Had a young (21ish) couple book me about 6 months ago. After much stuffing around (about 2 months worth) they paid the deposit, signed the contract etc. Never to be heard from again really. Got a few calls from her and she changed her venue about 3 times!
My mate was to be DJ for her until she changed the date to a Sunday (Sunday is family day for me, so I dont shoot Sunday's). Have emailed her a bunch of times (only contact I have for her) and no reply. Wedding is next weekend. Just assuming there is no longer a wedding. I require the $ 2 weeks before the wedding date and havent heard from her!
Haven't had this happen, but you've done all you can. I'd try contacting any of the other vendors to see if it is still a go. However, as long as your contract has you covered, don't sweat it too much. For me, there would still be a little bit of "what if" though.
Seriously though. I would have no idea how to react to that. Wow. Hmmm. I am at a loss for what the heck to think... if that was me. Never had that happened, though I haven't been at it long.
I think i'm on board with the "NEW SHOES" idea.. offered up by gyl.
nah... I really like what sidewa388 said. this sounds like an appropiate plan of action.. at least you can consider the deposit your fee for showing up on site ready to shoot if they full remaining payment is given on the spot !
HAHA no new shoes (I am sponsored by a shoe company so no need to pay for them
I only have an email address for her and she never sent me back the itinerary so I have no idea where the wedding is! I would say very much there isnt a wedding anymore. I do recall her MIL paying for the deposit.
If that is the case the guy is a lucky man... she was a fruit cake!
Does your mate the DJ have any more info? Phone number? Venue? The venue might know. Too much hassle for you but you should at least try to contact her via other means than just email. For all she knows your email is ending up in her spam folder. Not your fault but at least you'll know you tried.
And how come you have no phone number for your client? That's the first thing to ask for.
panos.v wrote:
Does your mate the DJ have any more info? Phone number? Venue? The venue might know. Too much hassle for you but you should at least try to contact her via other means than just email. For all she knows your email is ending up in her spam folder. Not your fault but at least you'll know you tried.
And how come you have no phone number for your client? That's the first thing to ask for.
Long story short. Was all done via email or in person (once) gave her the sheet to fill out with details on it... never got it back. Lesson learnt on that regard.
How bizarre...I guess she'd be a lot more careful if it wasn't her mom paying the deposit.
They signed the contract and haven't kept their side of the deal so...well just prepare yourself and what you will say for when you get the call from the mom on a Sunday afternoon asking "where the **** are you, we start in ten minutes".
sidewa388 wrote:
Check, cash or cc?
Cash all the way baby. This bride let me know every time she farted, so best guess is there is no longer a wedding. Dont even know the time of the wedding so a few hundred to stalk where I think the wedding is, isnt worth it! Obviously if she wanted to get in contact with me, she would have by now!
Going to be awesome if she calls me during the week, my prices have gone up a great deal since she booked me.
I kinda dont want to call, because if they want their $ back I dont want to go through the whole hassle of saying no. But will inquire with the last known reception place.
panos.v wrote:
Clearly they have more money than sense! Or have so much money they don't even care about it.
Trust me when I say they dont have more money than sense. These people were bogans! I got an email from her once and she said they are postponing the wedding because their dog was very ill. I love animals, but this was weird behaviour.
They wanted me to pencil the date in. I dont pencil. I use a pen when I see the $$ in my bank account!
I think I will start a new thread on this thought. I charged much less than I do now and consider myself a good photographer. Charge peanuts, get monkeys! And lots of them I did (Yoda)
If I was in your spot, when they wanted to change the date to a day I do not work or am already booked then they are considered to have canceled their contract and the retainer became damages based on the contract they signed. We have very specific language that allows for a retainer refund and basically it has to be a death of either the B or G, military deployment or a hurricane hit the day of the wedding.
388 said. this sounds like an appropiate plan of action.. at least you can consider the deposit your fee for showing up on site ready to shoot if they full remaining payment is given on the spot !
That's the first thing to ask for.