Invoicing as a photographer

Photographers lose money on vague “wedding package” lumps and on dates they held without a deposit invoice. The billing loop is the same as any other trade: quote, deposit, shoot, balance. The lines should read like the job — not like a camera shop receipt.

How photographers invoice a shoot

• The event or job in plain language: “Editorial portraits, 14 May, two hours on site.”
• Deliverables as separate lines when the price is separate: second shooter, album, rush selects, travel.
• Usage if it is not work-for-hire. “Web + social, 12 months” on the line or in notes beats an argument in July.
• Tax if you collect it. Canadian GST/HST: the documentary fields.

Do not invoice “balance of wedding” with no number for the deposit they already paid. See how to invoice a deposit.

Before the date

Send an estimate. When they accept, invoice the deposit (often 25–50%), due on receipt. Do not start retouching a gallery you have not billed.

After delivery

Invoice the remainder. Same client, new number. Link or attach the same style of PDF you sent for the deposit. How to send it.

justIssued

Save the couple or the brand as a client, number the deposit and the balance, share a link. Free is three clients; Paid is $12/mo after a 7-day trial for unlimited clients and how-to-pay on the PDF. Pay now is optional; Interac on the PDF is still the usual loop. Start free or download a one-off from the free invoice generator.