Confidentiality and Non Disclosure Agreements
Have Clients Thought This Through
A few years ago I encountered the occasional client who would ask for what is known as an NDA (None Disclosure Agreement). They were usually people in the public eye, footballers, actors and TV personalities. They obviously didn’t want to lose control of their wedding photos and find them plastered all over a wedding photographer’s website. Or worse still, sold on to one of the red top newspapers. It was fine by me - attracting these kinds of clients was a sign that I was getting somewhere - and I always charged a healthy premium for the NDA.
Occasionally I’d have a meeting with someone and their desire to protect the images was baffling. I remember one groom insisting that a clause was written into the contract that he was to own the copyright - this was something I always refuse in any circumstances. Turned out he was a professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers, but as I have no interest in any team other than the mighty Manchester United, this meant I hadn’t heard of him. I don’t think many Bolton fans had heard of him either as he was rarely in the first eleven - or the second eleven. I suppose some people are just famous in their own heads. I lost the booking as I wouldn’t agree to his terms. Bolton Wanderers have been on a steady decline ever since and are about to be relegated. None of their players has been paid for months. This I believe is called Karma. Never mess with a photographer - we have special powers.
