Contracts?

[Lelasmama05]

Did you use a contract with your first wedding shoot? I'm doing a friend of a friends wedding in two weeks and unfortunately they still havn't even paid me for the engagement pics yet. They are struggling for money and I told them they could pay when they could, but their family is paying for the wedding pics so I want to ask them for half in advance. I still have some things I need to buy and can't come out of pocket for them. How can I nicely get them to sign a contract and get them to pay me the half? Also what kind of contracts do you guys use and what are the most important points to include? Thank you in advance for your help.

[cchooks]

You are kind of behind in the process. I have found in my experience that no good deed goes unpunished. The worst treatment I have ever received are at the hands of those I was doing something for. You of course want to state WHO are the contracting parties, and all those parties need to sign. WHAT are you contracting for.... For X amount, you are getting xxx exact package, hours of your time. xxxx. WHEN will this work be done. xxxxx location 1, location 2, from what time to what time xxxxxx. You should spell this out so that even the simpliest person would have no trouble following it. Don't forget to protect yourself in areas where you feel she may be lacking, as in non payment, and limit your liability to money paid in the event of non deliverable product, like lab, or equipement malfunction. This is to protect yourself against brides saying you ruined the most important day of their lives and you have to pay for their therepy....etc. Hope that helps

Dave

[Lelasmama05]

Thank you. Yes I am pretty behind. She just asked me a little less than a month ago and asked me the day before to do her engagement photos and oh by the way I need them the next day. So it's all been very rushed. Her previous photographer backed out on her and I was a "last resort" kinda thing. I am the person who always gets screwed over so I am trying to cover my butt as much as I can. Any other suggestions as far as first weddings go and the kind of things you do before hand to get ready?

[caught14]

You are letting yourself get the short end of the stick here. If I were you, I would do one of two things - Either treat it like a commissioned gig and insist on terms via a contract or just do it for free.

Option 1 - Act like a Pro and you'll get treated like one
1) Draft a contract as soon as possible. It should spell out in no uncertain terms the services and payment terms. Let them know that you will need payment/retainer right away or else you will not be able to commit to photographing the wedding. Be polite, but unyielding about this. If they don't have the courtesy to respect this, then don't do it.

Option 2 - Do it for free
2) Since this is for a friend, tell them you'll do it for free. Hear me out. For one thing, since it is your first wedding, they are essentially letting you practice without having any prior experience. And since they aren't paying you, there's less at stake in case you don't get it right. Lastly, since it's for a friend, you run the risk of jeopardizing the friendship over $$. You could also tell them that this is your gift for their wedding.

[tim]

http://www.photographerstoolkit.com/ - buy their contract

[Valjoy]

I would definately advise you to get a contract......
good luck cheers Val

[PMCphotography]

Even if it's for a friend, you still should have a contract.

[tombramwell]

Have a quick look at these links:-

http://www.4weddings.org/Wedding_Terms.htm
http://www.victoriafawkes.co.uk/tac.pdf

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=70073

[cdifoto]

I'd just make do with whatever stuff I had and do it for free as a quasi-photographer quasi-guest. Your "fee" would be enjoying the day with her. Neither of you really knows what you're getting yourselves into so a contract that legally binds you to perform could be dangerous.

Just have an understanding. Something like, "honey I love you dearly and I'll do what I can with the stuff I have but I don't promise a damned thing and once dinner starts I'm getting drunk."

[caught14]

I will second Tim's recommendation for the link to the contract. That's where I got mine and it is terrific.

[Lelasmama05]

Well she's not technically my friend. She is my friends friend. I will look at the contracts and see what I can do. She still hasn't filled out the paper that tells me all the times for everything so I have no idea what the schedule is or where I'm supposed to be at what time or anything! The wedding is on sunday! I have the flu and bronchitis right now and I'm already feeling really overwhelmed and behind. I'm not sure if I like the wedding photography business. I stress out way too easily.

[cdifoto]

Screwit then. Don't even do it. Sunday's an odd day for a wedding. Is it at a resort or something? At resorts they happen every day of the week.

[Lelasmama05]

That's what my fiance is saying :-/ he only wants me to do it if they give me the $200 from their engagement shoot, and $400 for the deposit. I know that's not going to happen but I don't want them to not have a photographer for their wedding?!

[cdifoto]

That's what my fiance is saying :-/ he only wants me to do it if they give me the $200 from their engagement shoot, and $400 for the deposit. I know that's not going to happen but I don't want them to not have a photographer for their wedding?!
That's a sweet philosophy and all but you'll stress yourself to no end if you do weddings for free even if they agreed to pay you but don't.

It's up to them to secure a photographer. It's not up to you to make sure they have one.

[tim]

For your first it's a bit more difficult. Turn up, shoot the wedding, and then hand over the images once they pay the agreed sum. From now on tell people they're booked only once they pay your retainer and complete the contract - which should have their details, wedding and reception details, and price and package details.

[Lelasmama05]

Yea, I guess you live and you learn. So now the mom (who I guess is supposed to be paying for the photography) is saying she won't pay a dime over $500. So now I'm going to tell her that $500 is going to be fine... but I won't provide the videographer, I'm not buying any of the extra equipement that I needed to get, and I'm not sure whether I'll be providing the second shooter the whole time like I'd said before.

[Svetlana]

I can completely understand where you're coming from...Wish all the clients were easy to deal with, eh? :)

Get the money from mom, do not do the video as it's extra pain for you. Are you paying the 2nd shooter? If not, I'd still bring him and it'll make things easier for you.

[Lelasmama05]

No the second shooter is my fiance. He's going to come and help me anyway but when I need a break I'm not going to worry about him not taking pictures at the same time.