Wedding deposit. What percentage?

I normally won't book gigs without a 50% deposit. I may have landed a 10+ hour wedding in August that will require myself and another photographer. If I'm quoting $2500, is 50% too much to ask as a booking deposit?

I take a flat $500 retainer (about a third of my most common package) for all of my packages and feel like that is enough of an investment as to ensure that my clients treat it seriously (I've never had someone back out).

That said, what do clients pay to secure a venue, generally ? Probably more than that.

Aressem wrote in post #16095069
I normally won't book gigs without a 50% deposit. I may have landed a 10+ hour wedding in August that will require myself and another photographer. If I'm quoting $2500, is 50% too much to ask as a booking deposit?

The usual practice here seems to be 1/3 to book the date, 1/3 on the wedding day and 1/3 upon image delivery

The one wedding photographer I know requires 50% retainer and the rest 2 weeks before the wedding.

I ask for a 1/3 retainer up front then the remaining 2/3 at least a week before the wedding date. It's important to use the word 'retainer' and not the word 'deposit' since a deposit is something a client could perceive as being refundable.

PhotoMatte wrote in post #16096229
I ask for a 1/3 retainer up front then the remaining 2/3 at least a week before the wedding date. It's important to use the word 'retainer' and not the word 'deposit' since a deposit is something a client could perceive as being refundable.

Good call, thanks!

30% retainer in order to secure the date and lock in the price. The rest is due 2 weeks prior to the wedding day.

I ask for 33% at the time of booking irregardless of how expensive it is. This part is non-refundable according to my contract though I have refunded for extra-ordinary circumstances. I ask that 85% of the total bill be paid at least two weeks prior to the date and the final amount is due when I provide them with the agreed deliverables. I personally feel that the customer should not have to pay the full bill until I have proven that I can deliver. The sooner I deliver the sooner I get the balance of the money.

There really isn't any sort of standard on what the booking percentage should be. Some people use a flat fee while others use a percentage. It's really a personal choice you should make while putting your business together.

$800 and the balance due by two weeks before the wedding.

My rule now is if I haven't been paid by the wedding day I don't shoot the wedding.

50% non-refundable deposit to secure the booking of the date and to hold the price, with the balance due 8 weeks prior to the ceremony date (clearly stated in their contract). I used to take a smaller deposit and the balance 2 weeks before the ceremony until a couple cancelled a month before the wedding as a friend was now doing it for free (sound familiar to anyone?) which meant a loss of revenue for my business (where are you going to get another job at such short notice to make up the shortfall?) Even taking off the cost of books etc. that you no longer need it's still a loss of revenue due to something which is not your fault. I usually arrange a pre-wedding shoot to coincide with the due date of the balance, which ensures that in the last few (most stressful) weeks before the wedding I am the one thing they don't need to stress about: Pay the photographer? Done - stress about something else! How are we going to get on posing in front of the camera? Fine, cos we've already had our first professional shoot and learned a few key poses - stress about something else!
As others have already said, taking a larger deposit means that people usually take you more seriously, although I will sometime take a smaller deposit when the booking is a while away - I have a few 2016 bookings which I agreed to take a reduced deposit as a) the couple have longer to save up and often choose more upgrade options to their books etc. because of this, b) even if they're a wee bit late in paying it's still sorted well before the big day and c) they're no longer looking at other photographers cos they've booked theirs - everyone's happy

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16098089
$800 and the balance due by two weeks before the wedding.

My rule now is if I haven't been paid by the wedding day I don't shoot the wedding.

Same except we take a $500.00 initial deposit. I did one wedding last season where the groom lost his job 4 weeks before the date. He called and asked if he could make payments due to circumstances. I agreed. Its been 13 months and he has sent me 2 payments...No images are given to client until its paid in full. So ive got about $1000.00 on a $2500.00 contract and client has no images.

so for us and because of what we have heard from others...agree.. payment must be in full before we take gear out of car. I didnt know what else to do for this client and felt i was doing the right thing....feel like i got burnt.

150% with the photographer mailing a cheque for the difference to an address in Lagos?

Excellent advice everyone. I like the 30% retainer up front suggestion with the rest paid 2 weeks prior to the wedding date. Do any of you have examples of contracts?

35% down payment to book the date
Balance due 30 days before the wedding.

Due 30 days gives you some time if they forget to send it on time without having to beg on the wedding day.

I'm thinking it might be a good idea to collect a post dated check (dated for 2 weeks prior to the wedding) at the same time as the retaining fee.