First all-Asian wedding - a complete disaster!

subbed. Interesting insight into what seems to be a very stressful sitution.

nicksan wrote in post #12785506
Not when you are trying to use that as a bargaining chip. You had a choice. You made that choice. You live with that choice. You can't blame the client after the fact. At least I wouldn't bring it up.

Yes, I made that choice. I was well prepared to live with that choice. The other party dropped the ball, I'm now less confident about the 2nd half of that choice.
It sounds more like I should lay down and let them dictate further what the terms of their deal is.

But really, I can't blame the client for missing on the payment date he chose? I suppose I can look at it as I always knew this could happen, and I let it happen, so it's all my fault. Never again will I let someone handle their own finances on their wedding day (lesson learned)

The first excuse was "the money is in the car, my sister left with it because she wasn't feeling good". Except they weren't in his car a single time that day. His car was left in his dad's driveway the night before as the keys were mis-placed - a fact that was mentionned by the groom to a groomsmen well into the evening. No one would believe they left money/wallet/purse/wha​tever in there w/o a concern this long

The 2nd excuse was I thought he/she was taking care of it. The only reason you would think the other one is taking care of it would be because you didn't spend the day together - I have a hard time they would be this far apart on the day after long enough to have that kind of 'communication breakdown'

All I see are 2 BS excuses - are they plausible? sure. But I smell BS. I anticipate a "it's in the mail" at some point...

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #12785522
My own wedding is fast approaching, and fully 1/3rd of the guests will be Viet Namese,.. I'll warn the Photogs to wear shin guards..

steel-toed shoes and a very bright vest wouldn't hurt either

umphotography wrote in post #12785555
Michel
PS- i didnt want to say it but someone beat me to it. Asains love their photos. Hate to stereotype but its so true. Go to any tourist trap and look who has all the cameras

There are cameras/phones with cameras at every wedding.
There's always a relative who has a new DSLR and can't wait to play with it
There's alsways another relative with a new video camera, and he wants to play with it
And for the most part, I encourage guests to bring their cameras/toys to the wedding. Guests are a huge part of the wedding. And there's always guests coming from far away that rarely get to see each other. So yeah, by all means have fun, get your pictures in, show off your new toys, etc... and the majority are mindful of the pros...
if the guests are having fun, my pictures will show it... unfortunately I have more shots of guests backsides than I do of B&G frontside....

But in this case, if you were a guest, and didn't have a camera, you were a minority. And in the age group 5 and under. In some cases, husband and wife were standing side by side, holding their cameras (1 each) trying to get around the obstruction that is another guest with a camera
I counted no less than 10 DSLRs - all Canon - 8 Rebels and a 40D and 50D. No external flash, and lenses varried between 18-55, 50 1.8, 17-85, 55-250.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #12785522
... snip...

completely off-topic.... but am I the only one that hears Paul Sr's voice when reading CyberDyneSystems' posts on this forum?

I swear each and everyone of his posts I read, I hear Sr talking...

SMP_Homer wrote in post #12785627
Yes, I made that choice. I was well prepared to live with that choice. The other party dropped the ball, I'm now less confident about the 2nd half of that choice.
It sounds more like I should lay down and let them dictate further what the terms of their deal is.

But really, I can't blame the client for missing on the payment date he chose? I suppose I can look at it as I always knew this could happen, and I let it happen, so it's all my fault. Never again will I let someone handle their own finances on their wedding day (lesson learned)

The first excuse was "the money is in the car, my sister left with it because she wasn't feeling good". Except they weren't in his car a single time that day. His car was left in his dad's driveway the night before as the keys were mis-placed - a fact that was mentionned by the groom to a groomsmen well into the evening. No one would believe they left money/wallet/purse/wha​tever in there w/o a concern this long

The 2nd excuse was I thought he/she was taking care of it. The only reason you would think the other one is taking care of it would be because you didn't spend the day together - I have a hard time they would be this far apart on the day after long enough to have that kind of 'communication breakdown'

All I see are 2 BS excuses - are they plausible? sure. But I smell BS. I anticipate a "it's in the mail" at some point...

Yeah, I get all that, and it sucks big time, but you have to be as diplomatic as possible because you need to get paid for the job you did and the hell you went through. Passing blame on the client won't get you there. What's done is done, so it's time to do some damage control right?

Sh*t happens. It always does. You just have to manage it that's all.

SMP_Homer wrote in post #12785745
completely off-topic.... but am I the only one that hears Paul Sr's voice when reading CyberDyneSystems' posts on this forum?

I swear each and everyone of his posts I read, I hear Sr talking...

Well, you know you started up a good thread when CDS chimes in.

SMP_Homer wrote in post #12785745
completely off-topic.... but am I the only one that hears Paul Sr's voice when reading CyberDyneSystems' posts on this forum?

I swear each and everyone of his posts I read, I hear Sr talking...

This is in fact the intended response.. works like a charm most of the time!

subscribed

SMP_Homer wrote in post #12782496
I did no complain about where to eat - my complaint was more why not eat at the same time as everyone else, as I'm not planning on shooting people eating. I could care less about where I'm eating, and it was a lot quieter and nicer to be separated from everyone for those 15 minutes...

Actually, our contract states that we are to be fed, and in the same room. Weddings vary, and should something important happen or should the B&G need me for something, I want to be close.

IMHO, while it sounds like an awful wedding and you were treated poorly, it happens. Obviously, there was a lack of respect on both ends. As for payment being late, chill. They did just get married. Most people leave for their honeymoon the next morning. Send an email, keep in contact, and don't delete the pictures. That all just screams lawsuit. Plus, if they are even half-decent images, wouldn't you want them for your portfolio? I can't imagine deleting an entire wedding. That hurts my heart.

Im sorry to hear about the situation OP, I cant imagine how frustrating that day must have been. I definitely would've left when the dad yelled "photoman". Asians as a collective can be a difficult group to deal with.

Bheims wrote in post #12787610
Im sorry to hear about the situation OP, I cant imagine how frustrating that day must have been. I definitely would've left when the dad yelled "photoman". Asians as a collective can be a difficult group to deal with.

Honestly, as an Asian myself, I don't know how to react to that.

Grow some balls. People yell "Hey, Photographer!" to me all the time, which really isn't any different than "Photoman". Doesn't upset me one bit. You would have left had he called you that? Seriously? Again...grow some balls man.

Bheims wrote in post #12787610
Im sorry to hear about the situation OP, I cant imagine how frustrating that day must have been. I definitely would've left when the dad yelled "photoman". Asians as a collective can be a difficult group to deal with.

Your kidding right You would have left a contracted job because you were called 'photoman"? and you get sued because you did not fufill your contract !!! OH BOY!!!!

"Asians as a collective can be a difficult group to deal with"

REALLY ? I think people as a collective can be difficult to deal with *L*

Honestly, from the the title of this thread, to the OP's "White men getting trampled" comment, I knew where this was headed. Typical really...and quite silly. Please, let's leave all that crap out of it.

nicksan wrote in post #12787656
Honestly, from the the title of this thread, to the OP's "White men getting trampled" comment, I knew where this was headed. Typical really...and quite silly. Please, let's leave all that crap out of it.

I kind of saw it headed in the same direction.