A photography deposit is an advance towards the price of a service. Agree its amount, due date and the remaining balance with your client, then record them in the contract. In France, acompte and arrhes create different commitments; the English words “deposit”, “retainer” and “booking fee” do not settle that distinction.
This guide covers French rules and practical payment decisions. It does not present a deposit percentage as an industry standard or a guarantee that a cancellation clause is enforceable.
Acompte or arrhes: what does each mean?
An acompte commits both parties to the contract. Failure to perform can create liability. The French consumer authority, DGCCRF, explains that damages may be due, including when the professional cancels. Returning the advance is therefore not necessarily the end of the matter. Service Public confirms that if the professional cancels, they refund the acompte and the client can also ask for performance of the contract and damages.
With arrhes, a customer can withdraw from the commitment by losing that payment; a professional who withdraws must return twice the amount. For a professional-to-consumer contract, an unspecified advance is presumed to be arrhes under Consumer Code L214-1.
Choose the arrangement that reflects your agreement and name it consistently in the quote, contract and payment documents. Calling a payment an acompte does not remove consumer rights or excuse failure to provide the service.
How much should a photographer request?
Build the proposal around the booking rather than a percentage copied from another business. Consider preparation time, committed travel or equipment costs, the gap between booking and shooting, and the client's approval process. Explain the payment schedule alongside the cancellation terms.
Worked example: a €2,500 wedding booking
This is a fictional, illustrative calculation, not a recommended market price or deposit rate. If the agreed price is €2,500 including tax and the parties choose a 30% advance:
- deposit: €2,500 × 30% = €750;
- balance: €2,500 − €750 = €1,750.
Record the exact due dates. If the scope changes before signing, update the amounts and schedule together.
The calculation is the same with another percentage. In Graindevue, the package form offers 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%: at 50%, the same example gives a €1,250 deposit and a €1,250 balance.
When should the balance be paid?
| Possible due date | Practical benefit | Detail to agree |
|---|---|---|
| Before the session | Payment is organised ahead of the shoot | Exact date and consequences of cancellation or postponement |
| On the session date | Payment takes place around delivery of the service | Accepted method and person responsible |
| At delivery or later for a business client | May fit the customer's purchasing process | Invoice recipient, approval workflow and due date |
French B2B payment periods are regulated. Without a different agreement, the reference period is 30 days after the service is performed. An agreed period generally cannot exceed 60 days after invoice issue, or 45 days from month end under the applicable conditions. See Commercial Code L441-10.
For a business booking, identify the purchase-order requirement and accounts contact before the shoot. For additional installments, define every amount and date and check the rules applying to the arrangement. In Graindevue, a booking has a deposit and a balance, or payment in full.
Cancellation, withdrawal and refunds
A single “non-refundable” label cannot resolve every situation.
A client wants to cancel or postpone
Review the contract, the type of advance and the reason for the request. Distinguish a voluntary cancellation from statutory withdrawal or a service that cannot be performed. Record any agreed postponement and how previous payments apply to the new schedule. Our photography contracts guide explains the decisions to document.
A consumer booked online
For a consumer service contracted at distance or off-premises, the general withdrawal period is 14 days from contract conclusion, subject to statutory exceptions. Having a fixed session date does not by itself establish an exception. See L221-18 and L221-28.
Starting during that period requires the consumer's express request and the required information. Starting work alone does not remove the withdrawal right. If the consumer withdraws after a properly requested start, proportionate payment for the service already provided may be due. For a paid service, losing the right upon full performance also requires prior express consent and acknowledgment. See L221-25 and L221-28.
The photographer cannot perform
Notify the client and assess the circumstances before assuming a refund resolves the issue. Illness or another problem is not automatically force majeure: the criteria in Civil Code 1218 must be met. Agree any replacement or postponement consistently with the contract.
What paperwork should accompany a deposit?
Business customers
Services purchased for a professional activity require an invoice; advances for the relevant transactions are also invoiced under CGI Article 289, in its version in force in 2026. The recodification of French VAT rules on 1 January 2027 moves some references; the BOFiP sets out this reform. Identify the service, advance amount and total price. The final invoice should reconcile amounts already invoiced with the outstanding balance.
Check the applicable invoice requirements, including identities, numbering, dates, service details and VAT treatment. Being a micro-entrepreneur does not alone determine whether you charge VAT.
Consumer customers
A service priced at €25 including tax or more requires a note once performed and before payment; below that amount, the customer can request one. The threshold concerns the service price, not each installment. See the French service-note rules.
When receiving an advance, provide a clear payment record identifying the booking, date, amount received and remaining balance. A bank confirmation alone is not a substitute for any required fiscal document.
Our French e-invoicing guide explains how transmission requirements differ by customer and transaction.
What if payment is overdue?
First check the agreed date, whether the invoice reached the right person and whether the client disputes the service. A reminder can be straightforward:
Hello [Name], invoice [number] has an outstanding balance of [amount], due on [date]. Could you confirm receipt and the expected payment date? If you have already paid, please send the payment reference so I can reconcile it.
For French B2B transactions, late-payment penalties are due from the day after the deadline without a reminder. The ECB refinancing rate plus 10 percentage points is the default, not the minimum: another agreed rate cannot be lower than three times statutory interest. The fixed recovery charge is €40 for professional customers. See L441-10 and D441-5.
The penalty rate and the €40 charge are among the mandatory mentions on B2B invoices.
Do not copy those B2B charges into a consumer reminder. Keep the contract, invoice, delivery evidence and correspondence if further recovery steps become necessary. Before suspending a session or withholding delivery, check both the contract and the applicable rules.
Payment methods and follow-up in Graindevue
Choose methods you can reconcile reliably. Check the provider's current fees, settlement delays and refund process instead of relying on a timeless fee comparison. A client's statement that they have paid is different from confirmed receipt of funds.
In Graindevue, the steps follow this order:
| Step | What is set | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Terms configured | Deposit percentage (25, 50, 75 or 100%), balance due date, accepted methods for each phase | The dates calculated on the booking, before generating the contract |
| 2. Signature | The client signs, then the photographer countersigns. Terms are locked as soon as the client signs | Check that the contract's "acompte" matches what you agreed with the client |
| 3. Invoice issued | At the first payment attempted or declared for a phase, in your name, if your invoicing profile is complete | Check that your invoicing profile is complete in "Invoicing" |
| 4. Accepted method | Online payment via Stripe, or cash, cheque, direct transfer declared by the client | A declared payment only counts as received after your confirmation |
Email reminders cover the upcoming balance and overdue payments. Graindevue takes no commission on your bookings; online payments go through Stripe, whose processing fees apply according to its pricing (see zero commission). Each step is detailed on the invoicing and payments page.
To test these steps with your own terms, create a trial account and set up a package before your next booking.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge as a photography deposit?
Choose an amount that fits preparation, committed costs and the payment schedule. The 30% example above demonstrates arithmetic, not an industry standard or legal safe harbour. Explain the proposal and record amounts and dates in the agreement.
Should every photography deposit be non-refundable?
No. Refund consequences depend on the reason for cancellation, each party's obligations and the customer's rights. Statutory withdrawal, non-performance and an agreed postponement require different treatment.
What if a client refuses to pay the deposit?
Clarify the obstacle: timing, missing paperwork or a business approval process. State how long the proposal remains open and what confirms the booking. Do not describe a booking still under discussion as confirmed.
Can I choose when the balance is due?
Agree the date before signing, taking account of the customer type and applicable payment-period rules. Include deliverables and cancellation conditions so the schedule is understandable to both parties.
French-law information and practical examples. Texts are cited in their version in force on 12 October 2026; Commercial Code L441-10 changes version and the CGI VAT rules are recodified on 1 January 2027.