How to Automate Photography & Event Contracts Online via API (2026)

# Master Photography & Event Services Agreement

**Contract Date:** {{CONTRACT_DATE}}
**Studio Provider:** {{STUDIO_NAME}} ("Photographer")
**Client Name:** {{CLIENT_NAME}} ("Client")
**Client Email:** {{CLIENT_EMAIL}}
**Client Phone:** {{CLIENT_PHONE}}

---

### 1. Event Details & Scope of Coverage
The Client hereby engages the Photographer to render professional photography services for the following event:
* **Event Type:** {{EVENT_TYPE}}
* **Event Date:** {{EVENT_DATE}}
* **Primary Venue:** {{VENUE_NAME}}, {{VENUE_ADDRESS}}
* **Coverage Duration:** {{COVERAGE_HOURS}} consecutive hours
* **Assigned Personnel:** Lead Photographer + {{SECOND_SHOOTER_COUNT}} Second Associate(s)

### 2. Pricing, Retainer Deposit & Payment Schedule
* **Total Package Fee:** ${{TOTAL_PACKAGE_FEE}} USD
* **Non-Refundable Retainer Deposit:** ${{DEPOSIT_AMOUNT}} USD (Due upon contract signing on {{DEPOSIT_DUE_DATE}})
* **Remaining Balance:** ${{REMAINING_BALANCE}} USD (Due {{BALANCE_DUE_DATE}}, 14 days prior to event)

Services will not commence, and the event date will not be held in the Photographer's schedule, until both this Agreement is e-signed and the Non-Refundable Retainer Deposit is settled in full.

### 3. Model Release & Promotional Usage
Client grants Photographer the absolute and irrevocable right to use, publish, display, and distribute photographs taken during the Event for portfolio presentation, website marketing, social media promotion, editorial features, and industry competition entries. 

* **Model Release Scope:** {{MODEL_RELEASE_CONSENT_TEXT}}

### 4. Copyright & Image Licensing
The Photographer retains full underlying copyright ownership of all digital photographs, RAW files, and previews created under this Agreement. 

Upon receipt of final payment, Client is granted an exclusive, non-transferable **Personal Print and Display License**. Client may reproduce, print, and post online all delivered high-resolution JPEG images for personal, non-commercial use. Commercial resale, third-party sublicensing, or selling images to vendors without express written consent from Photographer is strictly prohibited.

### 5. Delivery Timeline & Image Editing
* **Sneak Peek Images:** Delivered within {{SNEAK_PEEK_DAYS}} business days post-event.
* **Final High-Res Gallery:** Digital gallery delivered within {{GALLERY_WEEKS}} weeks post-event.
* **Editing Style:** Standard editing includes color correction, exposure adjustment, cropping, and exposure balancing. Advanced retouching (e.g., body alterations, object removal) is available at ${{RETOUCH_HOURLY_RATE}}/hour.

### 6. Cancellation, Rescheduling & Force Majeure
* **Client Cancellation:** If Client cancels event coverage for any reason, the Retainer Deposit remains strictly non-refundable. Cancellations submitted less than 30 days before the event require payment of 50% of the remaining balance.
* **Rescheduling:** Event date rescheduling is subject to Photographer availability and may incur a ${{RESCHEDULE_FEE}} date change fee.
* **Unforeseen Incapacity:** In the rare event that Photographer cannot perform due to illness, emergency, or Force Majeure, Photographer will make all reasonable efforts to secure a qualified replacement photographer of equal skill or refund all monies paid to date, including retainer.

---

### Acknowledgment & Electronic Signature
By signing below, the Client confirms that they have read, understood, and agreed to all terms, payment obligations, and model release provisions outlined in this Master Photography Agreement.

import express, { Request, Response } from "express";

const router = express.Router();

interface IntakeFormBody {
  client_name: string;
  client_email: string;
  client_phone: string;
  event_date: string;
  event_type: string;
  venue_name: string;
  venue_address: string;
  coverage_hours: number;
  total_fee: number;
  deposit_amount: number;
  allow_model_release: boolean;
}

router.post("/api/webhooks/form-intake", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
  try {
    const payload: IntakeFormBody = req.body;

    // Validate incoming form payload
    if (!payload.client_email || !payload.client_name || !payload.event_date) {
      return res.status(400).json({ error: "Missing required client or event details." });
    }

    const contractDate = new Date().toLocaleDateString("en-US", {
      month: "long",
      day: "numeric",
      year: "numeric",
    });

    const depositDueDate = new Date(Date.now() + 48 * 3600 * 1000).toLocaleDateString("en-US", {
      month: "long",
      day: "numeric",
      year: "numeric",
    });

    const remainingBalance = payload.total_fee - payload.deposit_amount;
    const modelReleaseText = payload.allow_model_release
      ? "Client explicitly grants full promotional and portfolio publication rights to Photographer."
      : "Client restricts promotional usage. Photos will remain private and will not be published publicly.";

    // Compile dynamic Markdown agreement
    const markdownContract = `# Master Photography & Event Services Agreement

**Contract Date:** ${contractDate}
**Studio Provider:** Apex Creative Media Studio ("Photographer")
**Client Name:** ${payload.client_name} ("Client")
**Client Email:** ${payload.client_email}
**Client Phone:** ${payload.client_phone}

---

### 1. Event Details & Scope of Coverage
* **Event Type:** ${payload.event_type}
* **Event Date:** ${payload.event_date}
* **Primary Venue:** ${payload.venue_name}, ${payload.venue_address}
* **Coverage Duration:** ${payload.coverage_hours} consecutive hours

### 2. Pricing & Payment Schedule
* **Total Package Fee:** \$${payload.total_fee.toLocaleString()} USD
* **Non-Refundable Retainer Deposit:** \$${payload.deposit_amount.toLocaleString()} USD (Due ${depositDueDate})
* **Remaining Balance:** \$${remainingBalance.toLocaleString()} USD

### 3. Model Release & Promotional Usage
${modelReleaseText}

### 4. Copyright & Image Licensing
Photographer retains underlying copyright. Client receives a Personal Print & Digital Display License upon receipt of full payment.

By signing below, Client accepts all terms of this Agreement.`;

    // Send contract dispatch request to Signbee API
    const signbeeApiKey = process.env.SIGNBEE_API_KEY;
    const response = await fetch("https://signb.ee/api/v1/send", {
      method: "POST",
      headers: {
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
        Authorization: `Bearer ${signbeeApiKey}`,
      },
      body: JSON.stringify({
        markdown: markdownContract,
        recipient_name: payload.client_name,
        recipient_email: payload.client_email,
        title: `Photography Contract - ${payload.client_name} (${payload.event_date})`,
        metadata: {
          event_date: payload.event_date,
          deposit_amount: payload.deposit_amount,
          event_type: payload.event_type,
          source: "tally_intake_webhook"
        }
      }),
    });

    if (!response.ok) {
      if (response.status === 429) {
        const retryAfter = response.headers.get("Retry-After") || "60";
        console.warn(`Signbee API rate limit reached. Retry after ${retryAfter}s.`);
      }
      throw new Error(`Signbee API returned status ${response.status}`);
    }

    const signbeeData = await response.json();
    console.log(`Successfully dispatched contract package. ID: ${signbeeData.id}`);

    return res.status(200).json({
      success: true,
      document_id: signbeeData.id,
      signing_url: signbeeData.signing_url,
    });
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error processing contract intake:", error);
    return res.status(500).json({ error: "Internal server error dispatching contract." });
  }
});

export default router;

from fastapi import FastAPI, HTTPException, Request, Header
import requests
import os
import datetime

app = FastAPI()

SIGNBEE_API_KEY = os.getenv("SIGNBEE_API_KEY")
WEBHOOK_SECRET = os.getenv("INTAKE_WEBHOOK_SECRET")

@app.post("/webhooks/intake")
async def process_photography_intake(request: Request, x_webhook_secret: str = Header(None)):
    if x_webhook_secret != WEBHOOK_SECRET:
        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Unauthorized webhook source")

    payload = await request.json()
    
    client_name = payload.get("client_name")
    client_email = payload.get("client_email")
    event_date = payload.get("event_date")
    total_fee = payload.get("total_fee", 2500)
    deposit = payload.get("deposit_amount", 500)

    if not client_name or not client_email or not event_date:
        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Missing required client parameter fields")

    today_str = datetime.date.today().strftime("%B %d, %Y")
    balance = total_fee - deposit

    contract_markdown = f"""# Master Photography & Event Agreement

**Date:** {today_str}
**Studio:** Summit Peak Visuals ("Photographer")
**Client:** {client_name} ({client_email})
**Event Date:** {event_date}

---

### Terms & Package Summary
* **Total Fee:** ${total_fee:,.2f} USD
* **Retainer Deposit Required:** ${deposit:,.2f} USD
* **Remaining Balance:** ${balance:,.2f} USD

### Copyright & Image Usage
Photographer retains underlying copyright ownership. Client receives a non-exclusive Personal Use License upon payment of all fees.

By signing below, Client agrees to all terms and conditions of this Agreement."""

    headers = {
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {SIGNBEE_API_KEY}"
    }

    body = {
        "markdown": contract_markdown,
        "recipient_name": client_name,
        "recipient_email": client_email,
        "title": f"Photography Agreement - {client_name}",
        "metadata": {
            "client_email": client_email,
            "deposit_amount": str(deposit),
            "event_date": event_date
        }
    }

    try:
        response = requests.post("https://signb.ee/api/v1/send", json=body, headers=headers, timeout=10)
        
        if response.status_code == 429:
            retry_after = response.headers.get("Retry-After", "60")
            print(f"Signbee rate limit exceeded. Retry requested after {retry_after} seconds.")
            raise HTTPException(status_code=429, detail=f"Rate limited. Retry after {retry_after}s")

        response.raise_for_status()
        data = response.json()
        return {"status": "dispatched", "document_id": data.get("id")}

    except requests.exceptions.RequestException as err:
        print(f"Signbee dispatch failed: {err}")
        raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="Failed to transmit request to Signbee API")