The crappy wedding business

[joshschaefer]

So heres some BG on my last two months.

I've been working for the local papers as a photographer. I've not run into one person that does not like my work. I secured two weddings for this month; One on the 13th and one on the 27th. This afternoon, i get a call from my mom telling me that the wedding on the 13th, she doesn't need me because her family member was going to shoot it with his point and shoot. (Great, do these people not realize the quality that they're getting?)

Now heres problem #1, this bride does not even have the guts to call me and tell me that shes cancelling my services.
Problem #2. That was the wedding for this weekend.

On to the evening. I'm sitting at home, going through photos for the paper, and I get a facebook message from the second bride. "My uncles going to shoot my wedding with his camera so we don't need you." (Once again, do these people not realize the quality that they're getting?)

Problem #3. I've already booked the time off of work and can't get that back. (Loss of even more money)
Problem #4. Once again, not even calling me to tell me but has to rely on Facebook.

So, basically what it comes down to is that this was one of the worst days in my photography career.

But, if I learned one thing today, that is, sign a contract stating 1/2 now, non-refundable, and 1/2 when you get the disc.

From now on, that's how I'll work.

I'm sure you all have had the same experiences....

[tim]

I've not had that experience, i've only had two cancellations, both were because the wedding was cancelled. The brides mothers called both times, and both times when asked I pointed out the clause in the contract that said "retainers are non-refundable". Mine's 25%, though I might change it to a flat fee some time.

Professional wedding photographers get a retainer and have a contract to help guard against these possibilities. I bet you will too in future!

See if you can get the time back you took off, if not relax and enjoy it! Oh and that's not such a bad day, think of all the good things you have in your life and all the sick and dying people and you should feel lucky to have a job you love that makes you a few dollars.

[Dennis_Hammer]

The chances of being cancelled short notice is huge when you don't get a non-refundable deposit. No deposit=no commitment. No commitment means they keep looking if even casually and leave themselves open to relatives saying they would do it. To be honest that 'my relative will do it' is usually crap, they found someone either cheaper or more experinced or even (and this may ouch) more professional. To have no contract or require no deposit at the very least looks ametuerish to most, just like a very low price makes people nervous. Get a contract make them sign and collect a deposit that will not be returned unless you fill the date with another wedding.

[adam8080]

That is the name. I get a deposit or I will keep trying to book that date until I get a deposit from someone. I also get 100% of the payment before the wedding. Protect your best interests first.

[TTk]

I charge 50% deposit at time of booking and only give the deposit's back for two reasons, 1- If they or one of them die, 2- If they cancel more than 6 weeks before the wedding day, I know it sounds hard but thats life and only two canceled in 16 years and all payments are cash/chq 50% booking and balance on or before the wedding day in cash..

[Gamb]

I wouldn't take it personally. Sounds like you need a contract and deposit though. I think folks start out wanting so much for their wedding that they don't realize how much it all costs. When you run out of money you start cutting costs

[ssim]

This business is exactly what you make it. It can be somewhat unforgiving at time making you think that it is crappy but I love it. I did weddings on the side for over 20 years and full time for the past 3 and have had about 4 cancellations, all back in my film days. All but one were because the couple decided that they didn't want to be life partners and the wedding was canceled. The other one didn't give me a reason and quite frankly it didn't really matter in the end as I was protected by deposit and contract. I'm not going say anymore about contracts as it has been pretty well covered above.

Human nature is an odd beast and they can get even odder when they are in the midst of planning a wedding. One of the more discretionary items in planning that day is the photographer. Sometimes budgets just get stretched too far. If they decide that uncle Harvey can take the wedding with his camera that is for them to decide and don't let that eat at you too much. I have seen some weddings done with a point and shoot and all in all they weren't all bad. You could tell the person took his time shooting them. Certainly they didn't compete with what you could do with a higher end DSLR but it all depends on what they want in the end. If they just want an online gallery to share with people it will probably suffice for now though I have a feeling that they will regret it later in life assuming they stay together.

This industry is full of experiences that teach you something. We all have had things happen to us that have made us change the way we may do certain things. No doubt it stinks that they canceled your services for those days and you are out some money. I would bet that you won't let it happen to you again.

[OdiN1701]

50% deposit, non refundable.

Most aren't going not cancel after doing that.

I will refund if someone cancels and I end up booking something else for the time.

[riyazi]

Not implying anything here, but just to be prudent I would call the 1st bride to check / confirm if she really doesn't want you for the 13th.

When she says no, it gives you a nice opening to ask why you were not informed and that you had cancelled other appointments / work to schedule for it. :)

And yes ... one of the things I hate most is when people don't let you know their changed plans but look at it from her side ... she might be running around quite busy organising the wedding so it might have slipped from her mind.

[adam8080]

I will refund if someone cancels and I end up booking something else for the time.

That is what I do also. Seems fair for me and for them.

[Tixeon]

Professional wedding photographers get a retainer and have a contract to help guard against these possibilities. I bet you will too in future!


One word of caution here..... Try to refrain from using the word "Deposit" in your contract. In court, Deposits are (almost always) refundable. Instead, do as Tim suggested above & use the term "Retainer" which is (in court or otherwise) not refundable.

Before retirement, my Agreement Form required the final payment (Retainer) no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This weeds out the indecisive ones.

[Aaagogo]

this subject has been covered countless number of times in the forum.

if you did not include a retainer in your contract, it says that you have not made use of this forum that has so much resources for anyone that's just starting out to be a "pro"

I'm not saying this to offend you, but rather, a heads up that posts like these are kinda a moo point.

[Kristy]

Deposit, Deposit, Deposit......

On a side note... you could offer post processing services on the point and shoot images and charge enough to re-coup your costs... although it most-likely will be an editing nightmare.....

But they will need somone to process and create an album... there's still an opportunity if you are up for the challenge....

Just a thought.

[Kiddo]

One word of caution here..... Try to refrain from using the word "Deposit" in your contract. In court, Deposits are (almost always) refundable. Instead, do as Tim suggested above & use the term "Retainer" which is (in court or otherwise) not refundable.

Before retirement, my Agreement Form required the final payment (Retainer) no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. This weeds out the indecisive ones.

Thank you for pointing that out!!

[Halliday]

50% deposit, non refundable.

Most aren't going not cancel after doing that.

I will refund if someone cancels and I end up booking something else for the time.
Me too exactly.

[tim]

When she says no, it gives you a nice opening to ask why you were not informed and that you had cancelled other appointments / work to schedule for it.

How would that help?

[riyazi]

How would that help?

Gives you confirmation that she actually doesnt want your services - avoids misunderstanding later on .... besides it would make her feel bad that she didnt call you earlier to cancel :)

[tim]

Gives you confirmation that she actually doesnt want your services - avoids misunderstanding later on .... besides it would make her feel bad that she didnt call you earlier to cancel :)

Calling to confirm is ok, but rubbing it in is childish, not professional.

[stathunter]

I agree with the rest here. My clients pay a 50% (non-refundable) retainer fee to contract me and the balance of the fee is paid prior 4 weeks prior to the wedding. I have never had anyone cancel - I did have a groom pass away suddenly in a car accident just weeks before his wedding- I refunded everything in that case.

The key here is to treat this as a business FIRST. You always get a contract for services in business - hand shakes do not work anymore. Get the business aspect secured and the photography second.

The better you are at business the more successful of a photographer you will be.

[Lunajen]

I would defintely call to confirm their cancellation. And don't worry about it. :)

[pyterps]

I see a lot of deposits, call it a retainer as deposits are refundable. I require 50 percent down and the remaining 4 weeks prior to the wedding to allow for checks to clear. If they order prints or an album later that is paid in full prior to any work on my part.

Also make sure you have a signed contract. No matter where you get the contract from make sure it has been looked at by a lawyer in your state.

Dave

[Pinto]

Just a side note. I would recommend a certified letter to the bride confirming her cancellation of your contract. (Remember, verbal commitments are legally binding contracts.)

You need to completely cover yourself. Some people can be very conniving and self-serving. And people as flaky as this bride could be very unhappy with the P&S results, and looking for someone to blame for their poor decision, decide to sue you for not showing up to shoot the wedding.

I would guess that you are relativity new to business, and quite frankly you should consider this situation a blessing. You are learning relatively inexpensively about contracts and protecting yourself and your business. This brush with no written contract and a difficult client could have been a thousand times worse.

[DigitalSoCal]

Verbal agreements, while they may be binding, are next to impossible to defend in court, where it matters the most.