AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
A photography or videography contract should fix the package and price, the deposit and when the balance is due, the delivery date and format, who owns and may use the images, and what happens if the event is postponed or cancelled. Under section 28 of the Copyright Act 2022 the photographer owns the copyright unless a written agreement says otherwise, while a client who commissions photos for private use gets a non-exclusive licence to use them non-commercially.
Weddings, burials, birthdays, product shoots and corporate events keep Nigerian photographers and videographers busy, and most disputes are predictable: the date moved, the client wants all raw files, the album is late, or a brand used wedding photos in an advert without asking. A clear contract sorts these out before the shoot.
Who owns the photos
Under the Copyright Act 2022, as explained by Olisa Agbakoba Legal in July 2026, copyright in a photograph belongs to the photographer unless a written agreement says otherwise (section 28). A person who commissions a photograph for private use has a non-exclusive licence to use it for non-commercial purposes and can restrain its public publication (section 28(3)). The photographer also has moral rights, including attribution and integrity, which the article notes cannot be signed away during the author’s lifetime (section 14).
In practice that means three things for your contract:
- Say who owns copyright. Most photographers keep it and grant the client a licence.
- Say what the client may do: personal use, social media, printing, and whether commercial use (adverts, packaging, magazine sales) needs a separate fee.
- Say what the photographer may do: portfolio and social media use, and whether the client can opt out, which matters for private family events.
Deposit, balance and postponement
Deposits secure the date and cover early costs. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), as summarised by Mondaq, lets consumers cancel advance bookings, with any cancellation fee allowed only if it is fair and not excessive. It also expects services to be performed on time and to a good standard, with a refund of a reasonable portion of the price if they are not. A clause that keeps every naira whatever happens is risky when the client is a consumer.
Worked example (illustrative figures)
| Stage | When | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Package: 10 hours, two photographers, highlight video, 40-page album | ₦600,000 | |
| Deposit to secure the date (50%) | On signing | ₦300,000 |
| Balance | 7 days before the event | ₦300,000 |
| Extra hour, if requested on the day | With final delivery | ₦40,000 per hour (example rate) |
If the couple postpone with 60 days’ notice, a fair clause might move the deposit to the new date once, within six months. If they cancel 10 days before, you might keep the part of the deposit that covers costs you cannot recover and the date you turned others away for, and explain the figure.
Template: photography and videography agreement
- PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY AGREEMENT dated [date]
- Between [Studio name, RC/BN, address, phone] (the Photographer) and [Client name, address, phone] (the Client).
- 1. Event. [Type of event] on [date] from [time] to [time] at [venue(s)].
- 2. Package. [Number of photographers/videographers]; [hours]; deliverables: [number] edited images (minimum), [length] highlight video, [album/prints]. Raw files [are / are not] included.
- 3. Fee. Total ₦[amount]. Deposit ₦[amount] on signing secures the date. Balance ₦[amount] due by [date]. Extra hours at ₦[rate] per hour, payable on delivery. [VAT, if applicable.]
- 4. Delivery. Online gallery within [number] weeks; video within [number] weeks; album within [number] weeks of the Client approving the design. The Photographer will tell the Client promptly of any delay and the reason.
- 5. Client duties. Provide a schedule, a contact on the day, access to venues, and meals for crew on events longer than [six] hours.
- 6. Postponement. If the Client postpones with at least [60] days’ written notice, the deposit transfers once to a new date within [six] months, subject to availability. Otherwise clause 7 applies.
- 7. Cancellation by the Client. With more than [30] days’ notice: deposit refunded less ₦[amount] for costs incurred. With [30] days or less: the Photographer may keep the deposit to the extent it reflects lost bookings and costs.
- 8. Cancellation by the Photographer. If the Photographer cannot attend, it will provide a replacement of equal standard approved by the Client, or refund all payments.
- 9. Copyright and use. The Photographer owns copyright. The Client may use the images for personal, non-commercial purposes, including personal social media. Commercial use requires written permission [and a fee]. The Photographer may use selected images in its portfolio and marketing [unless the Client opts out here: ___].
- 10. Files. The Photographer will keep a backup for [12] months after delivery.
- 11. Liability. If images are lost through the Photographer’s fault, liability is limited to a refund of the fee paid for the affected part of the service.
- 12. Law. Nigerian law governs this agreement.
- Signed: Photographer ____ Client ____ Date ____
What to check before the shoot
- Is the deposit received and receipted?
- Has the client confirmed the timeline and venue changes in writing?
- Are second-shooter and editor agreements in place, assigning their work to you?
- Is the balance due date in your calendar, with a reminder?
- Do you have permission to photograph at the venue, and any fee for that?
For corporate clients, the same structure works, but specify usage rights in more detail; see the event vendor contract template and our guide to milestone billing.
Where Pryme fits
Photographers can collect deposits and balances into a Pryme Business Account through bank-transfer checkout (free) or an invoice, and issue a verifiable receipt through Pryme’s partnership with VerifyDoc.ai so the client can confirm the payment record is genuine; see receipts.
Questions people ask
Who owns wedding photos in Nigeria, the couple or the photographer?
Under section 28 of the Copyright Act 2022 the photographer owns copyright unless a written agreement says otherwise. A couple who commissioned the photos for private use have a non-exclusive licence to use them non-commercially.
Is a photography deposit refundable in Nigeria?
It depends on your contract and the circumstances. For consumer bookings, the FCCPA allows cancellation fees only if they are fair and not excessive, so keep only what reflects real costs and lost bookings.
How long should a photographer take to deliver pictures?
There is no legal deadline; the contract sets it. State separate timelines for the gallery, video and album, and notify the client promptly if there is a delay.
Can a client use my photos for advertising?
Not under a private-use licence. Commercial use should need your written permission and, usually, a separate fee.
Sources
- Who owns your photos under Nigeria’s Copyright Act (Mondaq/OAL, Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- The rights of a consumer under the FCCPA (Mondaq, Dec 2019) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.