What would you have done????

[CanonLaw]

This is a long post, so to summarize before you read it....the bride didn't want formal pictures, and the family did, and so bascially, many pictures didn't get taken......(now you can decide if this is of interest to you).

I am still new to doing weddings, and I had not experienced this before. When I met the bride for the first time a few months ago to sign the contracts, she told me she didn't really want many formal posed shots. She just liked the shots just covering the event of the people there having fun. Well, at the wedding, they did not want to do pictures before the ceremony (which makes the time frame smaller) so we waited until after the ceremony. We go out there, and I start doing the posed pictures. Get the bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, etc. in a few formations. Then I get the bride/groom and the parents.

At that point, the bride decides to go inside and eat. She said "how much longer do we have to do this. I want to go eat!" So they all agree to go eat, and then do pictures a little later. Well, the bride and groom really were not interested in doing any group shots really..."I don't wanna just stand here forever taking pictures of everybody!" Those were more or less her exact words. So I take them along on this walk, just the bride and groom, to a dock on the lake, get some good shots there, then come back and they start the dancing. The grooms mom comes up to me to ask me to do more posed family shots, even though by now it is starting to get dark outside. I told her I would love to, but that we need to get everyone together, including the bride and groom. Well, that never happened. No one got together, so the formal shots never really materialized.

I guess I could have tried to convince the bride that she needed to stay there, and it would be easier to do this before they started dancing and eating, but she really did not want to do it.

What do you do in the situation? The bride doesn't want to do the formal shots, but the parents do, yet nobody is really helping to round people up? I did state in my contract that it is up to them to designate someone to help round up people, someone who knows the families. The brides mom did that, she even got on the mic and said we still need to do the pictures, yet nobody seemed interested.

Should I have gone around and been more bossy to people to get them out there? I knew who the immediate family was, but I didn't know someones third cousin, or step-uncle, etc.

I appreciate your thoughts on this. Thanks!

[bildeb0rg]

As it's the brides big day, it's up to her if she wants pics or not. As long as you got paid, just put it to bed and move on.

[eigga]

In most cases the bride pays the bill so makes the choices.

This is part of my contract...

COOPERATION: The parties agree to cheerful cooperation and communication for the best possible result within the definition of this assignment....

[CanonLaw]

As it's the brides big day, it's up to her if she wants pics or not. As long as you got paid, just put it to bed and move on.


I did get paid. I like your answer. And, I have already done the initial proofing in Lightroom, and they pictures are great, so I know the bride will be happy with them, which I would guess is the most important part!

[CanonLaw]

In most cases the bride pays the bill so makes the choices.

This is part of my contract...

COOPERATION: The parties agree to cheerful cooperation and communication for the best possible result within the definition of this assignment....

I have something similar in mine...and I think they got the best possible result...

[cdifoto]

There's nothing to be done now. What you need to do if this happens again, however, is be frank. If someone wants formals but the bride doesn't, you need to tell the person who wants formals that the bride isn't interested in those and he or she needs to discuss it with the bride.

[CanonLaw]

There's nothing to be done now. What you need to do if this happens again, however, is be frank. If someone wants formals but the bride doesn't, you need to tell the person who wants formals that the bride isn't interested in those and he or she needs to discuss it with the bride.

I guess I covered my bases then, because when the grooms mom approached me, I said I would be happy to do it, but that Holly (the bride) didn't really want to. She said, that's ok, we will convince her. But apparently she wasn't convinced. I know it is all said and done now, but I just am hoping I didn't screw up.

[cdifoto]

You did all you can do.

[Mike30D]

Like everyone has said, it's her day; she's the boss. You tell everyone else that the bride said no, and no means no.

I have this in my contract....

23. OUR POLICY ON “WHO’S THE BOSS?”
Captured Visions Photography has a policy on who’s the boss throughout the entire process of photographing your wedding: from the first meeting, to the engagement session, the entire wedding day, and throughout the process of ordering prints and/or albums, we will only follow the directions given by the bride and/or the groom. Even if the bride and groom are not the ones paying, they are in control.

[tim]

I personally would try to convince the bride to do the basic formal shots, I can probably get them done in 5 minutes with a little co-operation. You've covered your butt and done what your customer wanted, and made the family aware of the lack of formals at the time, so no problem.

[Zonieart]

Remember, your obligation is to satisfy the terms of the contract. As long as you meet these terms, then by all means, the bride and groom are in charge.

[CanonLaw]

Thanks for all the input. I did get the basic shots, with the bride and groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen and the immediate family. Plus the rest of the shots, im sure the bride and groom will be happy with.

[710 Studio]

That's exactly why meeting with the bride (and even the groom) before the wedding is of UTMOST importance! That way, you can work out a bit of a schedule of what kind of shots will be taken, when they will be taken, and with whom. That removes tention at the event and everything goes much smoother.

[tim]

That's exactly why meeting with the bride (and even the groom) before the wedding is of UTMOST importance! That way, you can work out a bit of a schedule of what kind of shots will be taken, when they will be taken, and with whom. That removes tention at the event and everything goes much smoother.

I don't have "a bit of a plan", I have a day plan that says exactly what will happen, where, when, and we talk about transport between locations. This is fairly key in making sure the day runs to plan. Sometimes things don't exactly match, but more often than not we're pretty close. I do this a month or so before the wedding, and people often change their timetables based on my recommendations. I offer to look over the couples day plan any time after they book me and make recommendations.

I work with a photographer who doesn't do this, he has huge troubles with not having enough time for things, and things running late.

[710 Studio]

I don't have "a bit of a plan", I have a day plan that says exactly what will happen, where, when, and we talk about transport between locations. This is fairly key in making sure the day runs to plan. Sometimes things don't exactly match, but more often than not we're pretty close. I do this a month or so before the wedding, and people often change their timetables based on my recommendations. I offer to look over the couples day plan any time after they book me and make recommendations.

I work with a photographer who doesn't do this, he has huge troubles with not having enough time for things, and things running late.

You need to take a breath and stop taking things so damn literal. "A bit of a plan" is like saying "a little bit pregnant". You either have one, or you don't.

[tim]

You need to take a breath and stop taking things so damn literal. "A bit of a plan" is like saying "a little bit pregnant". You either have one, or you don't.

Your post made the process sound quite informal and not well defined. This is a problem i've seen with a guy who shoots for me, he has some idea of times but nothing is fixed. It causes him problems.

You should probably try to avoid swearing at people who are trying to help as well.

[710 Studio]

Your post made the process sound quite informal and not well defined. This is a problem i've seen with a guy who shoots for me, he has some idea of times but nothing is fixed. It causes him problems.

You should probably try to avoid swearing at people who are trying to help as well.

My apologies. I didn't know you were trying to help (seriously). Reading your posts on other threads I've commented on, you seem to be on a rampage of seeing how sarcastic you can be without offering anything really concrete. That is a hot button, for me, and I don't take that quietly. When I plan for a shoot... I PLAN for a shoot. That's something I don't like to be questioned about. Sorry if I misunderstood your intention.

[elysium]

As it's the brides big day, it's up to her if she wants pics or not. As long as you got paid, just put it to bed and move on.
Pretty much sums it up. If the bride does not want something so be it. If they decide to argue or other family members want something different, just remeber that your contract is not owed to them.

[stathunter]

Pretty much sums it up. If the bride does not want something so be it. If they decide to argue or other family members want something different, just remeber that your contract is not owed to them.

I agree. Even though I would like to get different shots, if the bride does not want them....they do not get done. I always try to convince the bride to get things that I see and would like to shoot but when she decides otherwise---her decision is final.

Often family will want shots even if the bride does not want them--- I always direct the family to talk to the bride.

Lately I have run into several brides who complain because they have to smile for 10 mins of shots and complain saying it hurts to smile........ :(

[Gary_Evans]

Like everyone has said, it's her day; she's the boss. You tell everyone else that the bride said no, and no means no.

I have this in my contract....

23. OUR POLICY ON “WHO’S THE BOSS?”
Captured Visions Photography has a policy on who’s the boss throughout the entire process of photographing your wedding: from the first meeting, to the engagement session, the entire wedding day, and throughout the process of ordering prints and/or albums, we will only follow the directions given by the bride and/or the groom. Even if the bride and groom are not the ones paying, they are in control.


Although I agree with the contents of this, I cant belief that you need a minimum of 23 points in your contract. Is it bigger than the finished album?? :lol::lol::lol:

[tim]

My apologies. I didn't know you were trying to help (seriously). Reading your posts on other threads I've commented on, you seem to be on a rampage of seeing how sarcastic you can be without offering anything really concrete. That is a hot button, for me, and I don't take that quietly. When I plan for a shoot... I PLAN for a shoot. That's something I don't like to be questioned about. Sorry if I misunderstood your intention.

Depends what kind of mood i'm in, but of my 28K or so posts i'd say 75% were helpful or at least interesting. Reading the other 25% isn't a bad price to pay for people to get advice from a pro ;) :D

I think we agree then - planning is important. Sure the plan may go out the window if things run late at a wedding, but having a plan is a great starting point.

[710 Studio]

I think I've done a single session that was unplanned (it was a model photoshoot, not a wedding). This particular model *hated* structure and demanded to just "wing it".

It was a disaster. The phrase, "what now?" seemed to be the theme of the whole session.

From that point forward, I added a couple of steps to my path to the actual session. Those steps are "plan EVERYTHING" and to actually get a feel for the client's personality. That way, if plan "A" runs into a snag, you know your client well enough to be able to work around the kinks and get back on course to a good session.

Or, the short version of above: yes... planning is KEY.

Depends what kind of mood i'm in, but of my 28K or so posts i'd say 75% were helpful or at least interesting. Reading the other 25% isn't a bad price to pay for people to get advice from a pro ;) :D

I think we agree then - planning is important. Sure the plan may go out the window if things run late at a wedding, but having a plan is a great starting point.