Professional photog's - what do you do when you are ill on the wedding day? I imagine most will say if i can still walk and hold a conversation, pop some cold and flue and turn up. But what do you do in the worst case and you can not work the wedding day?
nearly had this happen this feburary. I slept 17 hours before wedding day to "shake it off" and was able to show up and perform.. I paid for it the several days following in recovery... but I didn't miss a wedding.
I belong to a group of women wedding photographers ~ we have an emergency contact list that I keep in my camera bag if ever a situation should arise. I know of two situations this past season where calls were made to find someone to cover when one photog's husband passed away unexpectedly and another one when the photog had swine flu.
Really, it is a great feeling to know I carry that list with me just in case.
Start calling the local photogs to you and see if they'd like to do something similar.
ClareinME wrote:
I belong to a group of women wedding photographers ~ we have an emergency contact list that I keep in my camera bag if ever a situation should arise. I know of two situations this past season where calls were made to find someone to cover when one photog's husband passed away unexpectedly and another one when the photog had swine flu.
Really, it is a great feeling to know I carry that list with me just in case.
Start calling the local photogs to you and see if they'd like to do something similar.
This sounds like a plan. Out of interest, does the group of photog's you belong to do referals i.e if someone gets a enq and they are booked up that day they will forward it around the group?
The photographers in my area are a pretty close group, I can think of 4 or 5 offhand that I could/would call in this absolute worst case scenario. This is just one of the many excellent reasons for networking/fellowshipping with your fellow photographer friends in your community.
my situation is similar to clare's - build yourself an excellent network and make people close to you aware in the event that you're somehow incapacitated. (hubby has the link to the online group and phone #s for trusted colleagues)
we have a terrific wedding photographer's guild here in boston which serves as a professional and social network. it's a great way to promote education events/workshops as well as pass on referrals to folks you trust.
BOUNCINGNRG wrote:
This sounds like a plan. Out of interest, does the group of photog's you belong to do referals i.e if someone gets a enq and they are booked up that day they will forward it around the group?
Yes absolutely~ I have 3 or 4 that I can refer to and who do the same for me who share a smiliar style as well as price range with me.
ClareinME wrote:
I'm in Maine~ must be that New England Love!!!
so true
and to the OP, a word of advice in building your network - be sure that you are very familiar with both the style of photography AND business practices of anyone you refer work to, as it ultimately reflects back on you and your business.
I am sick right now, and my wife has a 102 fever. We worked through it yesterday and will work through it all day tomorrow and the day after that. One of the shortfalls.
Granted, life sucks hard right now and I haven't had a positive thought in my head for I don't know how long, but you take the good with the terrible.
this is why you want to have a network with local photogs that you know can handle the job and take care of your clients in case of an emergency. have those contacts in your cell phone in case the unthinkable happens.
My wife officially has H1N1 and we have a wedding Saturday. Being an entrepreneur is awesome 100% of the time...
Probably couldn't find another photographer that could keep up with what we have contracted. Better to just do it ourselves regarding of the discomfort.
TRReichman wrote:
My wife officially has H1N1 and we have a wedding Saturday. Being an entrepreneur is awesome 100% of the time...
Probably couldn't find another photographer that could keep up with what we have contracted. Better to just do it ourselves regarding of the discomfort.
- trr
I totally understand the sentiments. But I have one question: do you worry about passing that on to some of the guests? How do you deal with that?
I don't think I could work if I had the stomach "flu" and was throwing up constantly. other than that, I could make it through. But sometimes I wonder if that's wise
TRReichman wrote:
My wife officially has H1N1 and we have a wedding Saturday. Being an entrepreneur is awesome 100% of the time...
Probably couldn't find another photographer that could keep up with what we have contracted. Better to just do it ourselves regarding of the discomfort.
- trr
I am sorry but I just don't think it is right knowing how dangerous the flu is to people in certain populations, ie. the young and pregnant woman why you would purposely send your wife into a situation where she could be getting people sick Find another photographer in your area who you think can keep up with you, I am sure the bride and certainly all the guests would understand and thank you for it!
um can some toronto togs PM me their contact numbers just in case something like this happens. just reading about it got me scurred. the H1N1 thing isn't all hype anymore from the looks of it. -__-;; i know the FM peeps would gladly take a gig if i wasn't able to make one.
I just recovered from the H1N1...not good news if you have it..I was out for 7 days with consistent temperature in the 102 to 103 range. Definitely try to stay indoors if you can. And...it is definitely more dangerous for older people, pregnant women...you don't want the unborn to be affected due to complications. It also spreads pretty quickly. Take care everyone.
It helps to 2nd shoot for other togs in town. Builds a referral network, and you each get a sense for the other's work style and personality 'on the job', making a referral easier.
Find another photographer in your area who you think can keep up with you, I am sure the bride and certainly all the guests would understand and thank you for it!