A contract photographer must sign a contract supplied by the client. The contract cites the standards of photography desired and the photographer's commitment to the project. The photographer may be able to come up with her own pricing or accept the payment offered by the client. A client may request that the hired photographer take certain kinds of pictures at an event, such as at a company picnic.
If the photographer does not work directly for a client, she may license use of her photographs through a stock-photo agency or market her work on a personal website.
Once a contract photographer takes a picture or pictures for a client, the photos become the client's property, but the image is accredited to the photographer. The photographer cannot use the pictures for personal use, and the client cannot sell the photographer's images. In general, the agreement secures protection of the images by both parties, to prevent any illegal copying or selling.
Due to weather, light conditions and time limitation, the contract photographer cannot guarantee that he will shoot images that the client has requested. He may take additional photos -- ones that he thinks will turn out well -- while keeping the client's tastes in mind. For example, at a wedding, a client may tell the photographer to shoot pictures of the couple up-close, the bride as she walks down the aisle and a group shot. If a photographer does not meet most of those requests, his reputation for reliability will likely suffer.
A contract photographer is not finished with his work until all pictures are printed and delivered in an attractive way. For example, a newly married couple may want a wedding album -- a professional, polished photography book of the day's images. While the agreements for providing proofs, editing and book compilation vary by client, often the photographer must present proofs, or sample images, in less than 2 months, and a final album no later than 4 months after the event.
A contract photographer typically chooses one type of freelance work to do for clients. She may choose to practice scientific photography, taking pictures of natural objects for scientific or medical data, or she may be a news photographer or photojournalist, taking images for newspapers and other media organizations to document news events. Fine-art photographers use their artistic talent, creativity and original image ideas to create fine artworks.
Start as a photography assistant to a professional photographer. Develop contacts in the field by subscribing to photographic newsletters and magazines and joining local camera clubs. Search for employment in photography studios, suggests the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.