p.2 #1 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
Cathy Yount wrote:
Letenele,
Before you meet with her, please have a number of photos that you are willing to do for free (but I am not suggesting doing this for free). If she sees one and you give it to her for free, she's going to expect the same for all 54 photos and you'll be at a huge loss. I would either give her a max number of photos you'd do, or charge per photo. This could open a huge can of worms.
p.2 #2 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
If you had stayed the full time and 30 minutes before you left you had reminded her that you still did not have pictures of (insert list of people not crossed off her photo list) and given her a chance to round them up this would probably not have been a problem.
In the first place agreeing to shoot 54 different people shots was not realistic.
Having agree to it she needed to know that she or one of her helpers was responsible for making sure all those people were lined up and ready to go.
You should be able to shoot all the people shots in 20-30 minutes max, you will seldom have more time than that without running into other scheduled activities.
Don't even consider photoshopping people in to pictures.
I agree receiving lines are the work of the devil.
The stage was set for an unhappy client...I hope you can come up with a way to make her happy.
here's one before/after. Inserted bride's brothers into the picture. Their faces don't match exactly but it's close enough, and if she doesn't like that, then B&W it is!
This is a really good job! I'm sure The Bridezilla will be pleased.
p.2 #5 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
letenele wrote:
$2800... does it matter?
Yes. I was curious as to the correlation between certain financial groups and expected output from a photographer - in my experience, the bigger pricepoint booked from the couple, the more likely they are to just let us 'do our thing' for the photography then not.
p.2 #7 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
ksmahgrts wrote:
because in legal terms, who is "I"? the parties need to be clearly defined.
I can see how it makes sense in a legal context, even though it seems rather obvious to me that "I" or "we" constitutes the party who draws up the contract.
But what's the reason for doing so on your own website? Not only does it sound distant and impersonal, it often seems a bit pompous to me when I read that "John has 30 years of practical experience" when it's glaringly obvious that it was the same John who wrote that purported third party bio.
p.2 #10 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
List of 54 formals is a family portrait session at 2 minutes per set almost 2 hours.
PS for free = bonkers. The breach lies with the zilla. Receiving line = 1 upto hour lost coverage.
Once you send one ps job it becomes an admission of guilt/failure on your part.
Keep all communications to email or snail mail, no texting for a resolution, state the T&C of contract
You didn't create the problem why is it up to you to resolve it?
It's impossible to keep everyone happy however much you try.
Some people are just not happy even when there getting married.
Be as picky about clients as they are about you/us, regardless of economics
I have the selective hearing line in contract for just this type
p.2 #11 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
MONEY BACK:
So sorry that you're going through this. In terms of her wanting money back for you leaving early, could you instead offer a certain amount of prints at no additional cost? For example, if your "hourly average" is $ 280/h, offer her that value in prints. You won't de-value your package but she'll still be getting something in return.
PHOTO LIST:
We usually assign someone from each side of the family to help wrangle guests for the extended family photos. It doesn't solve every problem, but it does help us get people together.
On a personal note, this thread has been SUPER helpful! We shot a wedding this weekend with tons of extended family photo requests. By the time we got to the bride/groom shots the bride gave us one (1) minute to shoot. (Not kidding). She wanted to get to the reception. (Did I mention that the light was GORGEOUS?!)
When we tried to pull her away from the reception closer to sunset (as we agreed to before the wedding), we asked for 10 minutes to shoot and she said there was NO way she'd leave the party for that long. She gave us 5 minutes. I think we managed to get a few shots of the couple, but now I regret giving her so many extended family shots. I'll totally cap the request from now on.
p.2 #13 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
If the photoshop photos are of said bride, it's probably in your best interest to take them down. Asking about a tough situation is one thing, but identifying her in photos is another. The general public can read this forum... and a posting like this could potentially wreak havoc for you.
If you think she's difficult now, wait until she reads your posting about her, complete with photos.
Yikes.
Also, I make it a point to NEVER leave early, even if they say it's OK to go home. I'm contracted until a certain point, and I do not leave until that point. This way, you've fulfilled your contract to the letter, and there's no room for this sort of back and forth stuff afterward.
Another poster mentioned asking her in the last 40 mins to round up those said folks and get those requested shots. It's in your best interest to be proactive and assertive at weddings. Make every effort to fulfill the bride and groom's requests. I understand that we are limited by time constraints, but you have to make a complete effort to get all that they ask for - even if it means reminding them a few times.
Good luck resolving this! Let us know how you work things out, and chalk it up to new lesson learned.
p.2 #14 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
Good luck! I had a similar situation this weekend - we did formals before the wedding because of the 350+ receiving line. Bride said we should do bridesmaids/groomsmens shots after the wedding as originally planned. Groom gets massive migraine, and they decided against a large mixed bridesmaid/groomsman photo. I suggested at least 5 times (as was witnessed by everyone in the room), so I'm off the hook as far as responsibility. But man, I wish we had gotten those shots! I will add that we did get the bridesmaids and groomsman separately - but it was strange to not have that time with them as we had planned. Bride & mom were in agreement that weddings never go as planned and some shots would be missed, so I'm 99% sure this won't be a problem. But still...
p.2 #15 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
I had a similiar issue with a bride (cheap wedding). Luckily, it was only two groups missed, and the photochopping turned out reasonably well. I don't think I'll do that again, though, without charging. It was a pain.
p.2 #16 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
MichelleL wrote:
It's in your best interest to be proactive and assertive at weddings.
Absolutely. I'd extend that to the consultation, where the problem started.
As photographers, we know the drill. Brides usually have no idea about the flow of the wedding day. It's our job, if for no other reason than CYA, to inform them of the realities of the situation. When she presented the list, doing the math with her as was done in this thread might have been an eye opener.
In situations like this, once I laid out the reality of the situation, I took a positive, pro-active approach. I'd ask "Now, how can we make this work?". They've got to give up something, let them do the decision making. If it's family reunion type photos she was after, I'm wondering if a number of them could have been done at the rehearsal dinner. Folks are usually duded up for it anyway. If you don't normally cover the rehearsal dinner, I would have seen it as an opportunity for increased sales.
Having the bride present a list of 54 photos would have already set off the control freak alarm bells.
Because of some things you did, she's got you by the,,, er, she's got you in a weak bargaining position. Face time is of upmost importance.
BTW, your PS was very good. If it's not printed too big, it should be acceptable. Darn Hollywood and their CGI. Now people expect miracles.
p.2 #17 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
The problem started when they failed to hide after the wedding. The guests saw them and boom, receiving line was formed. They didn't expect to have it, but once it started, it went on for 45 minutes. In the process all the folks that were supposed to be in the pictures went on to reception instead of sticking around and waiting for formals. We wasted a lot of time waiting for people to be rounded up (had three helpers + my assistant) but before we could do it all of course it was time for reception. Ugh.
p.2 #18 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
sometimes it pays to be a big girl. and i don't mean a grown-up. i mean a BIG girl
i definitely will swoop my big butt in as soon as the B/G hit the back door/end of aisle and shepherd them to a side room. it always helps if there's a coordinator that you can station at the door to say "oh sorry great aunt matilda, suzieq just has to freshen her makeup. cocktails are that-a-way!"
p.2 #19 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
jeremy_clay wrote:
Yes. I was curious as to the correlation between certain financial groups and expected output from a photographer - in my experience, the bigger pricepoint booked from the couple, the more likely they are to just let us 'do our thing' for the photography then not.
p.2 #20 · Upset bride wants pictures that were never taken
Um.... I'm still stumped on the "we left 40 min before the contracted time was up"
On another note... I had a bride hand me a list of 30 people she wanted pictures with. I told her that I needed someone that knew all these people and to have them ready when taking the family shots. Worked out great.
