Balance has not been paid...

<p>I was hired to do a last minute wedding. The paid some to book the date and the remaining balance was due yesterday. The wedding is on Saturday. Normally I have clients pay the balance 30 days before the event, but this was a last minute situation and I wanted to give them time.<br>

So, do I simply send an email or call or wait and say something later? How do you tactfully remind them that the payment is due?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>I would call them - don't be shy. I would politely tell them that you did not receive the payment and that it was due yesterday. See what they say and go from there.</p>

<p>An email is too passive and can be ignored or not received. </p>

<p>Last minute bookings typically require payment in full but that only helps you next time, not now.</p>

<p>Do you have anything in your contract regarding the consequence of not having paid the balance? For example, my contract says that I will still shoot but no images (proofs, etc.) will be shown or delivered until balance is paid in full.</p>

<p>First thing to try is to call them up and ask. If you are attending the rehearsal and that's tomorrow evening, ask if you can get the balance then. You can start off with a friendly reminder that it hasn't been paid yet - absolutely no need to get forceful (yet). After all, if the relationship gets soured before the wedding, you're not going to enjoy shooting it and the couple won't enjoy having you there.</p>

<p>When you call, try something like, "I know the last couple of days before the wedding are complete pandemonium and hectic and I just figured that the balance due was accidentally overlooked. To make it easier for you and not to add to your errands, is there a time this evening or tomorrow that I can drop by and pick up the check? Saturday's an important day and I would rather that you are able to have fun and not have to remember to bring the check then."</p>

<p>Okay, those precise words make me sound like a dork, but you get the point. :-)</p>

<p>I agree with harry and Rob. you need to be proactive, polite and business-like. I would telephone them and offer to call 'round an collect the payment. I agree with the "next time" comment also.</p>

<p>WW</p>

 

<p>I get the feeling that you want to shoot this and that they want you to shoot it. <br /> What does the contract say? In absence of a contract, tread lightly (see above), unless you want things to get uncomfortable before the wedding. Don't come down hard on them- a little care may be needed. I agree with the above posters about making a call to gently remind them of your contract-conversation. It's best in general and very professional to be upfront and clear with your intentions. An email doesn't cut it. Make the call. Most likely they forgot because you're not hounding them like the other vendors might be.<br /> Lastly, I've accepted checks after the fact, but only from known entities- clients that came from a very strong referral. Every other vendor gets paid before the fact. Why should photographers be any different?</p>

<p>I think for right now, it looks like a simplke oversight and they have just forgotten to pay you. Don't sweat it quite yet...just give them a simple reminder call and casually mention it in your conversation. Hopefully they were just so busy they overlooked it :)</p>

<p>Agreed with everyone else about politely and professionally reminding them of the due date, especially in a friendly "You must be so busy right now! How are the plans going? When you get a chance, don't forget to drop off the final payment."</p>

<p>Also, if they're doing things last minute and really struggling with time (and perhaps even money) just hold onto the proofs and don't give them any images until the balance is paid. You will likely come off in a much more positive light and you're really at little risk of them not paying you. Officiants and musicians and other vendors really have to get paid beforehand. We photographers have a hostage, as it were. : )</p>

Call, don't email, if they are short on funds do the wedding anyway and hold on to everything until you've been paid in full. They always pay.

<p>Agreed with the above - you can shoot the wedding, 99% they'll pay because you're not going to give them any photos until they do. But in the future, for last minute bookings, require payment in full (I'd call "last minute" under a month).</p>

<p>I would disagree. Get paid in advance or forget it all together. Getting paid after the fact is hard if not impossible. If you regularly get paid in advance, get paid in advance. No exceptions. No matter if it's a month, or a day, before the wedding. I learned the hard way. Apparently, so are you.</p>