Retainer?

I did a search but couldnt find a quick answer. What percentage of your package cost do you hold as the retainer?

50%

Half now, half later. It's also non-refundable.

Many seem to go with 30%, though. Don't know why. I'd understand if some people were uncomfortable with 50%, but I figure if you're gonna pay me anyway, why not give me half now?

I do 40% up front, another 40% 30 days prior and the final 20% due upon delivery of the proofs/CD

50% up front, non-refundable, 50% four weeks before the event.

Don't shoot weddings much, but i usually do 25% to hold the date, the rest a week before the event. If i shot more of them, and had any trouble with cancellations, i would probably change it.

Rob

25%, 50% one month before wedding, 25% one month after or on album ordering. If there's no album in the package then it's 75% one month before the wedding.

50% up front, no matter how large the package.

50% a week before wedding.

picturecrazy wrote in post #4103597
50% up front, no matter how large the package.

50% a week before wedding.

+1 here

But I'm toying with the idea of doing a 30%/40%/30% package for weddings booked more than 6 months out. I know how hard it can be to come up with 50% up front when you're sitting in the midrange pricing bracket, and when you have a year until the wedding, it seems a bit harsh to insist on half right now. (Yes, I know, I'm running a business, I need to get over it. )

Doing 50% upfront & 50% one week out really simplifies payment tracking though.....

50% to book, 50% 2 weeks before.

Ours is £200 deposit ($400) to book the date and then the remainder 2 weeks before the wedding, never really thought about doing it as a % of the package price, most photographers I have seen in the UK look to take a set deposit rather than a %

I say a month before as sometimes people are a bit late paying, and I don't want them worrying about payment the week of their wedding. Some people pay the whole lot before their wedding.

25% up front to book, 75% day of wedding.

tim wrote in post #4104308
I say a month before as sometimes people are a bit late paying, and I don't want them worrying about payment the week of their wedding. Some people pay the whole lot before their wedding.

I give clients the option to pay the remainder before the wedding. Most choose to pay on the day

25% retainer, 75% four weeks prior to the wedding date.
Mike

This is interesting, I find it odd that people will pay for services completely before any work is done. Given a recent post regarding a photog not providing the product in a timely fashion, I bet she wished there was some with-hold. To pay for the physical pictures ordered prior to the event even occurring sounds a little off. My philosophy is to pay for my time before and the product after. I do 75% prior ( in two installments, 1 the hold date and 1 prior to day) and 25% upon giving client pictures. I think clients actually prefer this as it seperates services rendered(time) and product rendered(pictures).