A contract protects you from late cancellations, unpaid balances and "but you said…" arguments. Writing a new one for every client is slow, though. In Brightdesk you write a contract template once and add smart placeholders like {client_name} and {booking_date}. Every time you send it, those are replaced with the real booking details.
Plan note: Contracts are a Pro feature, included in your 28-day free trial.
In this tutorial
Step 1: Open contract templates
Go to Settings → Templates and open the Contracts tab. Tap Create Template (or Create Your First Template).
Step 2: Name it and load the starter terms
Give it a Template Name, for example Wedding Contract or Pre-Wedding Shoot Agreement. Under Contract Terms, tap Use Default to load a ready-made starting point, then edit it for your business.
Step 3: Add smart placeholders
Put the cursor where you want a detail, tap Insert Placeholder, and choose one. Brightdesk fills it in from the booking each time you send the contract.
| Placeholder | Becomes |
|---|---|
{client_name} |
Client's name |
{client_phone} / {client_email} |
Client's contact details |
{booking_name} |
Name of the booking |
{booking_type} |
Type of booking (e.g., wedding) |
{booking_date} |
Booking date |
{start_time} |
Start time |
{venue} |
Booking venue/location |
{total_amount} |
Total contract amount |
{business_name} |
Your business name |
{business_phone} / {business_email} / {business_address} |
Your contact details |
Example:
This agreement is between {business_name} and {client_name} for {booking_type} services on {booking_date} at {venue}, starting at {start_time}. The total fee is {total_amount}.
Step 4: Write the terms that protect you
A good wedding-services contract covers:
- Services included: what exactly you'll deliver, and what's extra
- Advance and payment schedule: for example 50% to confirm, balance on the event day
- Cancellation and refunds: is the advance refundable? What if they postpone?
- Timings: call time, how long you'll wait, overtime charges
- Travel and stay: who pays for outstation events
- Deliverables and timelines: for example edited photos within 30 days
- Usage rights: whether you can post the work on social media
- Force majeure: what happens if the event can't take place
Need help with wording? See freelance contract clauses explained, the photography contract guide and the makeup artist contract guide.
Step 5: Set a default and preview
Switch on Set as Default so this template is pre-selected when sending contracts. Tap Preview Contract to see how it will look. (In the preview, placeholders are shown as-is.) Then save.
Tips
- Make one template per service type, for example Bridal, Party Makeup and Destination Wedding. Each one can have different cancellation terms.
- Keep the language simple. Clients sign faster when they understand what they're signing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit a contract for just one client? Edit the template, or create a separate template for special cases, then choose it when sending.
Does my business signature get added automatically? Yes. Your saved digital signature appears as the service provider's signature.