Asked to work with a Wedding Budget

I got a request to work with a wedding budget for a wedding that's less than a month away! They wanted to know what the cost of a particular package would be if they didn't need the E-session, which is included.

Since this is the first time I ever had this question asked, I'm just wondering how my co-horts here on the forum would handle this....would you deduct $50.....or tell them the package price is the same regardless if they use the E-session or not?. I guess I need to call the guy since I don't even know if there's any extensive travel involved..anything beyond a 25 mile radius I charge .53 cents a mile.

Wow, a month away? Did they have a photographer already booked and he backed out or something? Who waits until a month before their wedding to find a photographer? yikes. You didn't say what you are charging for this wedding, but if it were me, I don't think I would drop my price. I would probably give them something, a free print of their favorite photo, or something that doesn't cost you much, but has value to them. You ARE saving yourself a good 5-6 hours from not shooting an e-session, they will expect something.

Tough call. If it's actually saving you money and time that could be more productively spent elsewhere, it might be worth it to take the $50 loss. Although if they tell all of their friends "yeah, we were happy with the work he did, and if you don't want the engagement pictures he'll knock some cost off the package", you'll need to be prepared to offer it to others in the future.

suecassidy wrote in post #12037794
Wow, a month away? Did they have a photographer already booked and he backed out or something? Who waits until a month before their wedding to find a photographer? yikes. You didn't say what you are charging for this wedding, but if it were me, I don't think I would drop my price. I would probably give them something, a free print of their favorite photo, or something that doesn't cost you much, but has value to them. You ARE saving yourself a good 5-6 hours from not shooting an e-session, they will expect something.

They had a friend setup to do it (the friend's first), but they got cold feet. They want the 4 hr./$875 package (1 hr. e-session included)...so what I did was deduct the usual E-session 1 hr. fee of $125 from that...still, $750 for 4 hours is not bad considering it popped up on a day I had nothing scheduled anyway. I usually get at least one of these every year, I just never had anyone say they didn't want the engagement shoot.

This is the main reason I no longer include other sessions in with my wedding packages. Now my wedding packages are set so if they don't want a second photography they pick Package A. If they want a second photographer but no albums or prints they pick Package B. If they want all the bells and whistles they can pick Package C or D. Make sense? It makes your packages work for all needs and budgets.

Now to answer your question- do you want to shoot this wedding? If so, knock off the $50 and book the wedding. If you don't want to do the wedding, tell them you can't do that and risk losing it.

Sometimes with weddings that book up to 6 mos out, I get a couple that doesn't want an e-session and they ask if I can deduct for that. I kindly explain that it's a complimentary session so there really is nothing to deduct.
The main reason I do them anyways is that I get to know the couple a little better and they're always going to purchase something from the session (disc, prints, save the dates, etc). If they really press me on it, I tell them they'll have a voucher for a complimentary session with us (for a family shoot) after the wedding that they can use. That way I still will have a sale from it!

I always thought it was in the photographers best interests to do a 'engagement shoot' so that the three (B&G&Shooter) have a chance to work and get to know each other before the event. Encouraged more to get better images of the wedding than make a few extra bucks for the time effort.

As usual, I must be out in left field?

mbloof wrote in post #12041645
I always thought it was in the photographers best interests to do a 'engagement shoot' so that the three (B&G&Shooter) have a chance to work and get to know each other before the event. Encouraged more to get better images of the wedding than make a few extra bucks for the time effort.

As usual, I must be out in left field?

Sure, and if the bride and groom want that, they'll pay for it.

In my case I rarely do weddings where I can even meet the bride and groom ahead of time. I shoot mostly destination weddings and weddings in Minnesota and California (I'm in Arizona).

mbloof wrote in post #12041645
I always thought it was in the photographers best interests to do a 'engagement shoot' so that the three (B&G&Shooter) have a chance to work and get to know each other before the event. Encouraged more to get better images of the wedding than make a few extra bucks for the time effort.

As usual, I must be out in left field?

Oh absolutely it's good for all 3 to work together, it helps you get to know them and it reflects in their wedding images. BUT, I still have to make a living. I'm not in it to "make a few extra bucks", I'm running a business. Can't give everything away.