Lapse Productions has signed video production contracts with clients since 2014, and the clauses below are the ones that earned their place by preventing a specific problem. This is what we include in our own agreements, why each element exists, and which documents a corporate shoot actually needs signed before the camera comes out.
The Short Answer
- Eight elements belong in every video production contract, from service description to expiration.
- The scope section prevents more disputes than every other clause combined.
- Name raw footage and project files explicitly, or ownership of them stays ambiguous.
- A corporate shoot usually needs three documents, not one: client contract, crew agreement, talent release.
- An expiration clause closes out projects that stall, which protects both sides.
This post reflects how we structure our own contracts. It is not legal advice, and contract law varies by province and situation. Have a lawyer review anything you plan to sign or send.
What Belongs in a Video Production Contract?
Eight elements, each answering a question that otherwise gets argued about after the invoice goes out.
| Element | What it settles |
|---|---|
| 1. Detailed service description | Exactly what is being produced and delivered |
| 2. Payment terms | Amounts, schedule, methods, and late payment consequences |
| 3. Confidentiality | What counts as confidential and how both sides handle it |
| 4. Ownership and deliverables | Who owns the finished video, the raw footage, and the project files |
| 5. Cancellation and rescheduling | Notice periods and fees when dates move |
| 6. Indemnity and liability | Who carries responsibility when something goes wrong |
| 7. Non-solicitation | Whether a client can hire your crew directly |
| 8. Expiration and abandonment | What happens when a project goes quiet |
1. Detailed Service Description
Define the scope precisely: shoot days, locations, crew, the number and length of finished videos, revision rounds, and delivery formats. Vague scope is the single largest source of friction in video projects, because “a video for our website” means something different to each side. Detail here is not bureaucracy, it is the thing that lets you say yes or no to a later request without an argument.
2. Payment Terms
Set out the deposit, any milestone instalments, the final balance, due dates, and accepted payment methods. State what happens when payment is late. For new clients we take a deposit before work begins, which is standard across the industry and protects both sides from a project starting on nothing but goodwill. If you want to see how project budgets are typically structured, our breakdown of what a video costs covers the numbers side.
3. Confidentiality
Define what is confidential (unreleased products, financials, client lists, footage of restricted areas) and how each side handles it. This matters more in corporate video than people expect, because crews routinely walk through facilities and see things well beyond the shot list. Our freelance crew sign confidentiality terms as part of their own agreement, which extends the protection past the two of us.
4. Ownership and Deliverables
State who owns the finished video, what formats and versions are included, and whether raw footage and project files transfer. Our position is that all rights to the finished video pass to the client once the project is complete and paid in full, with no recurring licensing fees. Raw footage is a separate question and should be named explicitly if the client wants it, along with the delivery method and how long files stay available.
5. Cancellation and Rescheduling
Spell out the notice period for changing or cancelling, and the fees that apply at each stage. Crew and equipment get booked in advance, so a cancellation two days out costs real money that a cancellation two weeks out does not. Address unforeseen circumstances too, so weather or illness does not become a negotiation.
6. Indemnity and Liability
These clauses allocate responsibility if something goes wrong: property damage, injury on location, or a claim arising from the content itself. Both sides should understand what they are accountable for, and both should carry appropriate insurance. This is the clause most worth having a lawyer look at, because the wording carries real consequences.
7. Non-Solicitation
A non-solicitation clause sets out whether a client can hire your crew directly during or after the project. We work with a vetted group of freelancers, and this clause keeps that relationship stable. Keep it reasonable in scope and duration, since an unreasonable restriction is harder to enforce and reads as hostile to clients who had no such intention.
8. Expiration and Abandonment
Projects stall. Budgets freeze, sponsors leave, priorities shift. Our contracts treat a project as abandoned when communication or progress stops for six months. At that point the initial deposit is retained and the contract can be terminated, whether or not pre-production had started. Before invoking it, make a genuine effort to restart the project. The clause exists so that files, crew bookings, and quoted pricing are not held open indefinitely, not to catch anyone out.
Which Documents Does a Corporate Shoot Need?
One contract is rarely enough. A typical project has three documents, each covering a different relationship.
| Document | Who signs | Why it exists |
|---|---|---|
| Production contract | The production company and the client | Scope, payment, ownership, and the eight elements above |
| Independent contractor agreement | The production company and each freelancer | Confidentiality, work terms, and assignment of rights in the material they create |
| Talent release | Anyone identifiable on camera | Permission to use their likeness in the finished video and its channels |
The release is the one most often skipped, and the one most likely to cause a problem months later. Employees are not automatically covered by their employment agreement, so collect releases on shoot day while everyone is present. Chasing a signature from someone who has since left the company is a poor use of anyone’s afternoon. For how these documents fit into the wider workflow, see our guide to the corporate video production process.
Work With a Team That Puts It in Writing
Lapse Productions sends a clear contract with defined scope, deliverables, and rights before any project starts, as part of our video services. Tell us what you are making and we will scope it properly.
Get a Free QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
What should a video production contract include?
At minimum: a detailed service description, payment terms with a schedule, a confidentiality clause, ownership and deliverables, cancellation and rescheduling terms, indemnity and liability, non-solicitation, and an expiration clause for stalled projects. Each one answers a question that otherwise gets argued about later.
Who owns the video after production is finished?
At Lapse Productions, all rights to the finished video transfer to the client once the project is complete and paid in full, with no recurring licensing fees. Raw footage and project files are treated separately, so if you want those, name them as deliverables in the contract before the shoot.
Do you need a talent release for people appearing on camera?
Yes. Anyone identifiable on camera should sign a talent release giving permission to use their likeness in the finished video and its intended channels. Employees are not automatically covered by their employment agreement, so collect releases on shoot day rather than chasing them after someone leaves the company.
What happens if a video project stalls partway through?
That is what an expiration clause is for. In our contracts, if communication or progress stops for six months the project is treated as abandoned, the initial deposit is retained, and the contract can be terminated. It protects both sides by making the outcome predictable instead of leaving a project open indefinitely.
About the Author
Dario Nouri is a Producer and Co-Founder of Lapse Productions, a Toronto video production company creating corporate video, photography, and drone content since 2014. He also hosts Creatives Grab Coffee, a podcast on the business of video production.