What do you do when you get sick?

I have been wondering about this. Lets say you have a wedding booked and something happens... you get sick or whatever and really cant shoot it (knock on wood so it wont happen).

What do you do in a situation like that? Yes, refund the deposit of course, but you cant just jump out on a couple that is about to get married and needs you to take pictures. So what do you do?

That's why networking is so important. I have 3 close friends in the area that are wedding shooters. They're the first I would call - they'd drop everything to help me out (as I would for them). Then I have four more casual friends/colleagues that are wedding shooters - they get the next call. Finally, there's the local "emergency shooter" list on the DWF with about 50 wedding photogs in my area who are available to call in the event of an emergency.

My contract also states that in the event that I am not able to shoot the wedding, I am only liable to return the retainer. And my insurance covers me from errors, ommissions, and liabilities.

...but I'd have to have a broken leg to miss a wedding (knocking hard on wood).

I agree about the networking thing, always know people as a backup, and make sure its stated in your contract.

I've seen a wedding photographer on his death bed taking pictures. Apparently he couldn't find a backup. Good thing to consider though. I too have a few friends who could back me up if something happened.

I'm starting my own studio, I have another photographer working under me, he'd shoot if I was ill. Next I have a few friends who are wedding photographers who would help out, and access to a large local mailing list of people, one of whom would probably help out if I was really sick. Of course my contract states that all I have to do is return their retainer.

It's always a good idea to know other photogs in your area - as Jamie says, the concept of networking is very important. You never know when you'll need a backup, replacement, or possibly an assistant for that huge "dream" job with 1000 wedding guests on the private yacht . I've stood in for other photographers who required cardiac surgery, and have had others help me out.

I will also send referrals to my "networked buddies" when I get calls for dates that I've already booked. The other guys have also sent work MY way when they've gotten similar calls.

I've done jobs with the flu, corneal abrasions, and the common cold. The only job I actually bailed on was back in 1985 when I found myself so doubled over with abdominal pain 15 minutes prior to the ceremony, I had to leave the church. I returned the check to the shocked father of the bride, made my apologies and barely made it home. My wife took me to the emergency room where I was diagnosed with a kidney stone attack.

To make a long story short, the father of the bride was very understanding. He'd had kidney stones himself and was sympathetic.

This whole disaster fell under my contract's "Act of God" clause, but I felt it was still my responsibility to deliver some sort of finished product. First off I refunded every penny. Then we got hold of all the film that had been shot by family members and some close friends. All of this was printed at my expense in addition to what I'd shot in the two hours prior to arriving at the church. From these "proofs," they picked the album that had been originally stated in their contract.

Ultimately they received a completed album, which was a mix of my medium format shots as well as 35mm efforts of several people. Honestly, the album was not great. However it was a rememberance of the event, didn't cost them a dime and earned a lot of long term good will. And the best thing of all, there were no telephone calls from attorneys - Stu

the thing about basic netweorking is that other wedding photographers are likely to be working the same day as you


here in WA you can belong to WPJA that will automatically find someone for you for wahtever reason if you can't make it

Thats a great idea and all but I'm not to sure I would want another person shooting my wedding unles I really knew him/her.... I have only once ever missed a booked wedding from my company because I sub-contract with another local pro and we double booked the day by accident. I was able to get one of my friends (also a pro) to shoot it for me and he only asked for 100 bucks. I owe him one now!!

Like everyone has said though, networking is the way to go. To be honest, I've never met anyone in person on these boards but I would trust guys like Tim and Jamie to shoot a wedding for me anyday of the week. That's just because I've ssen the work, they are both stand-up guys and our styles are "somewhat" alike. It's just knowing people.

Developing friends in the industry always pays dividends in the end. Thery refer work to you and you can always call on them in your hour of need. Just be ready to do the same for them.

Training an assistant is good too. If you pass out on the day the assistant is at least there to capture something of the day.

Vomit, generally.

The smaller Lowepro bags are best for that - as long as they have a plastic liner .

Don't knock too hard, you'll need full range of motion from those phalanges this weekend!

Great question and good information.