tobicus wrote:
I can understand your frustration. And I certainly don't blame you for leaving after your contracted hours were over; that's your job, after all. We've found that our clients don't always remember on the day that meals were part of our agreement, and in such cases, we basically just line up and grab plates if it's a buffet-style reception. I'm not sure what we'd do if it were a sit-down style meal. Probably talk to the caterers.
My second asked the caterer if there was a vendor meal. Answer was none provided. It was sit-down. Hell, if they would have fed us, I would have stayed longer and shot the rest of the events. I'm extremely easy when you throw me a bone.
I couldn't shoot for 18 hours without eating. Maybe I just work harder then others, but that is just not a possibility...
I KID!
But yeah, I mention it in my contract but I don't push the issue - I have enough snacks as a backup plan to get me through the day, and usually find a time to eat an energy bar and drink a gatorade mid way through to keep me going. A client will remember a vendor demanding a meal and making a stink, and it will be something that sticks with them even after the wedding.
asparkes wrote:
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.
The same here and always get a decent meal now, I used to have in my contract to get a proper meal from the hotel/restaurant but many times I had to ask for it with no results as the serving stuff was attending the guests tables so I had to leave and couldnt prove that I wasnt offered a meal so thats why I changed my contract and put that right after shooting the main table (the one with the B&G) before lunch or dinner starts I will leave the event for no longer than 45 minutes if I dont get a proper meal (not the menu that they are having) to keep me going and I wont be able to take food shots while I am out.
I worked in hotes long long ago as a waiter and they fed us when double shifting as it is common sense that a hungry worker doesnt work porperly apart from that I NEVER replace an important meal for energetic bars no need to do it.
Nothing in my contract is a point of negotiation. I have a clause to get fed, I discuss this with my clients while we're reviewing the contract so that they understand if I'm going to be there all day that I'll need to be able to eat to keep my energy up, and only once has a client even fallen through on that (not their fault, the weather held us up and we had to get shots in and then setup a photobooth and by then the food was put away). I wasn't a diva and didn't make a big deal about it, nor would I ever, but the way in which I run my business and the angle that I take with my clients is such that they understand and seem appalled that I wouldn't eat with the rest of the guests anyway. Granted most of the weddings here are buffet.
Joshua Gull wrote:
Granted most of the weddings here are buffet.
And that's no small difference, either. Most of my weddings are not buffet; the clients have to add you on as another "guest" with the catering staff when dinner is a served meal where they're bringing out a number of courses for a particular head count. When you're listed as a "guest" in that scenario, the client often has to find out your entree choice a month before the wedding and report that back to the caterer. And, as I understand it, the price the client pays per head count is higher with the served meal than the buffet.
Most of the weddings around here are not buffet. In fact, buffet is pretty rare. We also get fed only around 10% of the time - if that.
We tried adding it to the contract and it seemed to be a real sticking point for some people. They seemed to resent having to pay for a couple of extra guest meals when they were already trying to cut down their guest list to save money.
In just about every case they either tried to get the package price discounted by the cost of the meals (I said I'd take sandwiches!) or it caused a tense moment and I felt it was really hurting the closing of the sale. While I could be wrong, Im pretty sure that this one clause caused enough of a problem for one bride that she went from "we want to book" to "ok, so we'll go away and talk about this" - and we never heard back. One lost wedding sale cost a lot more than 'taking sandwiches' would all year. So we took it out of the contract and never even bring it up now.
A couple of places serve vendor meals (cold sandwiches) and TBH I'd rather bring my own because I know I'll enjoy them.
Only once this year have we sat with the guests.
So, we just take sandwiches, snacks and lots and lots of water.
asparkes wrote:
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.
Ours is exactly the same except we have 60 minutes if no meal provided. We generally find an empty table in the corner that not many people are at so we can wolf down the food and be ready to shoot anything that pops up.
Inku Yo wrote:
Chilean sea bass last night.
Nice! Had Red Snapper and the wife had Prime Rib the last one. Love that shit. Then brought out incredible cheese cake on top of the wedding cake. God I love cake!
I've not been fed a handful of times and it was always at the most insane of venues. Yes it is in my contract. No I didn't say anything. Life goes on.
There is a high end Jewish temple and catering hall nearby and if they see you reach for so much as a peanut during cocktail they'll take you outside and chew YOU out.
That said, I am always looking for an excuse to pick up some chicken mcnuggets on the way home!!
I just had the best 5-course vendor meal in last weekend's wedding. Appetizer, cocktails, wine, four entries and desserts (wedding cake.) One of the best weddings in a decade.
The photos will turn out great
