A photographer friend in a pinch

A photographer friend of mine was asked to recommend a photographer for a wedding; he recommended a local flake, because he shoots 2nd camera for her and makes a couple of hundred dollars.
Flake photographer took a large deposit from the bride and groom and spent it. Friend gets a call yesterday that the flake won't be able to make the shoot because of a back problem and wants my friend to shoot it for her.
Asks for advice and wants me to shoot 2nd camera. I refuse, there is no way I'm getting involved in this mess. I advise him to tell the flake to refund their money (which she doesn't have any longer), and to suggest a couple of other photographers who can shoot the wedding.

Do people usually refund deposits if they can't deliver the service that was being paid for?

I think your answer will come if you think about it this way: if your friend handed you a lighted stick of dynamite and asked you to hold it, what would you say?

This has law suit written all over it. I would stay far, far away from it.

Where are you located and when is the wedding?

The deposit most definitely has to be returned if the photog can't make it.

Gonna follow this one.

...so the flake told your friend to shoot the wedding instead?

I wouldn't touch the thing with a ten foot pole.

So having a back problem makes her a flake? I almost had to cancel two weddings because I had emergency surgery just 2 and 3 weeks before them. Does that make me a flake, too?

PeaceFire wrote in post #12613640
So having a back problem makes her a flake? I almost had to cancel two weddings because I had emergency surgery just 2 and 3 weeks before them. Does that make me a flake, too?

I mean would you have refunded the money or turned to another photog and said "Here you do this…" I feel the tension in the rhetoric is well-deserved.

Glueeater wrote in post #12613837
I mean would you have refunded the money or turned to another photog and said "Here you do this…" I feel the tension in the rhetoric is well-deserved.

Agreed. From what the OP described this doesn't sound like the first time something like this has transpired...

TheBurningCrown wrote in post #12613878
Agreed. From what the OP described this doesn't sound like the first time something like this has transpired...

It's not the first time.

PeaceFire wrote in post #12613640
So having a back problem makes her a flake? I almost had to cancel two weddings because I had emergency surgery just 2 and 3 weeks before them. Does that make me a flake, too?

I'm sorry, but where in my post did I'm imply you are a flake? Jeezus.

What peacefire means is that medical problems can happen to anyone and that alone does not mean the photog is a flake. I would consider it responsible for her to try and find the couple a photographer if she was not able to shoot.
I missed it, was the photog a flake before this job and your friend recommended her anyway? Is your friend the one "in a pinch" with the couple?
There must be more to the story.
Yes, if you cannot complete the contract you must return the deposit.

zagiace wrote in post #12615239
What peacefire means is that medical problems can happen to anyone and that alone does not mean the photog is a flake. I would consider it responsible for her to try and find the couple a photographer if she was not able to shoot.
I missed it, was the photog a flake before this job and your friend recommended her anyway? Is your friend the one "in a pinch" with the couple?
There must be more to the story.
Yes, if you cannot complete the contract you must return the deposit.

This. I think we're missing out on some key details here. If the wedding is tomorrow and the original flaked, then yes, the deposit should be returned and yes, this guy might be a flake.

If the wedding is in three months and this is happening, then kudos to the so-called flake for at least trying to get someone to cover the wedding, and with enough time to be able to refund the deposit if he can't find someone.

Our contract specifically states that we will try to find a replacement should something happen, but that a full refund will be issued if we cannot shoot the wedding, and it also states that a deposit will not be refunded if the COUPLE cancels, but not if we cancel. We guarantee 100% back.

Same here,

If I was to become ill, I would let them know ASAP and explain I am trying to find them another photographer that fits there style, Failure to find another photographer will to take on the contract, then I will issue a full refund.