How far in advance to book?

The Wife has started a photography business. She's focused mainly on family portraits, maternity and bridals for now, and plans to serve as a second shooter for a local established pro on a number of weddings this summer to gain experience in that field so that next year she can confidently fly solo.

A potential client has seen some her bridals and decided my wife is the photographer she absolutely has to have for her wedding. She wants to book, now, for April 2010. The fact that my wife has yet to shoot a wedding doesn't faze her. Which is a nice problem to have, I suppose.

Since this caught us off guard, we thought we'd ask the more experience folks here their opinions on our course of action. My initial instinct is to take the money first and worry about the details later. We're thinking a non-refundable, 25 percent retainer now to book our services, another 25 percent due 6 months prior to the wedding (non-refundable once paid) and the final 50 percent due before the wedding. Does this sound like a reasonable plan to you folks? Engagement and bridal packages are handled separately.

I find that I'm typically working with couples about 9 months in advance of their wedding, though it can be a year and it can be a week.

And your wife should be a little fearless as, hopefully, she will have sufficient experience before having to shoot this wedding.

The deposit schedule you described sounds very typical. It's my preference to have a more relaxed approach. This is a side business for me; I do about a dozen weddings a year. Since I'm not full-time and I have to worry about making my monthly nut if I have a late cancellation, I don't see a need to require much from the couple. My weddings are typically $1,000 - $2,000 and I require only a $200 deposit at the time of contract execution with the full balance due two weeks prior to the wedding. I have a real relaxed style about things, couples definitely pick up on this and like it, and my payment schedule simply reinforces it.

Peacefield said it, your plan sounds about right. I ask for 1/3 down, 1/3 due 60 days prior to the date, and the last 1/3 two weeks before the wedding. If they cancel after the final payment is made, there is no refund.

Whatever you do, make sure it's spelled out in your contract.