Does your contract state that the client is to provide you and your assistants/seconds with a "meal"? I was watching creative live over the weekend, and Joe Buissink has in his contract that the client is to provide a vendor meal the day of the wedding (reluctantly he said he had this in there) I was just curious as to how many may have this clause, because I think in the contract it becomes a point of negotiation, and I'm not sure how that would be perceived by my client base.
And yes, I shot a fairly high-end wedding yesterday with no meal for me and my assistant (which rarely happens), we had some bars, but it was a challenging wedding, it would have been nice!!. And I'm sure many will chime in with the "I bring something and don't expect it if it happens great", I got that. I'm speaking on a level of removing the layer of mystery and actually knowing that it will be provided...thanks!
This is absolutely in my contract. A meal is not going to make or break a bride hiring you. It will, however, make or break the last few hours of a wedding when the unfed photographer will simply not be able to work as well as the photographer that has been fed. To be honest, if I weren't fed, I'd literally pass out. Pulling 8-10 hours of wedding photography with no food? Hah. However, the bride may fully intend to feed you and then you get a ghetto caterer that isn't planning on feeding you. This is rare, but if it did happen I'd simply tell them I've been working for 7 hours already and am going late tonight, we work better when fed. If still no go, pull the "I'll have to go tell the bride then, it's in my contract to get fed." In my career, I think 1 or 2 weddings didn't feed us.
I think it is good to communicate with the client about it so you can be prepared and of course it goes without saying, if they want some really nice images of the food served, if you are seated at a real table setting and photograph everything as it is served, it looks great in your finished images. At one wedding not too long ago, I was fed but not in the same room with the guests.... so I was not able to get those images of the food as it was served, something I think I might mention to the coordinator since we have a good working relationship.
Yes, it should be in the contract so that you know going into it what's going to happen.
No reason for there to be a mystery about it. If the client's going to be so tight about it let them tell you upfront.
It's in my contract and never becomes a point of negotiation.
I have it in my contract that I'm going to get fed or take a 45min break to feed myself. 99% of the time we eat at a table with guests, which is preferable. I can't tell you how many referrals I've gotten because of my dinner buddies.
This has been discussed a bunch, so a trip into the search function might be beneficial.
We have it in our contract, and I would absolutely never enforce it or mention it in the field. For us there are far more important things at stake than one meal out of my life.
Thanks everyone, is there contractual verbiage online somewhere? I don't wan to have to right this from scratch if I can help it. Any pointer appreciated...
its always in my contract and has never been mentioned... and i eat a dinner plate not a vendor meal. if i want a box lunch i'll go to elementary school.
Sergio Mottola wrote:
its always in my contract and has never been mentioned... and i eat a dinner plate not a vendor meal. if i want a box lunch i'll go to elementary school.
I'm a human being and I shoot full-day weddings, so while it's in my contract, more importantly I mention it jokingly during consult or as we get closer to wedding. Like hey, just so you know, I'll probably have a light breakfast before we start working, and no lunch, so come dinner time I'm going to need some food.
Now, with a certain segment of the market or type of client, I wouldn't even mention it. You just have to know what kind of client you're dealing with and whether you're basically just a servant to them or more than that.
Not in my contract. Never had an issue. I did get cold sandwiches one time at a wedding at the Sofitel. I thought that place was supposed to be a classy hotel.
@inku.... i have amazing experiences staying at sofitel but i can see that happen. i once saw a manger berate a bellhop (as if it would appease the guest) for a legitimately minor mistake.
Sergio Mottola wrote:
@inku.... i have amazing experiences staying at sofitel but i can see that happen. i once saw a manger berate a bellhop (as if it would appease the guest) for a legitimately minor mistake.
I have to agree that it's a nice hotel to stay at as a guest. I guess I just expected more, but it kinda makes sense. You're just a photographer. Hired help. I'm sure the couple didn't know, but were reassured that we'd be fed 'something'. Hah.
The feedback I've had from some past brides (not my own clients) and people involved (relations, families) is that they've been quite annoyed that a photographer "demanded" food. But that goes along with a certain attitude I think where said photographer was quite arrogant and probably didn't have the greatest person skills.
People more often that not either ask or offer or just have food arranged for me. But I don't rely on that, and to me it would be a little odd to put this in a contract. Perhaps it's a introvert-English thing. I manage to feed myself every other day of the week... seems a little advantageous to demand being fed.
Perhaps I should have in my contract that I will require my arse wiping as well . I joke...
Most definitely is in our contract. If I am there for 8-12 hours shooting your wedding then the least you can do is feed me to fuel me back up to finish my job.
Most weddings we shoot, they give us breakfast and lunch too. Kinda nice
I would never put this in my contract. At 30, I am a big boy and can feed myself (food I actually care to eat). If they offer, I will not refuse free grub. If they do not offer, I will not pout or think anything of it.
My contract has the option of a seated meal with everyone else or a 40 minute off-site meal break. And most couples choose the seated meal option.
Sometimes I won't see my name on the seating chart even though a seated meal was contracted for and in those cases I'll just run out and grab a burger .. no big deal.
. I joke...