I got a text (?) from a client last night asking me if they could pay some of their remaining balance now (because according to the contract it's all due now) and the remainder the day of the wedding. I sensed this was going to happen when she told me the groom left on vacation and she wasn't Happy about it. The wedding is fast approaching, it's early June. These clients have Skyped my ear off and now she texts me instead. They said they don't feel comfortable paying me everything up front and all of the vendors are being paid their balance the day of. I'm confident this is a money issue and really don't want to be carrying around cash the day of (because that would be the only way I would accept it) and I also don't want to chase them the day of their wedding (which may or may not happen, I mean they could just pay me as soon as I walk in the door?)
Anyways, what would you do? I don't want to start off on the wrong foot and have bad feelings at the wedding if I say no.
(My contract states 30% on booking which I received and the remainder due 21 days before the wedding, which they are now late in paying).
Not a chance. If I were faced with this, I'd politely refer to the contact that has their signature and request that they honor it. Payment day of would only be a possibility if I personally knew the couple, very well, and had no doubt that payment wouldn't be an issue.
IMHO, "We don't feel comfortable paying up front" is a position that needs to be clearly addressed and moved beyond at the initial consultation or at the signing of the contract. Their money issues are not your problem. As my grandfather was fond of saying, "failure to properly plan on your part, doesn't constitute an emergency on my part."
Plus, if you even begin to diverge from your contract, you've begun a very dangerous trend.
Hold your ground and they'll most likely find a way to make it happen. If they don't, you get an extra Saturday freed up.
I hate when clients put us in this situation. I have had it happen on three different occasions. Once I was paid before I even unzipped my bag. Another I had to chase down the MOB as they were picking up after the reception and ask for my check. Another time I shot the wedding, everyone disappeared at the end so I just went home and waited about a week later the MOB emailed asking was I going to put any up on FaceBook to look at. I told her I had been really busy and would not be editing those till the balance had been paid in full. I had a check two days later the mailbox.
I would explain to them it is just a bad idea to handle fiances on a wedding day. Push to get your money in advance. If they won't budge you have two options. Don't shoot it, which my contracts states, but not sure I would ever enforce it. Or shoot it and hold the images until you are paid.
For a considerable amount of the balance now, I'd show. My second would not. The images would sit on the cards until the rest is paid. If they pay a vast percentage, you should show and shoot at the least.
My contract states due before we begin shooting day of; I think trying to stick to your contract here will rustle more feathers then it's worth considering you could just not shoot the wedding until they pay you on the wedding day. Then again, it depends on the feeling you're getting from your couple - do you feel like they will not pay you then, either?
One statement told me everything I needed to know. "she told me the groom left on vacation and she wasn't happy about it" Sounds like she's not even sure they are going to get married so she's planning for payment day of so she doesn't have to chase refunds or be broke when it doesn't happen. She's literally thinking she'll be calling and telling all of the vendors it's off within days/hours of the wedding.
This marriage has failure written all over it and it hasn't even happened.
So my sense tells me this. If the marriage happens you'll get your money most likely without an issue on the day of like she said. I'd ask for it before the event takes place when you arrive. If it isn't handed over, just leave and the 30% covered your gas. Better make sure she knows you are not going to accept a check either. Sounds like she would have no problem calling the bank to put a stop on it the day after.
Do wedding photogs shoot divorce celebrations as well. If you do a great job i'm sure you'll be hearing from her in the future.
I don't envy the crap you guys/gals go through for weddings. It's ridiculous some of the stories I read on here. Law suits, contract probs, etc....
The job doesn't sound fun at all.
Anyway, good luck. I like to stop on the Wedding section to look at photos to get ideas and you all are mighty creative and talented. Wish you didn't have all the other problems that seem to come along with the territory.
Best wishes.
Mike
In my experience I have been very lucky to have been paid for each wedding shoot. Sometimes they have forgotten and missed my policy of payment is due in full by the wedding day but I'm also fortunate enough to accept visa/MC via online so after the fact is fine (within reason) and happens often within a few days to a week. I personally know what it's like to lose out on smaller gigs and make acceptions down the road (added an item because of communication issues) but at the end of the day they should realize that they won't receive the images (package contents) until they pay you for it. It's entirely up to you of course, and your comfort level but I hate discussing money on the wedding day b]so I don't and tell them we'll worry about it later. No business is perfect and not all clients will be perfect as well so expect to have some speedbumps that coincide with money and pricing whcih are very sensitive and tricky topics. I'd do my normal wedding, the way I always do it, all my normal practices and my second shooter. If you get screwed over it may suck but you still look professional, you learned a lot and if they do appreciate what you did for them and paid later , they'll praise you to others rather than potentially making up something damaging about how you managed it or mismanaged it. My two cents.
mikepmcs wrote:
One statement told me everything I needed to know. "she told me the groom left on vacation and she wasn't happy about it" Sounds like she's not even sure they are going to get married so she's planning for payment day of so she doesn't have to chase refunds or be broke when it doesn't happen. She's literally thinking she'll be calling and telling all of the vendors it's off within days/hours of the wedding.
I thought the exact same thing when I first read it...
I have never been in this position before. But correct me if I am wrong, not bringing a second shooter if you contracted one and then getting paid on the day of would then put you as the one breaking the contract. Wouldn't it?
For me, I tend to lean towards a much simpler way. If you don't get the final cleared payment in a timely manor, take the deposit and have a Saturday off. I have had this topic come up in consultations before as my policy is final payment due 1 month before event date. While I show flexibility through my consults, coverage payments are not one of them.
Good idea: take pix of memory cards and put those on your FB tagging them with the names of the above clients - say "photos of so and so wedding". That will make a GOOD message to them..ha ha...i'm in evil mood this friday..)))
I have done it in the early days but brides who are paying vendors on the day of the wedding are the most stressed as they have so much to think about on top of the normal pressures of the day.
It's not just about the payment, it's about the bride not having more to think about, more pressure when all she needs to be thinking about is getting married.
Lol i guess if your contract states it, that's one thing, but i take a third up front, a third a month out, and a third the week of, OR day of the wedding...i've never had a problem...i really thought this was standard practice for everyone....so if you dont get paid the last payment the day of, the client doesnt get their images...simple as that...but you still show up to shoot.
If you dont, better be ready to call your attorney.
As commented, if she had an issue with this before signing the contract it should have been discussed. It aint your problem; she needs to pay up. If her trusting you is an issue you should be the one not trusting her for not bringing this up a long time ago; it works both ways.
My simple reply is 'that's not what we agreed to'.
Thanks for all the replies! Some of you made me laugh out loud!! Needed a good laugh. Well, I emailed her back because she was frantically emailing me, but I needed time to think. (I think she was worried I wouldn't show). I told her I needed 50% of the remainder due by the end of the day today, and that I would accept the remainder the day of as soon as I walk in the door. I am not naive to think that it will happen exactly the way I want, but if it doesn't then I've got 65% of the job paid and I won't provide any blog sneak peaks, no albums and no proofs. My email was firmly worded (which is good for me because I can be a bit of a softie).
Thanks for all of your sage advice! Much appreciated!!!
NathanHamler wrote:
i take a third up front, a third a month out, and a third the week of, OR day of the wedding...i really thought this was standard practice for everyone
I think most have it in the contract to be paid in full prior to the wedding.
