Bride/Groom won't pay....

But, just for fun, draw a moustache on the bride...

Steve

Excellent!

The wedding photographer we hired showed us a wedding album he had prepared but never been paid for. I knew the couple who had sitffed him!

Without saying it directly, he made the main point of his presentation very well: I do good work and I expect to get paid for it!

How is he not professional?

Being professional isn't about being nice. It's about making profits.

What bridge is he going to burn? I'd imagine the referral from that couple would stiff him the same way.

Don't waste your time publishing in the newspaper because it can stirr up trouble you don't want. The amount of money is not worth the hassle and since you have their photos, you still have future sale. Make sure you document everything. Their future kids or grandchildren may be interested in buying them.
As for payment, I agree to several posts that you should had gotten payment before you started. I recently done a wedding and was already paid in full. The couple is so busy that several month's past and they still did not pickup the photos. Every wedding and situations is different. A written contract will certainly help.

Btw, also to add, don't keep calling because that can be a form or harassment and it's a waste of time. Clearly, they are ignoring you or maybe the sitter don't want to pass over the message. First, send a registered mail and if no response, then hire a lawyer that deals with small cases (usually prices are reasonable), get them to write a certified letter to them with an invoice. This way it is a legal communication to them and if they still don't respond by a specified date, then you can proceed to small claims court, etc. Let the lawyer go after them, that's what some of their jobs do and people usually pay more attention to a letter sent from a lawyer or court. Let collections go after them while you sit at home waiting for the paycheque or your time better spent at the beach...

Money up front for the days shooting.

Money up front for any prints or albums they select.

It is the ONLY way to do this.

AGreed. Calling them SIX TIMES IN ONE DAY. Calling EVERY DAY.

Does he not realize how desperate and/or psychotic this makes him look. Just imagine how this looks to a third person.

Also, with all the effort he is contemplating putting into getting your money back or either "shaming" them, he will end up spending more than four hundred dollars worth of effort and time as well as put himself at risk for a legal or reputational backlash.

Moreover, I have not shot a single wedding as well as only been photographing for two months but already knew that it was industry standard to be paid in full before the wedding day as well as recall many threads where people asked and got links to contracts they could use/adapt for themselves.

Wonder if he asked for help about payment terms and contracts.

He should halk it up to experience and your portfolio and marketing. If for $400 bucks it's worth the effort and risk to reputation to go after them, than he ought to do it in a professional, nondesperate or coercive manner.

Also, 600 bucks, how in the world was he suppose to make money in the first place, when he is paying for the prints and layout, etc.

I agree with the professional approach. Everything is great in hindsight, but don't waste any more time and money on them. Send that registered letter stating your position, maybe even get a local solicitor/attorney to draft it. Have a date for response on it. Once that passes, move straight to small claims court. I would imagine that although you only have a verbal agreement, the circumstantial evidence that you were the photographer and that you were not paid even the typical market rate would make a compelling case. Even if it wasn't settled the way you'd want, you would have made life a little more difficult for them as well as for you. Additionally, this stops the possibility of you being accused of harrassment, and it may reduce the likelihood of any potential slander. Give them every chance to reasonably make repararation, then go full force for the prosecution. Don't mess about.

Don't put an ad in the newspaper or you most likely will find yourself in court, as the defendant rather than the plaintiff.

Send them a certified or registered letter, return receipt requested, which I am sure they will not sign for so it will be returned to you, stamped REFUSED.

Quit calling them 6 times a day, that is defined as harrassment by the Fair Debt Collection Act and you could be liable for a judgement in civil court. That would be $500 minimum.

My advice, walk away. If you still have the photos hang on to them and maybe someday they will call asking about them. If they do, the price is $800 CASH, no checks, no previewing, no buy now pay later deals. Cash on the barrelhead, nothing else.

Keep that wedding album in a prominate place in your home where you will see it often and the next time you have someone call you about doing a wedding, look at the album before you go. Have a written contract which stipulates, dates, times, payment, delivery of product. Sign it, have them sign it and each party gets a copy.

Consider this all a cheap lesson in WP business and be thankful they didn't stiff you for $2000.

Most verbal agreements (with a few exceptions) are legal (i.e. enforcible) but there are two potential problems: without something in writing it is your word against theirs and (2) collection may be hard even if you get a judgment.

So, in the future always have a written agreement spelling out your responsibilities, their responsibilities, what money is due, when, what penalities will attach (interest) if payment is not timely and, of course, never do anything without first having a deposit that will at least cover your expenses. Otherwise, you are simply financing a part of their wedding. You can't do that and stay in business. If they balk at paying a reasonable deposit invite them to go elsewhere. If they won't pay a deposit imagine how willing they may be to pay the rest of your fee. You don't want customers like that.

You could try small claims court but first check to see how much the filing fee is. It could approach or exceed $100.00. If it does, you will have to decide whether it is worth your time, trouble and additional, out of pocket expense to file a case. You would probably be awarded the filing fee as costs in the judgment but again, that is only helpful if you can collect.

Good luck.

Bruce

Everyone need to calm down, I'm not going to do anything to deface them. I never said I was going to.

And to all the non-professional comments, gimme a break. You make a joke on the "serious business interweb" and all of a sudden all the haters come out to play...simmer down and get a life...it is the internet afterall.

I called them back on Friday, Groom answered and apologized to me for about 30 minutes. Saying he should have called, they have problems with their phone, mortages, land deeds, water bills, phone bills...etc...

They say they are paying this week sometime...I will update soon.

It was never really about the money...it was the whole principal behind it.

Good for you!

I'm starting to wonder how long the marriage is gonna last... Bill problems since the very beginning...

Get Cash, my friend, get cash !

Cash for sure...