I got a call yesterday from the MoG asking if I was available for a wedding this Saturday.....3 days notice. Amazing.
We're signing the contract Friday eve with the wedding taking place Saturday at 11am. I did have to move an e-session back a day (to Sunday) in order to accommodate the request. No big deal there...
Out of curiousity, what's the shortest amount of lead time you've had prior to shooting a wedding? Better yet, provided you have an open date, how much notice would you need before booking a wedding? If someone called you today, would you be able to shoot it tomorrow?
2 months is the shortest I'd do. If they can pay my rates I suppose I would show up tomorrow but we have a year long process that we feel leads to better work that we don't like to deviate from. I'd probably charge more for a next day service (right?) and I wouldn't refund out the engagement stuff thats included.
If I wasn't busy on a Saturday and they had the dough I would be all over it, as long as my batteries were charged!
haha
Ya If they have the money I dont care how short of notice!
Doug
Good business opportunities are sometimes created by other people screwing up and leaving people in a hole. You did the right thing, any good business person would certainly attempt to take the opportunity as long as payment to you is to your liking.
I got called to do a wedding that started in 45 min, it was 55 min drive there AND I was still out eating lunch with my kids ans didn't not have stuff with me. I made it on time ;-)
If it was an emergency like a photog did not show up, I could just throw my stuff in the bag and go.
Certainly with a days notice I would be all set to go. I like that kind of OMG stuff...
The more pressure and energy the better for me.
I was a news shooter years ago so I'm use to dealing with last minute pressure. No big deal. If I'm not busy, I'll drop whatever it is I'm doing and go shoot the wedding.
Think it was about 2 hours for a wedding. Just enough time to get dressed and get equipment from my studio.
Money is money. If I can get what I ask then why not.
For some non wedding events I have done them with no notice, being called driving home from my studio. Had the cameras and I keep everything charged and ready to go so why not take the business.
Not like I am doing something special to get ready for a wedding a week or two before. Just point out the bride and groom, mostly the groom since the bride is in the dress and I can figure out the rest as I go.
TRReichman wrote:
I'd probably charge more for a next day service (right?) and I wouldn't refund out the engagement stuff thats included.
- trr
If you value what you'd be doing otherwise MORE than the actual cash you'd make from the wedding, then I'd certainly charge a premium for short notice shoots.
I wouldn't charge more than my usual fee for a "next day" wedding if I were available. Chances are that they're already in a bind. I'm not going to do something that makes me look like I'm trying to take advantage of them and their situation. Just my opinion.
Inku Yo wrote:
I wouldn't charge more than my usual fee for a "next day" wedding if I were available. Chances are that they're already in a bind. I'm not going to do something that makes me look like I'm trying to take advantage of them and their situation. Just my opinion.
If I were a package system kind of guy I'm not sure I'd sell my lowest option. Just sayin'...
maxwell1295 wrote:
I got a call yesterday from the MoG asking if I was available for a wedding this Saturday.....3 days notice. Amazing.
We're signing the contract Friday eve with the wedding taking place Saturday at 11am. I did have to move an e-session back a day (to Sunday) in order to accommodate the request. No big deal there...
Out of curiousity, what's the shortest amount of lead time you've had prior to shooting a wedding? Better yet, provided you have an open date, how much notice would you need before booking a wedding? If someone called you today, would you be able to shoot it tomorrow?...Show more →
Well it's off season here, so if I had a last minute call like this I would totally do it.
The same thing happened to me just last week!
I was booked on Friday 3pm for a Saturday wedding.
The initial last minute inquiry did come on Thursday morning though.
