Wedding deposit (loss) stories? Has anyone lost one?

LOL - I figured the couple had some kind of carnival/amusement park link...
Some of the most fun I've had photographing a wedding :D

Kind Regards
-Billie
Billie,

I was looking at your website and loved the picture in the wedding
gallery of the little girl and all the colorful balls. What's the
story behind that? Did the guest throw the balls instead of
rice/whatever?
--



http://billiesportraits.com/index_new.html

Sometimes . . .when you least expect it . .. good things happen .
..BURMA SHAVE!!!!
 
I can't say, as I havn't had any difficulty with weddings clients thus far. Two years ago, a bride paid her deposit and just disappeared, never to be heard from again, which I thought was wierd, but no other "difficulties".

Actually, I DID have a client's husband about a year ago email me and complain that there were not enough photos of him getting ready, and that he expected a refund in full. This was AFTER his bride called an praised the work, and even ordered several hundred dollars in extra prints. I recalled him being VERY CHEAP during the booking session, pushing his fiance' into a much smaller package than she wanted. I overdelivered on the contract by quite a bit. So, I emailed back, thanking him for his concerns, but reminding him that it was his fiance' and not him with whom I had a contract and that she would be the one who needed to approach me. Then, I emailed to her a copy of his message. She wrote back, and a I quote pretty closely "Please excuse my ignorant ass** husband. You did a terrific job and we are very pleased. I have just about had it with his cheap ass* ! I will definately be telling others about you." (I have promotional materials that features clients' comments, but am unsure if this one, though enthusiastic, would be appropriate!)

So, except for the ignorant ass* husband, my contract hasn't really been challenged yet. About 80% of all my weddings come from referrals, though. I've just learned to stay away from the really cheap clients... they are the ones who seem to want considerably more than what they pay for, and, I would imagine, would offer the most cause for concern.

--
Michael Thomas Mitchell
http://michaelphoto.net
 
to being a successful wedding photographer. Many DON'T do this full time for a living and don't have a full grasp of how much it COSTS to photograph a wedding . . .therefore . . .they're willing to do it for next to nothing. Subsequently, they attract wedding couples who place absolutely no value on their images. Sadly, they get what they paid for and that photograher gets to deal with the PETA clients :D

Kind Regards
-Billie
I've just learned to stay away from the really
cheap clients... they are the ones who seem to want considerably
more than what they pay for, and, I would imagine, would offer the
most cause for concern.

--
Michael Thomas Mitchell
http://michaelphoto.net
--



http://billiesportraits.com/index_new.html

Sometimes . . .when you least expect it . .. good things happen .
..BURMA SHAVE!!!!
 
Did you get the email I sent you a few weeks back in reference to one of your posts about wedding photography in Atlanta and a steak dinner?
 
I tried both your yahoo.com account and the michaelphoto.net account. I just resent them...
 
Photographers, especially the part timers, slay me.....they preach to the brides how much the bride needs a pro at their wedding and when it comes time to get REAL answers to business questions they go ask other photographers OR just make something up......

"Let's try it ourselves and see if we can save some money".....tell me it's not true.
 
I think you'll find that a signficant number of full-time pros in this thread have either expressed that they dealt with this issue using the help of an attorney, or recommended getting the advise of an attorney.

At any rate, advise from strangers in these forums should be taken as exactly that: advise from STRANGERS. The very strength of these forums -- the ability to exchange information freely with many peoples from many places -- is also the very weakness. The advise we get in here can be used to help us along our way, but should not be used as a "final destination".
--
Michael Thomas Mitchell
http://michaelphoto.net
 
In the early 1970's My father had a big wedding that took 2 weeks to get the prints back, and put the 4 albums to gether. At the appointed day for the delivery of the photos and albums the couple were already seperated and one was seeking a divorce. All refused to pay.

BTW Back then he and the other photographers in the area were always paid at the time of delivery except for a $50 "reservation fee".

BTW This system ended that day.
--
Ray
RJNedimyer
 
I have always pad a lawyer to revview and correct my contract and, in one or two instances, his advice has saved me many dollars. The month after I changed 'deposit' to 'booking fee', I took a job where the mother of the bride called my work cra* and demanded an immediate refund. I explained the non-refundable booking fee and we parted company. A week later she called and asked me to deliver the proofs.

A brief explanation told her they were not part of the booking, but she could purchase them. After a few minutes where she again told me what a lousy photographer I was, she said she would take the proofs for 1/2 the money I quoted, but only if I threw in the negatives. I refused and she hung up on me.

She called back an hour later (just in time for me to down a few aspirin) and asked what I was going to do wiith the proofs and negatives if she didn't purchase them. I told her I usually destroy all old proofs and negatives as they have no real value to me (white lie on my part, but I had had enough of her by now). She again hung up.

The next day her husband called me from his office and told me he will pay for the proofs. No mention was made of the negatives. 15 years later and they're still in my film locker.

Dennis
--
Dennis Hays
http://www.imagingsecrets.com
http://www.DigitalSauces.com
 
Agree with most points made, I to am digital (2yrs now) never a problem and if you checked earlier post of mine you will see I've been shooting Weddings/Commercial for over 45yrs. I feel I have been very fortunate in my life, meeting many wonderful people, I have also been very lucky in not having failed to deliver the goods, on time and of acceptable quality.

I guess I'm unique in the way I do business, my only form of contract has been a handshake, deposit as stated earlier 10%, sometimes I have not taken even that and if customer offers me the fee before Wedding I refuse and tell them to bring the cash when they collect finished product.

Please don't shout at me for this obvious unbusiness like behavour but it has never let me down. The secret for me is the ability to evaluate people and I'm confident the if you were to contact any of the hundreds of my customers they would all speak kindly of me. I will probably retire in 2yrs and start taking picture just for the enjoyment.

The comment I made about "rubbish" or failure was made because the guy who does my processing "killed" a card of a portrait sitting and was unable to recover them, I thank god that I had made copies. I'm sure there are people out there who have suffered mishaps and I'm also sure it happens to to the Pro's. I do know of one incident when a Photographer shooting film had his bag stolen and he lost everything and that would also apply if using digital.
Kindest regards
Carl
 
Sadly, they get what they paid for and that photograher gets to deal with the PETA clients :D
That is absolutely hilarious. I don't get a laugh like that reading these forums!

I can definitely see where a PETA client would be a PITA... (G)

After all, If man were not intended to eat animals, they wouldn't be made out of meat... (G)

--
Crime Scene Photography
 
I have always pad a lawyer to revview and correct my contract and,
in one or two instances, his advice has saved me many dollars. The
month after I changed 'deposit' to 'booking fee', I took a job
where the mother of the bride called my work cra* and demanded an
immediate refund. I explained the non-refundable booking fee and we
parted company. A week later she called and asked me to deliver the
proofs.

A brief explanation told her they were not part of the booking, but
she could purchase them. After a few minutes where she again told
me what a lousy photographer I was, she said she would take the
proofs for 1/2 the money I quoted, but only if I threw in the
negatives. I refused and she hung up on me.

She called back an hour later (just in time for me to down a few
aspirin) and asked what I was going to do wiith the proofs and
negatives if she didn't purchase them. I told her I usually destroy
all old proofs and negatives as they have no real value to me
(white lie on my part, but I had had enough of her by now). She
again hung up.

The next day her husband called me from his office and told me he
will pay for the proofs. No mention was made of the negatives. 15
years later and they're still in my film locker.
Real funny story.

I like your "booking fee" terminology. "Retainer" does not appeal to me, as it could mean you MUST perform the service later even after they cancel the original date.

As for that MOB, we should start a B.C.B. -- better customer bureau.

This would tell us who the "bad" customers are and to stay away from them.

I kept thinking how I can put a "nice" clause in my contract -- that in time between the contract signing and the proof delivery, if the contracting party should behave or say anything that is uncomfortable to me (that can be documented), like in one case when one bride "bragged" how she was going to sue the church that "lose" her time slot, then I reserve the right to cancel the contract with the return of the deposit.

Some people just don't realize the more they put their creative vendors at ease, like photographer, the better the latter would do their job. :-)

--
JR
 
I shot about 400 weddings before I had enough and I ALWAYS got ALL the money before the wedding day. There was no way I was going to jepordize my busines income on the whim of a fickle bride. I had about 3 weddings canceled the DAY BEFORE the wedding and there was no way I could have booked work on those days after the cancelation. Not one of those brides ever complained about me keeping the money.
Wehn a dad said "If I pay you in advance, how do I know you will show up?"

I good naturedly and with a smile told him I had 15 years of history to show that I would show up.... and his daughter had no history of getting married.... how do I know she will show up?
They always chuckled and then paid.

Keith
--
For evil to triumph, good men need do absolutely nothing.
 
That's what I explain to customers. I only ask for $100 but I should increase that because some people may take a hike for that ammount. I think I'll make it $250.

Anyhow after a week or so of holding open the date I have worked for the deposit and I don't return it. One bride couldnt reach me for a few weeks (her wedding was months away) she hired another photographer, then wanted her deposit back. No way.
 

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