Major Wedding Issue for Saturday

Shun,

 

That's the one I tried, but it comes up "Not Found." Perhaps it's my server. I'll try later.

Ok, I got it.

To follow up to everyone. I looked at all the photos last night, the preparation, the formals and the reception look great.

 

You should have seen the faces of the receptionists at all of the wrong venues when I told them that I was looking for the outdoor wedding. Everyone of them started to crack up laughing. Now that I think of it, you should have seen my face when they told me 'No wedding here.'

 

Stacy:

Video is typically 720x480 res, so even after interpolating it you would be hard pressed to get a decent 4x6. I will probably try anyhow.

 

Chris:

I'll email you in a week or two. I want to get this wrapped up first.

 

Todd:

I am 20 and have been doing this full time alone for just under three years and I assisted 2 years prior to that. I really enjoy this, all the positives outweigh this one disaster. If this were my first one then I think I would run away from wedding work altogether but I will continue to book for 2006.

 

My web server was down until this morning, so if you tried before 10am it was offline. All those weddings are 2003 or 2004. 2005 photos are looking better, I can't wait to add those.

 

I will certainly screen all weddings much more closely now. If I have any uneasy feelings I will pass on the event. As to why didn't I cancel, WHO KNOWS!

 

I have been on the phone or have been exchanging emails with a few local wedding professionals that I work with all morning. The general concensus is that no one can beleive that all of this happened.

 

There have been a few stories about wedding issues recently but that holds true in any job. Keep booking them and be ready for a problem. I won't be worried until the WPPI, PPA or other organizations include a lawyer retainer in the membership benefits.

The was an old country song about "easier to laugh at someone else's troubles". Must have been written about your day.

 

Pat yourself on the back for handling this as well as possible.

 

And too bad you can't drink heavily since you are underage! lol

...next wedding, get into the seat next to the groom *before* the ceremony and find out where he is going:

 

 

 

A. Church - which one?

 

 

 

B. Garden - where?

 

 

 

C. A tavern or bar - for how long?

 

 

 

 

The bride's mom (in your case) did not know where she was going next....

Speaking of drinking, it's quite common for wine to be served free, but the hard stuff usually requires cash!

 

I can't imagine the clients giving bar vouchers to the vendors. The vendors need to work; not drink.

 

I used to have a glass or two of wine at dinner or the reception, but I don't do that any more. I think that's asking for trouble.

 

With all your problems Brady, just think of what they would do if you got drunk! (^O^)

Of course, it's easy for us all to give advice after the fact, but a couple of things--first, I never set my bag down where I don't have full sight of it at all times, and since you use digital, keep all available memory cards on your person at all times. I learned the hard way--had a case of gear stolen. Also, hotel and other vendors have, for some reason, no problems moving my gear around when it suits them. Very irritating, but could be very costly, as you found out. Lucky for you the bag wasn't actually stolen. Second, I would have double checked all the locations when the contract actually got signed and when I got to Place A and found no wedding, I would have had them call the other places or used my cell phone to call all the other possible places rather than spending time driving to each place. Third, I would have re-done the highlights of the ceremony, even if it would have made everyone late for the reception start, or at least give them the choice (have witnesses for the conversation). Now, there's no way of getting any photos of the ceremony. Then, you could have re-staged the processional and maybe 3-4 highlights of the ceremony in a short amount of time. If you didn't want to tell them you missed the whole ceremony, tell them you had an equipment malfunction and you need to re-create some highlights. I'm wondering how they could have not known you weren't there... I sympathize with you as this is one heck of a problem wedding to happen to you at such a young age and in your budding career.

I want to go back to the booking stage: some suggestions...not criticism:

 

My father was in furniture sales, and I did a bit of selling as well. He always told me to learn to "qualify" the customers the minute you meet them...are they sincerely interested in your services, can they pay for your services, and will they be cooperative? Wedding photographers are salespersons as well. Don't waste your time if you can't close the sale or, in the case of weddings, the event will turn into a nightmare.

 

I insist that I meet the client *in their home*...not mine (I don't have a studio). In a situation like yours, if I can't get them on the phone, I can camp on their doorstep!

 

I also take considerable time chatting with them about much-of-nothing. This gives me a chance to get a feel for them as persons...not just clients or photo objects. If I have a bad feeling about the situation, I put off a booking to evaluate it and I will turn it down if it is not what I want or I can't deliver or if I think there will be major problems down the road.

 

I also never accept a deposit (unless it is from a personal friend or a previous client) without all the information detailed at the time of booking.

 

I always also get as many addresses and phone numbers as I can, especially valid cell numbers.

 

If time permits I do a "site check." I go to the place the wedding/reception will be held weeks in advance so I know my travel time, parking issues, and what the place looks like for possible photo spots.

 

We all have different styles of photography. I won't book a wedding if they insist that I do certain types of photography I don't have skill to accomplish, like cross-processing or double exposures or portable studio lighting and such.

 

In my own business, I work mainly with mid-level clients, and I do not do any post wedding sales or album creations. If they want such, I won't book the wedding by promising something I can't deliver, and I won't barter on prices or services. I have services and prices set up for a variety of budgets and sizes of weddings and I try to stick with that.

 

All that this means is that everything should be resolved and outlined at the time of the booking and before you take a deposit.

 

You have many more years of wedding photography ahead of you than I have, so be very careful.

 

That's my advice, for what it's worth.

A wise old street cop once told me: Everything is as it seems ,and nothing is as it seems.

 

 

Translation: you had so many red flags on this gig, you must have gotten hit on the forehead with a few as you drove by.

 

Ironing out each other's expectations, is the most important pre-wedding detail to be discussed. A client that doesn't sign the contract, and that won't sit down and talk is always trouble.

Steve makes a good point...that many red flags make me consciously slow down and get even more deliberate about details--checking and double checking, and nailing down every last possibility for problem.

Glad to see that someone read my Mud Bog Race post...:)

 

And to answer your question about the bar, Yes, they made sure to tell me that they were covering my bar tab at the dinner and reception.

 

Bryan

Wow. I'm in Rochester too and I hope for my sake that will never happen to me- or for that matter that it was a bride that I was unable to shoot because I was already booked.<p>Wow.

I think we all need to travel to Rochester and throw Brady the biggest 'people are absolutely

nuts' party, to of course celebrate the crazy people we all sometimes have the pleasure of

working for, only to discover how fun our jobs really can be. Fun Fun...

Brady I totally sympathize with your situation. ugh- rediculous. I seriously don't see how

they couldn't have known you weren't there for the ceremony. and I also don't see how the

Bride would've noticed and then said, 'well, let's go on with it anyways...' Can't wait to hear

how it all turns out- personally I think Al has a good point about the contract.

I feel your pain. If the contract was signed with the wrong location then that is not your fault nor are you liable. When a client becomes troublesome I refer them to another photographer. I have set prices on my website for them to choose from. I also offer custom packages if they only want a few formal shots or can't afford a lot of photography. My prices are always final and I do not bargain or haggle over them. If I tell you the price is $3000 then that's what it is. If they hire you for 4 hours at $3000 and then tell you that they only need you for 2 hours do not change the price. The price is agreed on already. I don't offer albums either. I will provide one if requested and the prices start at $600 for a cheap book bound. They know that you will not likely find another wedding to replace theirs and they'll try to get a price reduction. That's my I require 2/3s of the money prior to the wedding. A reservation fee at the time of booking and a service fee no later than 2 weeks prior to the wedding. 30 days prior to the wedding - I contact the cleints via email and phone. If i cannot not contact them within three days I send any money I have back to them minus the 1/3 for reservation. The reservation fee is never refundable. I've never had as hard a time as you have, but I have had some that want to bargain and make deals. I'm usually in constant contact with my cleints starting 30 days prior to the event. Good Luck!