Why photographers get paid late
- Commercial clients often need a purchase order raised by someone who was not on the shoot.
- Private clients assume the balance is due after they see the photos, unless your terms say otherwise.
How to get paid: advice for photographers
- Deliver watermarked or low-resolution proofs until the invoice is paid; release full-resolution files on payment.
- Make the licence conditional on payment in your terms — unlicensed use of your images is then copyright infringement, which is a much stronger position.
- For weddings, take the balance before the day. Chasing a couple after their honeymoon is hard.
A chasing timeline that works
- 3 days before due: a friendly heads-up.
- 1 day overdue: a polite reminder — a text often works well with private clients (write one).
- 7–14 days overdue: a firm reminder and a phone call.
- 30 days overdue: a final notice with a deadline.
- Still unpaid: a letter before action, then a small claim if needed.
Your legal options
It depends who the client is. For business clients, you can add statutory interest (8% + base rate) and £40–£100 fixed compensation under the Late Payment Act — calculate it here. For private clients, that Act doesn't apply: only charges in your agreed terms, if fair, can be added. Before court action against an individual (including a sole trader) you must give 30 days' notice under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims.