Wedding problem

So I did a wedding last weekend. It all starts with I got there at 2pm a half an hour early, bride arrives 2:45 late of course. Bride and bridesmaids were not ready until 3:00p we started formals as soon as all of the groomsmen and the groom were ready. I then took 47 formals of the bride, groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids and flower girl. At 4:30 I was told everyone had to go back to there separate rooms so I took a few more photos of the bride, bridesmaids in her room. After that the ceremony started and I took photos throughout the ceremony as was discussed with the bride. IE I took flash photography and did move around to make sure I got good shots. After the ceremony the bride did not do a receiving line like was planned and the whole wedding party went to one of the rooms to wait for the guests to leave. I was not aware this was going on and was in the church ceremony area waiting for them to come back to continue the formal photos. When they did finally return I took a total of 23 more formals before they decided they didn't want anymore they wanted to get down to their guest at the reception hall and they left. I left to go to the reception hall and ended up having bad directions and I got lost. I arrived to the reception 2.5hrs late because of this. But all I missed was the grand entrance and the toast. I finished the night got all of the rest of the photos needed then left to go home. Mind you I got lost again and didn't get home until 1am.
Now on to today I get a call from the bride’s mom. Who was never at our meeting and did not discuss anything with me before the wedding. She wanted compensation for the amount of time that I was lost saying that I should have gotten more formal photos, asking me why I refused to take formal photos with the grand parents, (I never did, the bride and groom said no to them) and she also stated that they wanted more photos at the reception site and the bride had told me if we had time we would snap a few photos there. The brides mom also had a problem that I was doing flash photography and moving around during the ceremony. She also had a problem with the fact that she had to find people to get them there for the formals. It was stated ahead of time that I do not search for people if I did we would have gotten even less shots. She also asked why I had the church turn the lights up. I did not ask for this it was actually so bright it is taking me more time because either the brides dress is too bright or the rest of the photo is super dark and the dress is perfect.
Now I offered her a reshoot on the missed photos she said there was no way they could rent tuxes again and that the bride had ripped her dress to there was no way.
Now here is were I am standing I could
A. give them their $700. back and they get no photos. (If I do a full refund I will not release any photos)
B. give them a dollar amount off from a wedding book.
C. Give them a percentage off the sheets.
Mind you I did still get I estimate 550 pictures total that turned out.
I am just not sure what to do. And I do usually confirm direction with someone but they all took off that fast.
Thanks for any input, Mary

What does it say in your contract? You do have a contract with these folks, I hope?

Yes I do have a contract but there is nothing stating a certain amount of picture od anything about getting lost. (I usually fallow seomone in the wedding party to make sure I do not get lost)

you didnt guarentee any specific shots or number of shots did you?

$700 for 550 shots sounds like a REAL bargain to me. Not sure why your even negotiating with the brides mom at this point. You should be dealing with the couple they made the arrangements.

They get what they get, you've done your job.

Wait a second. I can't help but chime in on this. They hired you to be there for the wedding and reception. I want to ask HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU GET LOST FOR 2.5 HRS on the way to the reception!!!!???? Do you own a cell phone? Couldn't you stop and ask directions!? I can't imagine what happened. However, that is all water under the bridge at this point.

Most of this, in my opinion, is your fault. You had a serious lack of communication throughout this entire event, before, during, while you were lost, and after! How much experience do you have photographing weddings? I apologize for getting on you about all of this, because I'm quite sure that you feel awful about the whole situation, but if I were you, I would be making some serious changes to the way I approach a wedding and communicate with the bride and groom.

Now, on to your question about reimbursement. Ask what you can do to rectify the situation? You will: A) Gladly refund ALL of their money but then you couldn't give them the photos. (I agree with that) B) Possibly print a nice album with the photos that you do have C) Give them a serious discount (or some amount complimentary) on any reprint orders that they will have. (This insures you get paid for the day and still throws them a bone because EVERYONE has photos that they want more of...)

I am assuming several things. 1. THe photos that you do have are absolutely amazing images that the bride will be happy with. 2. You have a decently reasonable bride and groom. 3. YOU apologize profusely for all that happened and take full responsibility for what happened. Keep us posted. This is an awful situation where no one wins...

I agree that you should be dealing with whoever signed the contract, not someone else who doesn't know what was originally agreed to. Whoever signed the contract is your client.

As for what to do, I would offer a partial refund of what was a greed to. The fact that the B&G didn't want formals is an issue they have to discuss with the MOB - not you. However, you getting lost and missing the entrance and toasts is on you and they should get something back for that.

Hope it all works out. good luck.

I too Agree unless the contract is with the Mother then thank her profusely for her help in getting people for the formals. then let her know gently that it is her daughter that requested you to do the photo's and it was by the request of the B&G that you didn't take some shots that were originally requested. I would say from your story that giving them a discount on the original contract is a very bad Idea. however if they are not satisfied then you could give full refund, with NO PICS. in the interest of good relations(if only for word of mouth advertising) it would be ok to offer her a discount on reprints.
Mothers are often a pain to work with even if you did everything exactly how the bride and groom wanted.

Invest in a Magellan. This may seem like odd advice but it has helped me in so many of my photographic efforts, I can't even begin to praise it enough.

1) Deal with the contract holder. Period. It doesn't sound like its the mom. Thank her for her input and buy a phone that blocks phone numbers.

2) Remember that anyone that unreasonable cannot be won over. Give away exactly what you must to ease your own conscience AND NOT A PENNY MORE!!!!. If she ain't happy, you will have to deal with that. Anyone that would listen to them regarding a referral is probably not the business you want. And if you give away the farm, THATS what she will tell her friends, not about the job you did.

You do owe them something. Getting lost going to the reception is no excuse, and is in fact unexcusable. The GPS is a good idea, but if I were you, I would drive to each location before hand. GPS can be wrong.

Raise your rates to compensate for the extra hassle.

On another thought, please, for the future, remember -- at a wedding, you are running the show. When you say jump, they'd better jump. If they aren't, then you aren't charging enough or taking charge enough.

Good luck!

WOW! I think your first problem started with how much you charged them. You need tohave more confidence and charge more if you are a good photog. 700$ is ridiculously cheap for that amount of time. That being said, no offense but I think that they shouldnt expect a 3000$ photo experience when they only paid 700$
That sucks you got lost, but it sound slike to me the MOb is just using any amunition to get a discount. I am sure others at then wedding got pictures with their cameras of the entrance and toast.
Anyways for sure talk to the B&G not the MOb. everyone on here had good advice!! Keep going and dont get taken advandtage of!

I would be seriously upset if I had a wedding photog arrive 2.5 HOURS after a reception started as well. In a lot of cases, that would be a LOT of missed things - toasts, dancing, etc.

How can you get lost for that long? I don't get it.

One thing I do before the wedding day is make damn sure I know where I'm going. If I haven't been there before - I will drive there. Obviously, if it's an hour or two away or something, then that's different. However, I would specifically communicate with the people that 1) I am not familiar with the area and 2) can someone please hang back and allow me to follow them so I am sure to get there.

Also - I usually do not want to arrive after the bride and groom as I like getting the shots of them pulling up, getting out of the limo/whatever, etc.

I would agree with the MOB that it is COMPLETELY unacceptable for you to be that late. Also, if you do not get why the MOB is contacting you and not the couple and wasn't at meetings....well welcome to the world of wedding photographers.

Has she seen the photos? If you missed formals because the bride/groom didn't want to take anymore or did not arrive when they needed to - that's not your fault. But missing those 2.5 hours is.

It still sounds like the price is a good deal, but they do deserve something for the mistake. I hope you will learn from this for future events.

deal with the contract signers and only them.
invest in a gps (about $100) and/or print hard copy maps to and from everywhere

your choices are fair enough.

on the theme of GPS/Directions, I think that for the future I will have to add a clause that states that I am not responsible if I get lost following their directions to location. and that they must have the directions printed with Google maps, and or someone assigned to show me where the location(s) are.

One time on they way to the wedding... I found out that they had given me the wrong name of the road. and I was 15-20 minutes late... fortunately they had not started and I was planning on being 30 min early. so it kinda cancelled out.

PiRho wrote in post #5666914
on the theme of GPS/Directions, I think that for the future I will have to add a clause that states that I am not responsible if I get lost following their directions to location. and that they must have the directions printed with Google maps, and or someone assigned to show me where the location(s) are.

One time on they way to the wedding... I found out that they had given me the wrong name of the road. and I was 15-20 minutes late... fortunately they had not started and I was planning on being 30 min early. so it kinda cancelled out.

I never thought that it would be their responsibility to give you directions. IMHO, It's a courtesy to the guests, but not something the vendors should expect - or rely on solely. even if they give you directions, it is your responsibility to verify them and get there on time - regardless of what they gave you.