Getting a backup photographer in case of sickness???

[gardenstate]

One issue I've not had with my 3 year old hobby turned part-time business is what to do if I am unable to make a shoot due to my illness or death in the family.

How do the pros handle this? How do they get a backup? How are costs handled? Is this mentioned in an agreement with the customers up front?

Thanks.

[PhilipJohnBasile]

Maybe you should befriend a few of your competitors and work something out. They'll be your backup and you'll be thier backup and vice versa. Have a few on call.

[IndyJeff]

I have covered a wrestling semi state, a basketball game, at least 2 football games and a pro wrestling match when I was sick and felt like being anywhere but there. This past weekend I attended my grandmothers funeral on Friday at 11 am in southern Illinois. Left family I hadn't seen in a year, drove my family back home to Indy then drove down to Bloomington IN to cover a 7pm hs football game. Missed the whole first quarter because of traffic but, I was there.

I think the point I am trying to make is, no matter what, when people are counting on me to be there, I am there. Trust me the editor knew when I was sick at the football games because he was there. He offered for me to leave at the half if I wanted to but, I stayed because the game was close.

Now if you are barfing on the sidelines then yes, you should try to line up a back up, I guess or carry a barf bag with you. :)

[jameslcross]

Now if you are barfing on the sidelines then yes, you should try to line up a back up, I guess or carry a barf bag with you. :)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[snapzz]

I was bed ridden recently after eating a very dodgy piece of chicken at a BBQ.If I had to work the following day it would not have been a pretty site! However I do have someone who would have covered for me although I do have public indemnity insurance should the worse happen. A couple of days later I still covered a trackday & two ice skating events. First job on arriving was to locate the toilets!
Let me know if you want any further details and I'll be happy to post! :lol:

[gardenstate]

thanks.
How did you work out the financial arrangements? esp if they charge more than you and don't include the digital files as part of the package price (which I do)...

[snapzz]

There are two ways you could do this.
Firstly agree a recipical rate which included the images.
secondly just pass on the job which would include all fees excluding deposits etc.
The main point is to get the job covered and avoid any potential legal hassle.

[vwpilot]

I do it by making friends with my "competitors" and trying to alwasy do the right thing by them, good deeds do not always go unpunished.

Over the last few years working with other photographers on the side of race tracks, I have tried to do the right thing, I found a 1G CF card in a winners circle (this is when 1G cards were several hundred bucks) and I could have easily pocketed it, but I emailed all the photogs I knew and found the person's it was. I have also lent the same person batteries, lenses and other things when needed, he has never forgotten that and gave me the opportunity to shoot with him on a special closed shoot that gave me photos for a portfolio that no one else would have been able to get.

I have helped out other photographers when they needed a special photo for a client they failed to get for whatever reason (we cant always be everywhere on the track) and helped one out at Le Mans when his ride was leaving scrutineering but he had one client yet to go through.

It all boiled down to this summer when I had to leave an event early due to illness and, by murphy's law, my client won their first event. It was time to call in the favors and I got a handful of images from the race and some podium shots for my client that a few of the guys were happy to provide me with.

The point is, if you can have a good relationship with your "competitors" and basically be a good person, help folks out when they need it, you are likely to have the favor returned some day. At this point I would have no problem asking one of them to cover for me in case of illness or some other thing that would not allow me to make an event. If it were for a whole event, I would likely offer them the pay I would normally make, if its a photo here or there, we work something out.

It all comes back to you in the end, good or bad.

[gardenstate]

WOW! thanks for all of the great responses...

It should be interesting at the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Fair I intend to be part of along with 4 other "Pros - who make it their livelihood while I am just an advanced hobbyist turned part-time pro".

My point of difference is shooting high resolution digital only without selling photos or albums and providing my customers with a copyright release - all in the price. I then direct them to the best labs in town (in my opinion) and a pro lab (Adorama in NYC) that I have complete faith in.

Working out deals with the other photogs to release the copyrights from their images might get "interesting" if I ask them to cover for me in an emergency... However, I will try and see what happens.