zenia Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 A bride contacted me recently about her upcoming wedding and asked if I wereavailable. I said yes and she said she was interested in my services so I senther a contract to sign and asked for a 50% deposit. A week later, I had a family issue arise, and was no longer available on herdate. I immediately sent her an e-mail telling her I was no longer available. Atthis time, she had not signed the contract nor given me a deposit. She called me and was furious and sent an e-mail expressing the same. Iprofusely apologized and feel really bad. What would you have done in thissituation? What could I have done differently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairieimages Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Did you offer her the names/numbers of someone else that you feel confident would do a good job??? if she hadnt' signed the contract or paid the deposit then I'd say it's not your problem .. it would be no differnet then two brides wanting teh same day and telling them whoever got the deposit to you first got the date. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenia Posted March 24, 2007 Author Share Posted March 24, 2007 Thanks for the response Michelle, I did offer her the contact information for another photographer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_prouty Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 If she feels that way now, just imagine what kind of day you may have had with her on HER day. Your family should come first. If she can't understand that, she is probably best being the one that got away. I hope your family issue is not too serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtrejo6 Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Don't be so hard on yourself. You offered a legitimate explanation as well as a sincere apology. No contract was signed and no $$ exchanged hands so you did the right thing. If she doesn't understand then you wouldn't want to do business with her anyway. Just shrug it of and concentrate on the next wedding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Don't worry about her bad mouthing you to her friends. They already know her, know what she's like, and will take all her ranting with a grain of salt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreul Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 nice pics Zenia...glad to see you're charging more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conraderb Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Zenia - It's tough to disappoint a client, but it sounds like you forgot to tell the bride that her booking is not for sure until you get the contract back with a check.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savagesax Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Well since it is LA area perhaps email me and I can talk with you tomorrow regarding her. I think we can help settle the brides nerves and give her exceptional photography and/or video. Needless to say we will speak highly of you and your work. We've done this before with great success. By the way I know most of the places on your site like Pepperdine University! Lets try to met with the bride show my work and still speak highly of you. Send an email and I will forward my 800 number so it won't cost you anything, but perhaps result with a good outcome. Maybe we can arrange a free engagement, or a 16X20 print and work together on it, or you can do the album to help build her trust. I've been shooting wedding since the 80's so rest assured I know what I'm doing and know how to sell! Regards, Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_s___hampton_roads_va Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 you have a legitimate reason to bow out, and the fact that you had no signed contract or deposit means she really has no right to gripe... she sounds like someone who's going to have a meltdown with anything she's not happy with anyway, so you're probably better off not dealing with her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_ Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 No money has left the hands of the bride-to-be, so no problem exists. (Generally, a payment in hand = an agreement.) As noted above, try to find a very good sub and see if a successful outcome results.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnmullaney Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Though I'm not an attorney, I do know that a contract has three elements. 1. Offer2. Acceptance3. Consideration [money] I would work with her to find another photographer, but I wouldn't broker the deal. Simply provide her with suggestions, offer input, and overwhelm her with a calm demeanor and professionalism, no matter her tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10tenphoto Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 It was a week later!! And you contacted her right away. Clear your conscience, you did your part. If you do decide to help her find someone else(which isn't necessary), make sure you warn them that the bride has a very short fuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancy s. Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 No money = no date. Let it go. If another bride had met with you and requested that date with money in hand and a pen poised for signature, you would have taken her over the one who had not responded (yet). This business is first come first serve. Offer no excuses. You told her right away the date became committed prior to her sending money or contract. Matters not if the committment was personal or for another customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Michael Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 > What could I have done differently? < 1. Have in place a better business protocol apropos dealing with contracts that are `sent out to be signed`: and that might be that you `do not send contracts out to be signed`. If you do not address this systemic problem, as your business grows you will have the same problem again, but probably much larger. It matters not the reason for your unavailability, which is coincidental. 2. Regarding the `family issue`, apropos your business, then you need to make a protocol in this regard also, i.e. what is your protocol if the bride had signed and you had taken the deposit and then the `family issue` came up? So in a nutshell you have TWO systems you need to get into place quick smart. WW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa_berry___northampton_m Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 you should charge even more for your services! the bride is probably upset because she knows she won't be able to find that kind of quality for such a bargain price. don't undersell yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam_thompson2 Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 "Though I'm not an attorney, I do know that a contract has three elements. 1. Offer 2. Acceptance 3. Consideration [money]" Not necessarily. If the client detrimentally relied on the promise she may have a case. Promissory estoppel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estoppel#Promissory_estoppel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now