Manzelle wrote:
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 thoughts pretty much... I never demanded free food from any other employers..?
MattSepeta wrote:
My thoughts pretty much... I never demanded free food from any other employers..?
I see your point, but the client is not the employer. You are the employer. Sure I have never demanded food from an employer. But I will for a wedding. I dont have to eat what the guests eat, but I do want something. it can be pizza, cold sandwich, some fruit and veggies or whatever. I don't care. Just give me something.
I know a bride would never want me leaving to go get food because something will be missed if I leave. If I am there with food, then I can take a quick 10 minute break and eat and be ready for whatever is going to be next.
Most times I dont eat the food or all of the food. It is just nice to have there if needed for fuel.
The only time I do demand something is when my wife is pregnant. I make it a point that we talk about this before the wedding. Tell the bride and groom that my wife is pregnant and it would be great if you could feed her early on at the reception because of it. Everyone is always nice and always feeds us. Like I said in a previous post, most clients offer us breakfast and lunch. So this has never really been an issue. But having it in your contract is a must for those just in case weddings.
It's not demanding free food. It's being in tip-top shape to do a good job. I don't know anyone who can give 100% for 10 hours with no food, especially shooting a wedding. And part of being tip-top is never leaving the wedding. My clients want tip-top and they want to know that I expect the same of myself. Therefore I'm a big boy and expect to be fed.
MattSepeta wrote:
My thoughts pretty much... I never demanded free food from any other employers..?
paparazzinick wrote:
I see your point, but the client is not the employer. You are the employer. Sure I have never demanded food from an employer. But I will for a wedding. I dont have to eat what the guests eat, but I do want something. it can be pizza, cold sandwich, some fruit and veggies or whatever. I don't care. Just give me something.
I know a bride would never want me leaving to go get food because something will be missed if I leave. If I am there with food, then I can take a quick 10 minute break and eat and be ready for whatever is going to be next.
Most times I dont eat the food or all of the food. It is just nice to have there if needed for fuel.
The only time I do demand something is when my wife is pregnant. I make it a point that we talk about this before the wedding. Tell the bride and groom that my wife is pregnant and it would be great if you could feed her early on at the reception because of it. Everyone is always nice and always feeds us. Like I said in a previous post, most clients offer us breakfast and lunch. So this has never really been an issue. But having it in your contract is a must for those just in case weddings. ...Show more →
How is the client not the employer? They hired you to take pictures the same way McDonald's hires you to flip burgers. I don't care what service you provide. The client is, by definition, your employer for a specified amount of time.
TRReichman wrote:
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.
- trr
This just seems like the smartest advice. Why become the "difficult to work with" photographer over a meal? Todd seems to have quite the handle on this overall view of the business and doesn't lose sight of the forest for the trees....
ACRe wrote:
This just seems like the smartest advice. Why become the "difficult to work with" photographer over a meal? Todd seems to have quite the handle on this overall view of the business and doesn't lose sight of the forest for the trees....
Andrew
Yes, and to that end, I don't see the need to put it in my contract and try to enforce it.
I can understand Todd's b&w, this is business, get over it, take responsibility for yourself the day of. I think for me, there is also a grey area here, where I had spent a lot of time with this couple on the e-shoot, they wanted to buy me dinner then, but no time, I took a peak at their rehearsal the night before, their were hugs all around, I thought it was a no brainier for something to eat at the wedding, but no, nothing, and we had worked our asses off in the heat. I think I was more upset that they didn't even consider me after all the time I had spent with them. I guess at the end of the day, they really don't give a shit. That's fine, it's my responsibility, I'm very sensitive...I was under the illusion that we had more of a connection, but the behaviors have said otherwise.
The reason that I don't make a big deal about it is that you can make a big deal to the client but they are not in control of vending you food - the caterer is. And the caterer has a big ordeal to get through in a very short amount of time and no matter what you think you aren't their priority. So we're creating a bunch of potential drama and difficulty and one meal out of our life simply isn't worth stressing out a client who are supposed to be enjoying themselves or stressing out the caterer who is trying to please hundreds of people. In any relationship it makes sense to look at the other person's perspective before you worry about your own. It is one meal that we could manage ourselves and make things enormously easier on everyone else - net win for all parties. Then, when you are fed it is a total positive instead of something we are entitled to. More positivity.
Brian, what if your case she forgot to mention it to the caterer? What if she didn't know she was supposed to give you a meal? I understand being sensitive (trust me), but in this case, it doesn't necessarily mean they don't think highly of you.
Put it in your contract. Bring a sandwich just in case.
Yeah, it's all about me. lol I don't know, if we don't place ourselves as an integral, very important part of their day, what are we, and how are we connected?
ACRe wrote:
Brian, what if your case she forgot to mention it to the caterer? What if she didn't know she was supposed to give you a meal? I understand being sensitive (trust me), but in this case, it doesn't necessarily mean they don't think highly of you.
Put it in your contract. Bring a sandwich just in case.
Andrew
Could have been and oversight, I could have said something and probably gotten fed, I just hate doing that.
Because what we do transcends (or should) the day of the wedding, it's a little more resonating than spinning a CD or putting a plate of food on the table. Are we not working with and touching our clients on a deeper level than other vendors
Brian Virts wrote:
Because what we do transcends (or should) the day of the wedding, it's a little more resonating than spinning a CD or putting a plate of food on the table. Are we not working with and touching our clients on a deeper level than other vendors
Hmm. Just because it is a bigger job taking more hours, and involves more contact with the bride and groom than the other vendors, does that mean it is still any more than a vendor relationship?
Brian Virts wrote:
Because what we do transcends (or should) the day of the wedding, it's a little more resonating than spinning a CD or putting a plate of food on the table. Are we not working with and touching our clients on a deeper level than other vendors
It is really popular to denigrate the idea that we provide a service. It is really popular to think we are more important than anyone else at the wedding. If that is working for you that's fine. Didn't do me any favors and my business has worked immeasurably better thinking differently.
I get fed but it isn't in my contract. Most of my clients send me a formal invite and ask if my wife would be coming and ask which dinner we would like. I had one last year where I wasn't provided a meal and it sucked. It was nice though, the venue set up a comfy spot for me even with candles so I can have some romance, with myself.
I was surprised last night when I was talking on G+ with some Genesis folk about meals. WTF is a vendor meal? I was enlightened on the delicacies of powder mashed potatoes. Maybe it's different in Canada? At least where me and Jon-Mark live it seems to be
My contract specifically states under clause 11 that the client needs to include us in their catering plans, or provide other comparable food for us. It also states that we will plan to eat at the same time as them and their guests, as no one wants to be photographed while eating.
