Take a photographer who has just agreed to a project with a new client. The steps are the same for a photo studio, an accountant, an interior designer, a freelancer or a small agency. Only the work in the middle changes.
- The client agrees. Once the client says yes, the photographer sends a contract that states the work, the price and the payment schedule.
- Both sides sign. Nothing starts before the contract is signed by both parties.
- The work begins, and payments are collected as agreed, for example an advance at the start and further payments at the points set out in the contract.
- The work is delivered. The photographer submits everything the contract promised.
- The closure document. The photographer raises a closure document confirming that the work was delivered and accepted, and both sides sign it.
- The final payment is collected, and the project is finished.
Why the order matters
Each step protects someone. The signed contract protects both sides before work begins. Staged payments protect the person doing the work. The closure document protects the client, who has proof the work was accepted, and the photographer, who has proof nothing else is owed.
Where it usually breaks
- Work starts on a message instead of a signed contract
- Payments are chased by hand and tracked in a spreadsheet
- The closure document is never raised, so the project never formally ends
- The signed copies are scattered and cannot be found later
This is the problem PledgeSign was built for: contracts, signatures, client engagements and payment collection in one place, with clear steps from the first agreement to the closing document.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules on agreements and stamping differ by place and by case, so check what applies to you.
