Most disputes between a creator and a brand come from something nobody wrote down. Six clauses cover almost all of it, and a short written agreement in a message thread is enough.

What is being delivered

Number of videos, length, orientation, file format, resolution, whether raw footage is included and how many revisions are covered. Ambiguity here is how one video becomes three at the same price.

What the brand may do with it

Where it can be published, for how long, and whether paid advertising is included. Organic use on the brand's channels and a six month paid campaign are different products, and silence usually gets resolved in the brand's favour.

The clause about your face

Your image and voice are personal rights separate from the file. Agree explicitly whether the brand may use footage of you in other campaigns, in perpetuity, or in contexts you have not seen. This is the clause creators most often forget and most often regret.

When and how you get paid

Amount, currency, deposit, payment deadline and what happens if it passes. Fifty percent up front on a first project with a new client is normal in Canada and almost nobody refuses it.

Exclusivity, if any

Whether you are prevented from working with competitors, which competitors, and for how long. Exclusivity has real value and should be paid for rather than given away in a sentence nobody priced.

Who owns what if the deal ends

If the brand cancels after filming, does it get the footage and do you keep the deposit. Deciding that before it happens takes one line and prevents the most bitter kind of argument.

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Frequently asked questions

Does it need to be a formal contract?

No, a written thread is usually enough.

What do creators forget most?

The clause about use of their image.

Is a deposit normal?

Yes, fifty percent on a first project.

Should exclusivity be free?

No, it has real value and should be paid.