# Getting paid on time as a photographer > How photographers get paid on time: clear invoices, deposits that lock the date, payment schedules, card and bank transfer, and reminders that chase for you. Source: https://help.corehue.co/docs/guides/getting-paid-on-time/ Clear invoices, payment deadlines and reminders help clients know what to pay and when. Use this guide to set up deposits and balance payments, offer payment methods and follow up on overdue invoices. ## Send a proper invoice, every time A clear, branded invoice gets paid faster than a figure in an email, and it protects you if anyone later asks what was agreed. A good photography invoice has: - **Your business name and logo**, so it looks legitimate - **A clear breakdown** of the work, extras, taxes and any discount - **The amount due and the due date**, stated plainly - **An easy way to pay**, right there on the page - **An invoice number**, so you can find it later CoreHue handles all of that, and pulls line names from your saved items so they're the same on every invoice. See [Creating an invoice](/docs/invoices/creating-an-invoice) and [Saving reusable items](/docs/payments/saved-items). ## Take a deposit to lock the date A promise alone is a shaky reason to hold a date. A deposit commits the client and protects you if they cancel. - **Take it before the date is confirmed.** A booking service with **Collect payment** on takes it as part of booking. A proposal takes it in the next steps after the client accepts. - **Make your deposit terms clear in your contract**, including what happens if the client cancels. See [Writing a photography contract](/docs/guides/writing-a-photography-contract). See [Pricing, deposits and payment deadlines](/docs/online-booking/pricing-and-deposits). ## Split bigger jobs into a payment schedule An invoice doesn't have to be one payment. Choose **Payment schedule** and split the total into up to 12 payments, each with its own amount and due date: a deposit now, a second payment before the shoot, the balance on delivery. Your client sees each payment on the invoice, marked Paid, Next payment, Overdue or Upcoming, and the pay button asks for the one that's due. They can always pay in full if they'd rather. See [Splitting an invoice into a payment schedule](/docs/invoices/payment-schedules). ## Make paying easy The easier it is to pay, the sooner you're paid. Most photographers offer both of these. **Card payments with Stripe.** Your client clicks, pays by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay where available, and the invoice updates itself. Connect Stripe once under **Payments → Settings → Payment methods**. CoreHue doesn't charge a platform fee on your client payments. You only pay Stripe's processing fees. See [Accepting card payments with Stripe](/docs/payments/accepting-card-payments). **Bank transfer, cash and other manual methods.** Add your bank details as payment instructions. Your client pays, then taps **I've made this payment** and, if you ask for it, uploads proof. See [Bank transfer, cash and other manual payments](/docs/payments/manual-payment-methods). ## Confirm manual payments promptly A manual payment isn't recorded until you confirm it. Until then, your client thinks they've paid and the invoice says they haven't, which is where most "did you get my payment?" messages come from. Your Home screen shows **N payments awaiting review** under **Needs attention**. Open each one, check the money has arrived, and confirm it. Confirming emails your client a receipt automatically. If the proof doesn't match, reject it and they're asked to check and resubmit. See [Reviewing payment proof](/docs/payments/reviewing-payment-proof). ## Let reminders do the chasing Under **Settings → Reminders**, invoice reminders can go out 7 days before the due date, on the due date, and 3, 7 or 14 days after. On a payment schedule, reminders always ask for the payment that's currently due, with its date and amount, not the whole total. See [Automatic invoice reminders](/docs/invoices/invoice-reminders). Each invoice also has its own reminder control, so you can pause chasing for one client who's already told you they'll pay Friday, or send a personal nudge yourself. Reminders are on Plus and Pro. ## Know what's late An invoice turns **Overdue** as soon as any payment on it is past its date, even if earlier payments were on time. Your Home screen shows overdue invoices under **Needs attention**, and the invoices list has an **Overdue** tab. See [Invoice statuses](/docs/invoices/invoice-statuses). The **Payments** page shows **Received less refunds**, **This month, less refunds** and **Outstanding** at the top, so you know where you stand at a glance. See [Your payments list](/docs/payments/the-payments-list). ## A simple system that works 1. Every job has a contract with clear payment terms. 2. Every job takes a deposit before the date is confirmed. 3. Bigger jobs use a payment schedule with the balance due before the shoot or on delivery. 4. Card payments are switched on, with a manual method for clients who prefer bank transfer. 5. Reminders are on, and you check **Needs attention** once a day. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I send an invoice without online payment? Yes. Choose a manual payment method like bank transfer, and your client gets your instructions on the invoice instead. You can also leave payment methods off, and the invoice works as a record with no pay button. ### Does my client get a receipt? When you confirm a client's payment proof, CoreHue emails a receipt automatically. For other payments, you can send one yourself. See [Payment receipts](/docs/payments/receipts). ### What if a client pays the wrong amount? Record what you actually received. The rest stays outstanding on the invoice, and reminders keep asking for what's left. See [Recording a payment yourself](/docs/payments/recording-a-payment). ### Can I charge a late fee? CoreHue doesn't add late fees automatically. If your contract includes one, send it as a separate invoice so the original stays clear.