And aren't you there to take photos, not to
chase relatives? It constantly amazes me that the bridal party
expect the photographer to be responsible for organizing that.
However, in this instance, as these specifics were requested and
you didn't make arrangements to delegate the organizing of these
formals, I think you are responsible for not taking these photos
and she has every right to be angry.
Print sellers lament, take notice and beware. This sort of answer is
your problem and downfall if it is adopted by the public. If weddings come
to this point when a few pictures on a theoritical list are not there and that
is cause for complaint, then lord knows what is next for an excuse not to
pay or at least complain. Just don't book weddings with a list is going to
be the result of that line of thinking. It seems that the list came from the
MOB and not the couple. Pros can't take a list from every relative that
wants to make one up? Just becaue you delegate a person to follow up
on a list, does not mean it will be fulfilled.
A printed checklist of photos
to be taken and checking them off as you go would have prevented
this problem. You could have requested a relative to round-up the
necessary participants if you were unsure of the identity of these
people.
I have done many wedding with and without lists. Lists are a pain in the
keister and slow down the whole wedding. For certain more formal weddings
they can be approiate and others they can be destructive. My point is that lists
can cause all kinds of problems as this wedding has produced.
My suggested solution is to discount the job based on the number of
missing photos as per the fax. Let's say the shoot was for 200
prints, work out a price per print and then subtract the missing
ones.
Dangerous thinking. So you want to be known as the pro who will discount
every wedding least the client only has to complain? Geeeeeze.... I would never
put a deal with the word 'subtracted' in any shape or context.
She is probably never going to be happy with any solution
you come up with but at least you won't have charged her for these.
I would not offer free stuff (it could get out of hand). You could
also suggest a reshoot, but I doubt she'll take it as it is
difficult to get the same people back after the fact.
Reshoot a wedding? Come on, not even possible. If you do a good joy and
the couple are happy, then don't waste your time on silly relatives. Put the
MOB off and tell her to deal with the couple on her orders. Don't have too
many demands from crazy relatives and you will be better off. Print sellers
must go through this all the time and it is one reason not to have that business
model?
