Legal Question in Legal Ethics in Florida

Re: unsatified photography client

From your description, she has no case -- but, as the saying goes, there are always two sides to every story. Your position is not as solid for a few reasons.

First, you have nothing in writing that would describe your contract. If she says that the contract for the work was contingent upon her liking the photographs, then -- under that "contract" -- you would lose, since the contingency was not fulfilled.

Learn from this mistake. Draw up some simple agreement that describes what you will do and its cost and whether money is ever refundable (if so, when).

Also, as a photographer, you should NEVER release your negatives. Typically in professional photography, ownership of the negatives and the right to make additional prints stays with the photographer. You have now seen one reason why.

Many photographers either send electronic or paper proofs that are watermarked as such.

Your contract should cover whether the client gets the negatives or not and whether additional prints can be made.

Good luck.