In case anyone is worried (or judging me ) the wife broke here fever and the official word is that she should be in the clear and non-contagious before the wedding day.

Does anyone have a problem finding people you can trust? Also, with finding another person to replace you does anyone worry about brand value? After all, my clients paid extra to have our team instead of someone else - I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the idea that any other photographer could replace us and what that would say about our valuation.

- trr

TRReichman wrote:
In case anyone is worried (or judging me ) the wife broke here fever and the official word is that she should be in the clear and non-contagious before the wedding day.

Does anyone have a problem finding people you can trust? Also, with finding another person to replace you does anyone worry about brand value? After all, my clients paid extra to have our team instead of someone else - I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the idea that any other photographer could replace us and what that would say about our valuation.

- trr

it's really tough to replace yourself the day of the wedding because not only do you have a style of shooting, but a particular way of interacting with clients. That's nearly impossible to replicate.

On the other hand, if I'm literally incapacitated the day of a wedding (car accident, throwing up, etc.), it's better to have someone there who can at least take good shots. I have a few photographers in the area who I would be happy to have in my place - just because they do really great work. Nothing like my work, but really great work nonetheless.

TRReichman wrote:
In case anyone is worried (or judging me ) the wife broke here fever and the official word is that she should be in the clear and non-contagious before the wedding day.

- trr

Definitely wasn't judging you~ and very glad your wife is feeling better!

As for getting someone to cover~ life is life! Things happen~ people get sick, people get in car wrecks, it is unfortunate but true. All the women I refer to I have assisted me before at weddings, I have assisted them. I trust them and they trust me. I feel better knowing that if something did happen at least I can provide the coverage instead of nothing. You are right it wouldn't be me, but it would be a professional who shares a similar style and delivers a final product like I do.

I think this is a great idea! I belong to SWPP so i'm going to find a few SWPP photog's in my area and see if we can work together for referas and to cover each other if ill.

For you that already work with in these sorts of networks how do you sort out money with your clients and the other photogs if you fall ill. Do you as the booked photog collect the money from the B&G and then pay the fill in photog or do you refund the deposit paid and the other photog sorts out payment?

What folks I associate with have come up with is we would essentially give the other photog a shoot and burn fee~ they would turn over all files to the hired photog and they would still do all edits, albums and what not. Money doesn't seem to be an issue, because the attitude seems to be what goes around comes around. Some day down the road the photog who filled in may need a fill in for themselves!

Suck it up is the only option.... if I'm breathing, I'm there. Even if I was too sick to shoot, I would still make an appearance with my replacement. At a safe distance, of course.