Service Agreements & Contracts

Free Video Production Contract Template (PDF)

A video production agreement is a contract between a videographer or production company and a client for a video project. It sets the deliverables, production schedule, number of revision rounds, fee and payment schedule, who obtains releases and music licenses, who owns the finished video and raw footage, and the cancellation terms.

When to use it

Use it for brand videos, commercials, testimonials, event videos, music videos, and social content. Unlimited revisions, unclear ownership of raw footage, and unlicensed music are the classic problems in video projects, and this agreement deals with all three up front.

What's typically included

• Producer, client, and date
• Project description and exact deliverables
• File formats and resolutions
• Pre-production, filming, and delivery schedule
• Number of revision rounds and extra revision rate
• Total fee, deposit, and final payment before delivery
• Pre-approved expenses
• Talent and location releases
• Licensed music, stock footage, and fonts
• Ownership or license of the final video after payment
• Raw footage and project files
• Portfolio use
• Cancellation and weather postponement
• Limitation of liability
• Signature blocks for producer and client

How to fill it in

• List deliverables precisely: how many videos, their lengths, aspect ratios (horizontal or vertical), and file formats.
• Limit revision rounds and set a rate for extra changes. Changes to the approved script after filming are the most expensive kind.
• Decide who gets releases from people on camera and location permission, and make sure music is licensed for how the client will use the video, especially for paid ads.
• Choose ownership or a license for the final video, and say what happens to raw footage. Clients often assume they get it; producers usually keep it.

This template is a general starting point, not legal advice — customize it and have it reviewed for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns the footage in a video production?

By default, the person who created it, usually the producer, owns the copyright. The contract decides what the client gets: this template transfers ownership of, or licenses, the final deliverables once the client pays in full, while raw footage stays with the producer unless purchased.

How many revisions are standard for a video?

Two rounds of revisions to the edit is common. More rounds, or changes to the script after filming, are usually billed by the hour.

Do I need a release for people in a video?

For commercial use, yes: get a signed release from everyone who appears on camera and permission for each location. The template has you decide whether the producer or the client gets them.

Can a video production agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Under the U.S. ESIGN Act and state UETA laws, an e-signed video production agreement is as valid as a paper one.