Know of any great law firms you’ve used as a photographer? We’d love hear about them so we can expand this resource.
Running a photography business involves more than just mastering the art of photography.
As your business grows, you’ll face legal decisions that need professional guidance. From setting up your business structure to crafting contracts that protect your interests, working with a law firm can provide you with peace of mind and keep your business legally sound.
In this post, we’ll share our top recommendations for law firms that specialize in helping photographers. But first, let’s explore why hiring a law firm is helpful and what you can expect when working with one.
Hiring a law firm to assist with your photography business can save you from potential legal headaches down the road. Photographers often face legal issues, whether it’s protecting your intellectual property (your photos), setting up your business structure, or crafting legally binding contracts with clients.
Some of the key benefits of working with a law firm include:
Here are some common services law firms offer to photographers:
In any effort to try and make working with a lawyer a little bit easier, we want to highlight our experience doing this for our photography businesses (as well as other business ventures and even personal needs).
Personally, I have found working with law firms to be quite painless as most things you will be looking for are fairly standard. This includes work like drafting contracts and partnership agreements. I have hired lawyers over the course of my career for services as simple as a one-off consultation to creating contracts and the like.
One motivating reason behind wanting to work with a law firm even at the onset of my business was to establish some repoir, in the event I needed more complex services down the line (like managing lawsuits).
If you’re not ready to work with a law firm or need a quicker solution, purchasing contract templates online can be a viable alternative.
These templates are often created by legal professionals and can be tailored to your needs. However, it’s essential to ensure you’re selecting a reputable source for these templates.
We’ve previously written a blog post about selecting good contract templates that can help you navigate this process. It’s a great resource if you’re looking for a more affordable option to get started.
Just keep in mind that pre-made templates may not offer the same level of customization or protection as a law firm can provide.
When you work with a law firm, the process typically starts with a consultation where the lawyer will get to know your business and the specific legal challenges you face. After this initial meeting, they’ll offer a plan of action tailored to your business’s needs.
You can expect clear communication throughout the process, including regular updates on the progress of your legal matters. In many cases, you’ll need to provide your lawyer with key business documents, such as existing contracts, your business structure, or details about any intellectual property you want to protect.
Law firms charge in various ways, including hourly rates, flat fees for specific services, or retainer agreements. Make sure you discuss and understand the pricing structure before beginning your working relationship since this is something that can catch you off guard if you aren’t aware. If you are unsure about anything, ask questions!
Here are a few law firms we recommend that specialize in working with photographers and creative professionals:
Eden Law is a boutique law firm that specializes in supporting creatives, including photographers, videographers, and other small business owners. They offer a wide range of legal services, from drafting contracts to protecting intellectual property rights. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your photography business, Eden Law provides comprehensive legal support tailored to your specific needs.
East and Bay Law is a law firm focused on helping small businesses, with a particular emphasis on creative professionals like photographers. They can assist you with business structuring, intellectual property protection, and custom legal agreements. East and Bay Law is known for their personalized service and dedication to helping creatives protect their businesses.
Hiring a law firm may feel like a daunting step, but it’s one of the best investments you can make in protecting your photography business. From crafting solid contracts to helping you navigate intellectual property law, a legal expert can help you avoid costly mistakes. Whether you’re just getting started or growing your business, these recommended law firms can provide you with the support you need.
Honesty is a cornerstone of Shoot and Thrive, so we want you to know that some links in this post are affiliate links. This means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase—at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products and services we trust, have used ourselves, or have thoroughly researched based on industry feedback. Our goal is to provide solutions that genuinely help, whether they come from our direct experience or the collective knowledge of the photography community.
As photography business educators, we believe it's important for educators in this industry to be active photographers themselves. The images used throughout this website were taken through our photo studios - Hand and Arrow Photography and Marshall Scott Photography, except for stock images or if otherwise noted.
Turn Your Passion into a Thriving Business
Transform your photography business into a streamlined, profitable venture that gives you more time, freedom, and confidence.
With the Photography Business Academy, you’ll have a step-by-step guide to building the business—and life—you’ve always dreamed of. From branding to marketing, finances to client experience, we’ve got you covered.
Shoot and Thrive is an ethically created resource for photographers needing mentorship, coaching, or business education. We believe in creating content that’s easy to digest and retain while incorporating educational best practices, so you gain clarity and confidence as a business owner.