How long do you wait for the orders after a wedding?

How long do you wait? for the bride to pick out the images for her packages or book?

How do you motivate them to pick them...and what is a decent amount of time to wait?

Is there anything about this in your contract or is it a verbal statement?

I have a bride who has not picked out anything, Her wedding was mid September...is a month a long time to wait?

Put a clause in your contract which states that unless the client has fulfilled their end of the bargain (whatever that may be - choosing photos etc) by a certain time frame, you reserve the right to choose for them and produce the book sight unseen.

That will motivate them.

I have a clause in my contract that says if the album design isn't finalised within three months of the wedding I will choose the images, design the book, and have it produced without input from the customer. I've added this because some customers muck around for as long as you let them. I have a March wedding who still haven't approved their album, despite it being prepared as they requested reasonably soon after their wedding.

very good suggestions..

The way we have them pay also I think adds to this...we have balance to be paid 2 weeks after. I believe this couple is balking cuz of the money owed, another reason to change the way we do things.

Clause will be added and payments may go to all upfront, This is the only couple that has done this to us, I am going to call them in the morning and find out where we are.

Always collect the money up front.

And I like the album clause. Think I'll add that right now.

OK, the clause has been added and will most likely go into effect Dec. 15th when we change over our pricing.

Thanks Guys! and Liza

Rakefet wrote in post #4207651
I have a bride who has not picked out anything, Her wedding was mid September...is a month a long time to wait?

A month is certainly not a long time to wait.

I am getting married in January. We are going on a 3 week camping honeymoon, during which time we will be unable to be contacted. When we get back we both start work the next day.

So assuming the DVD with our photos on it arrives while we are away, we would only have had a week in your scenario to choose photos to commemorate the most important day of our lives. Not that long IMO.

months.. hmm..
well ive got several video clients who have taken over 18 months to provide their music choices for their dvd's so we start work on them..

Then to have them say that the song we chose reminds them of their ex lover or what have you.. sadly by taking the element of choice away from the client, the potential for "unhappiness" is widens

As a business however time is your enemy. Sadly nto all clients see it this way, and in turn, once tehyve fuddled around and finally decide, (be it pics or music or whatever... ) they expect you to jump and deliver immediately wthout considering the fact that you have waited for them.

With this, you will always be seen as "the bad guy/girl" more than likely because the client has convinced themselves and their friends and family that the delays are all your fault...

One of my associates who shota wdding with me (i was doign video) waited 2 yrs for a client to pick up their album. this same client took 2 years to provide their associated materials..
Dont ever doubt that this is a definite possibility...

Its been 3 months since my wedding and i havent picked out photos yet. Still working on getting some of the prints we ordered.