Bride from four years ago.

I am in sort of a dilema sp? I photographed a wedding 4 years ago for alot cheaper that I do now which includes a album. For the first two years I pretty much hounded the bride to order her prints for the album but she never did, so I more or less thought of her off and on and thought she was stupid for not doing the print order. WELL, today her mother left a message on my phone wanted to know how to go ahead to order the album.
My problem is albums are more expensive today than 4 years ago and I feel I should increase the price but I had nothing in the contract about ordering in a timely manner so I don't know how to go about telling her there is a price increase.
What would you do??

Well, If it has been 4 years since you photographed this wedding, i would hope that she would understand that the price has gone up. I mean 4 years?

Unfortunately I have nothing in the contract stating price change if a certain amount of time goes by. I just got off the phone with her (mother) and she asked me what my problem was that her daughter has not received her album. I told her politely that I called her daughter for two years and when she came in town after one year we went over the options of albums and she never got back to me. When I mentioned a possible increase in price she went balistic, I never have imagine that reaction and blaming me for her daughter not ordering the prints for her album. I asked her then did she want me to pick out the prints to the album and she abruptly told me to call her daughter long distance and of course she did not pick up the phone.

I am kinda ticked right now.

hmmm... totally understand your position, but not having anything in the contract basically puts you in an uncomfortable position, I would leave her a voicemail / message stating she had 2 weeks to order her album (that is if you still have all her portraits on file some where, I know 4 years ago I was still shooting with film) and then I would issue an album that is at a level lower then I prev. would have handed off.... ADD a clause to your contract stating that they have a limited time to order the book or you will make the choices of which prints.
As for the mom - if she contacts you again I would be polite and let her know the ball is now in her daughters court.... GOOD LUCK!

find a cheaper album supplier - problem solved. Don't even say anything about it.

Give then a deadline to get the album photos picked out so you can get it done and if she can't pull it together in that time just refund the album portion of the contract and be done with the headache.

Your right Blondine, not in the contract so I will have to endure the cost, fortuantely I have the CD's granted they have not been in the computer for four years so hopefully there will be no problems there, I just came across them a couple of days ago and thought hmm she never ordered her album.

As for her mother....boy I can't believe she reacted that way blaming me for the album not being done. Its funny because my last visit with the daughter was when I printed out tons of info about a new album company and explained to her in detail how to start the ordering process. That was three years ago.

Lesson learned.

You have every ethical right to charge more after four years, typical inflation is what, 3% a year? There are certain things that are understood in any contract and I couldn't imagine a judge not ruling in your favor. Four years is ludicrous.

I agree with MHawk, with inflation rates and especially a four year gap between shooting and ordering, she should be thankful you even still have the images.

If it were me I would refuse to speak to the mother. She isnt the client. I would call the daughter and leave a message stating politely that if she would like to fallow up, SHE should call you. Dont answer the mother's call. But I would also be looking out for a cheeper option for the album. As long as you have not promised a specific album supplier there are other options. I have used MPix for those on a budget. Its not what I do for most bridal consultants but its fine for those who just want something simple and inexpensive. But I am sure there are many others too

Not sure where you usually get your books, but MyPublisher is very good quality books, and they're cheap. If you a costco member, they're even cheaper as they give you a discount for being a member.

I use them all of the time for Sports team photo books that they want done good and cheap. The real difference between these guys and Asuka (for example) is options in size and the outside of the book (leather, etc). If Asuka is a 10, these guys are a 9.6 at 40% of the price.

You have every right to the current market price for your goods. There is no court in our country that will hold you to your price 4 years ago. Also, do not deal with the Mother. And if you have to deal with the Mother consider her a new client with an even higher price.

Were you increasing your price for the first 2 years that you said you hounded her? has the price gone up signifacntly in the last 2 years?

I would just tell her that prices have gone up since then and charge her the difference in YOUR cost and be done with them. I would also make sure to add a clause in your contract that after a specified number of time (6 months or so) that all prices are subject to change.