I'm probably inviting a bit of flaming here but what the hell, I need to vent.
I hired a 2nd to shoot a wedding last July. She had a good portfolio and references to boot. However, after closing in on a month since the wedding I'm in possession no images. She claimed to have mailed the images on discs. Images never show up after a week (local mail - should take 3 days). I email back saying that and requested to meet up instead. No answer. It's been 3 weeks & voicemails, emails, and even FB messages still go unanswered. In the meantime you post your own images for client proofing, and hoping and praying that the person you hired is simply on vacation...
I'm freaking out. Should I give her some more time? What you guys think?
What does your second-shooter contract say about delivery and remedies?
Not flaming, just asking: why didn't you give her cards on site and collect them on site?
Do you know where she lives? Have you dropped by with a laptop to copy the files over? I'd do that, and be prepared to wait for a while in case she's not home when you arrive (unannounced, I'm sure, since she's not answering any communications). This sort of thing can be as simple as her being either 1) embarrassed because the images she took didn't turn out as well as she hoped, or 2) lazy about sending them. In either case, you taking the time to go retrieve them could at least get the images into your hands.
If you are not going to get files on the day of, which of course you should, then don't pay her till you have files in hand, that would be an incentive to get her to cooperate. Hopefully next time around you know you need to transfer files before you are done working on the day of the wedding.
I would start telling her references as well. This kind of thing could really put an end to her career as a second.
And never ever pay until you have the images. Spend the money on additional cards so the second just gives the cards back at the end of the day.
RJKphoto wrote:
I would start telling her references as well. This kind of thing could really put an end to her career as a second.
And never ever pay until you have the images. Spend the money on additional cards so the second just gives the cards back at the end of the day.
Reason number 867 why I don't use a second.
your reason 867......sorry but that is dumb. seriously.
instead ...
1) as a primary ...get a card reader and download all images by end of night.
2) bring laptop and down load images to computer and/or portable hard drive.
Ziffl3 wrote:
your reason 867......sorry but that is dumb. seriously.
instead ...
1) as a primary ...get a card reader and download all images by end of night.
2) bring laptop and down load images to computer and/or portable hard drive.
As a second I wouldn't. Who's to say the reverse wouldn't happen and you take forever to get me back $100s in cards. Plus if your second is busy doing multiple weddings in a short time frame how does that play out?
I agree with what others have said, pay at end of night after a full download, or pay when you get the images delivered to you.
SGallant wrote:
As a second I wouldn't. Who's to say the reverse wouldn't happen and you take forever to get me back $100s in cards. Plus if your second is busy doing multiple weddings in a short time frame how does that play out?
I agree with what others have said, pay at end of night after a full download, or pay when you get the images delivered to you.
Been doing it for years and no one has complained. I tell everyone, not just seconds, you should have enough cards to shoot 3-4 or more weddings without having to format.
Personally, I don't have time to be sitting around and waiting for a card dump at the end of the night. It's time for me to go home.
Not only that, I have a reputation to uphold, not only with my clients, but with fellow photographers.
I take the cards and mail them back with a check.
I like this.
As a second I wouldn't.
Yeah, it does put the risk squarely on the shoulders of the second, rather than just eliminating the risk.
I give cards to my second, collect them at the end of the day, and pay the second when I collect the cards. I upload RAW files to my site that night so the second can batch download the images he shot the next day. There's still some risk on both sides, but it's a lot lower.
And Mitch has a good plan: where possible, work with seconds you trust.
Anyway, I'd like to hear from the OP about his contract with the second, and whether he can visit to retrieve the files in person. It's way too soon for anyone to start trying to ruin this person's career.
Inku Yo wrote:
Been doing it for years and no one has complained. I tell everyone, not just seconds, you should have enough cards to shoot 3-4 or more weddings without having to format.
Personally, I don't have time to be sitting around and waiting for a card dump at the end of the night. It's time for me to go home.
Not only that, I have a reputation to uphold, not only with my clients, but with fellow photographers.
Fair enough. For me I have enough cards two shoot two redundant weddings.
Inku, you take people's cards and mail them back? That so would not fly with me. Why don't you just buy CF cards for 2nd to use and then you can take them at end of night and pay.
I think I have like 12 cards...