly less...pretentious.

[graciousness]

Ah, should have mentioned that we've had tons of discussions on it and primary had agreed that second shooter will have rights to use the photos for portfolio, etc. They are looking for contract as they don't know how to draft or make one and I said I would ask around to see if I can find any.

I was going to help and draft a simple agreement but then as you said, I didn't want to be the one driving the conditions when I'm the secondary shooter.

The other thing is that whilst we are in the midst of negotiating, I am also considering the primary shooter as my second for my future wedding jobs. I hadn't mentioned that to her, though, although she knows I would want to use one for my own wedding shoots.

Basically, I just want to look at a contract and make sure we cover all the basis. We wouldn't necessarily use all the wording on it, but rather use as reference.

Hope that makes sense.

[Rentham]

I'm not familiar with labor laws in Australia, but here in the States it is important to explicitly state the second shooter is an independent contractor. Otherwise they could be construed as your employee, making you liable for a bunch of messy stuff from benefits to income tax withholding. You'll also want to make sure the agreement has an explicit expiration.