TFP agreement: what to include (free checklist)

A TFP agreement is a short written record of a trade shoot’s terms — how many finals each side gets, who edits, where the images may be used, who gets credited, and when the files will be delivered. For portfolio work it does not need to be a formal contract: a chat thread that both sides can point back to is often enough. What matters is that the terms exist in writing somewhere before the shutter clicks.

One note before we start: this article is general information for collaborators, not legal advice — for anything commercial or high-stakes, talk to a lawyer in your jurisdiction.

Why you need one at all

Every classic TFP dispute is the same story: a term nobody wrote down. The model who never received her finals. The photographer who found his edit re-filtered beyond recognition on Instagram. The “portfolio shoot” that quietly turned up in an ad. The collaborator who cancelled an hour before the session with no consequences, because no one had said what a cancellation meant.

None of these people were scammers. They just each assumed the trade included things the other side never agreed to. Ten minutes of writing the terms down — even informally — removes almost all of that risk, which is why our complete TFP guide treats the agreement as step one, not an optional extra.

The TFP agreement checklist

Copy this list into your chat or document and fill it in together before the shoot:

Who and when — names of everyone involved, shoot date, and a one-line description of the concept.
Number of finals — how many finished images each side receives, per look or outfit.
Who selects — does the photographer pick the finals, the model, or do you choose together from a preview set?
Who edits — who does the retouching, and may the other side re-edit, crop, or filter the delivered files?
Usage rights — portfolio and social media: yes by default. Commercial use, selling prints, and competition entries: only if explicitly agreed.
Credit and tagging — how each side is credited when the images are posted, and whether tagging is required.
Delivery deadline — a specific date for the finals, not “soon”.
Cancellation and no-shows — how much notice is expected, and what happens if someone simply does not turn up.
Model release — is one being signed, yes or no? (More on this below.)

That is the whole document. If both sides have answered these nine points in writing, you have a TFP agreement — whether it lives in a signed PDF or a message thread.

When a chat thread stops being enough

For a straight portfolio trade between adults, a clear message history usually does the job. Upgrade to a proper signed document when any of these apply:

Any commercial use is on the table. If either side wants to sell, license, or advertise with the images, put it in a signed agreement and a model release.
The model is a minor. A parent or guardian needs to sign on their behalf — no exceptions.
An agency is involved. Agencies typically have their own paperwork and usage restrictions; get their terms in writing before shooting.

These are situations where informal understandings genuinely fall apart, and where the stakes justify the extra formality. Again: general guidance, not legal advice — requirements vary by jurisdiction.

How this works on CLOS

In CLOS, the agreement stage is built into the flow rather than bolted on. In Discovery, photographers and models match only where interest is mutual, and the match opens a chat — which is exactly where the checklist above gets agreed, before anyone commits time. Because the conversation and the collaboration live in the same place, your terms and your shoot share one thread you can always point back to.

The shoot itself then runs remotely: the photographer directs the model’s phone camera live, and the full-resolution files are delivered to both sides through CLOS Cloud. That closes the most common TFP failure mode by design — there is no “the photographer has the files and went quiet,” because delivery happens on the platform, to everyone.

TFP agreement vs. model release

These two documents get conflated constantly, and they do different jobs:

A TFP agreement records the terms of the trade — deliverables, editing, usage, credit, deadlines. It protects both sides’ expectations.
A model release is the model’s permission for their likeness to be used commercially. It protects whoever wants to use the images beyond portfolio and editorial contexts.

A standard portfolio-only trade needs the agreement but not necessarily the release. The moment commercial use enters the picture, you need both.

Frequently asked questions

Is a TFP agreement legally binding? +

It can be — a written exchange where both sides agree terms may form a contract in many jurisdictions, even in chat. But enforceability varies by place and wording, so treat the agreement primarily as a shared record of expectations, and use a formal signed contract for anything commercial.

Do I need a model release for TFP? +

Not for a standard portfolio-and-social-media trade. You need one as soon as either side wants commercial use: advertising, selling prints, or licensing the images. If commercial use is even a possibility, sign the release at the shoot rather than chasing it later.

What if the photographer never delivers the files? +

Point back to the written deadline and ask once, politely and specifically. If nothing arrives, you have a documented broken agreement — useful if references are checked later. This is why a delivery date belongs in every TFP agreement, and why platform-based delivery to both sides helps.

Can I sell TFP images? +

Not by default. The photographer holds copyright in most jurisdictions, and standard TFP terms grant only portfolio and social media use to the model. Selling prints or licensing requires explicit agreement from the copyright holder — and, for commercial buyers, normally a signed model release too.