p.2 #1 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
DannyBostwick wrote:
I have someone who still owes me 1000 bucks from 2009.
Earlier in my career I accepted partial payments with the remainder to be paid after the wedding. Well, I've got a few jobs sitting in my studio (from back before 2009) yet to be delivered because final payment never came through. One couple I think broke up. Another couple is still together. Others I don't know.
So does this answer the question as to why you collect full payment in advance?
p.2 #8 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
I've read through this thread and I'm from the other side of the fence.
You're not offering a service you're offering a product. No matter what your contract says I don't benefit from you showing up at my wedding. I only benefit if you deliver. On top of that you're a small private contractor so unless you're famous I'm not inclined to blindly believe you're credible. I understand you have some risk to manage but that's what you bought into when you opened your doors for business. Your risk and business troubles are not my concern as a customer. I don't pay my tax advisor up front why should I pay you up front? My company doesn't pay me up front either. Haha usually contractors are the last to get paid. It sucks but it's your reality.
If a couple renegs on their payment obligations that's not cool but that's the risk of doing business.
p.2 #9 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
morby wrote:
Do share
Ok, you asked for it, please, no one else bother reading this.
Again, I not saying that everyone should follow this but it has worked well for me for 15 years now and roughly 500 weddings.
As of this writing I take my final payment, roughly one third of the package cost after the wedding. I have a $1,500.00 retainer/booking fee, the remaining balance is spit in half with 2nd payment due 30 days out and the final payment after they actually see their images in their online gallery. That gallery goes live in 10-15 days. I also offer 100% full money back guarantee up to the time that I deliver their digitals. Once digitals are delivered there is no money back guarantee.
I have never been stiffed, I did have one client a few years ago that took them about 30 days to make their final payment once I requested final payment.
I use this as a way of building trust and as a way of showing that have confidence in what I will deliver and that I will stand behind my products/service. I also have a brick and mortar studio. In our area as I'm sure is the case in other locations, there have been far too many horror stories of photographer's taking off with the money and never showing up for the wedding. Or spending the money before doping the work. Parents especially love this concept, they generally have more experience in life and feel much more comforatble doing business this way.
Again, I'm not saying this will work for everyone.
But I do use this as a selling point too. For example, why would you hire photographer XYZ if they will not stand behind their product?
If I was in their shoes I would prefer this method much more than someone asking me to pay for everything before they show cup to do any work. In what other service industry is the buyer required to pay for everything before any work is perform? Contractors don't do this, attorney's don't either.
Keep in mind all of my clients are professional people.
p.2 #10 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
StevenMI wrote:
From their point of view, they don't want to risk paying a photographer and that photographer not showing up. I've heard stories of photographers getting paid and then leaving town and keeping the money of a bunch of clients. They have likely heard stories like this as well but the bottom line is that they shouldn't book me unless they trust me (which they have said they do, it's more of a thing of "principal")
Do you have a contract that covers what happens if you "suddenly don't show up"? If so, they should have nothing to worry about. My wedding contract is about 7 pages long, and puts both me and my clients at ease, covering every possible scenario.
p.2 #11 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
Contracts are great for defence - not so great if you want to sue someone for money. Legal costs are huge and even if you win in court - it is not a guarantee of payment - it is still up to you to collect your judgement.
kessyud wrote:
Do you have a contract that covers what happens if you "suddenly don't show up"? If so, they should have nothing to worry about. My wedding contract is about 7 pages long, and puts both me and my clients at ease, covering every possible scenario.
p.2 #13 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
For me? It's because I'm turning down other clients for the day. I need to get paid if I'm turning down other work. I'd venture to say 30-40% of my bookings have additional inquiries for that same date (maybe more). I'm losing other potential business by holding that date.
Additionally, my average turn around time is less than a week. If I'm paid in full, then I can blog, Facebook, Instagram, and send the gallery link to my clients. That also means that as soon as they give me their current address, I can load up a thumb drive and drop it into the mail to them. No waiting.
Some of my clients have their images, on thumb drive, in their hands, in 7-10 days - or less. If I had to wait for final payment, then it could take weeks. I hate having pending things on my calendar.
Additionally, we are typically the LAST person they deal with. Food, flowers, venue, music, decor... all said and done by midnight at most weddings. But if one of those things went wrong, there's a possibility that someone could take it all out on us, as we're the last vendor to have any part in their wedding with things outstanding. I don't want them withholding payment from me for potentially something I didn't do wrong or had nothing to do with.
So, payment in full - 30 days in advance. That also gives them a month to get me a check/cash in case it slips their minds.
p.2 #14 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
kessyud wrote:
Do you have a contract that covers what happens if you "suddenly don't show up"? If so, they should have nothing to worry about. My wedding contract is about 7 pages long, and puts both me and my clients at ease, covering every possible scenario.
Most contracts are not neutral, they are written by and in most cases for the protection the writer.
How does your contract deal with you "dropping the ball" not showing up, damaging all the media before loading onto your computer or taking forever to deliver the goods, regardless of circumstances?
You have a ton of responsibilities but the client just needs to pay on time....
p.2 #15 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
Littleguy wrote:
There really is no good reason from a client perspective to pay up front.
All the reasons are because the photographer doesn't trust them.
Exactly and I don't want to send that message to my clients. I know before I book them that my clients are good for it so I don't want to imply that I don't think that they are.
p.2 #16 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
kessyud wrote:
My wedding contract is about 7 pages long, and puts both me and my clients at ease, covering every possible scenario.
Wow, seven pages!? I don't mean to be offensive but If I were a shopper I would be turned off and look else where. That would just send up red flags about the business. I might not be put off by a lengthy contract if I was hiring an attorney or having some medical proceedure done but a photographer? I don't think you are doing your business any favors by this.
p.2 #17 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
I'll mention it again...just this year alone I had 1 wedding not come to fruition after being called off the day of, and had another one come unravelled the day of.
Good luck collecting that money from a cancelled wedding.
I'd spend the same or more in legal fees to get that money.
I understand it's not the client's fault that this is my chosen profession, but it's a business and I do what is necessary to protect it...including taking payment before the wedding.
p.2 #18 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
rondphoto wrote:
I'll mention it again...just this year alone I had 1 wedding not come to fruition after being called off the day of, and had another one come unravelled the day of.
So do you keep all monies when someone cancels or just a booking/retainer fee?
p.2 #19 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
NYstyles wrote:
When I did bridal makeup years ago I was pre paid like I am for weddings. They had to put 50% down but I ran like I do now. Sometimes Some did pay me the day of.
Its been a while so it may have changed more and getting paid the day of is becoming more normal if thats what you have been seeing though. Its been about 5 years since I did bridal makeup...
Yup it seems everyone pays the day of now which I really dislike. For one thing I think the bride should be paying for her bridesmaids hair and makeup. And their dresses they will only use once. The other reason is that often times the ladies are behind schedule already and then we have to wait ten minutes for all the girls to separately pay for their hair and makeup when we are trying to leave for the church. Completely unnecessary little time delay, they should know who is getting hair and makeup and pay beforehand. No cash should be exchanging hands on the wedding day unless they feel like tipping vendors in which case they'll be in envelopes ready to go already.
p.2 #20 · Why do we collect the full balance before the wedding?
TTLKurtis wrote:
Yup it seems everyone pays the day of now which I really dislike. For one thing I think the bride should be paying for her bridesmaids hair and makeup. And their dresses they will only use once. The other reason is that often times the ladies are behind schedule already and then we have to wait ten minutes for all the girls to separately pay for their hair and makeup when we are trying to leave for the church. Completely unnecessary little time delay, they should know who is getting hair and makeup and pay beforehand. No cash should be exchanging hands on the wedding day unless they feel like tipping vendors in which case they'll be in envelopes ready to go already. ...Show more →
Pfft hardly any brides paid for makeup! 80% of my bridesmaids paid their own, the bride just collects it. It was all in the contract.
This is why I was paid up front, chasing money down is not productive the day of, timelines are tight! A handful over the years paid day of or an add on last minute that day.
