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Just Said Yes July 2024

Photographers i need advice.

Haley, on May 6, 2020 at 12:16 PM Posted in Community Conversations 0 5

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I have a question for you photographers and what you are doing to help your clients in this crazy time. Mainly about rescheduling protocol.

My friend was supposed to get married in September. She has many people from Spain and out of state coming in. I’d say about 85% of her guests are out of state or international. Her family in Spain are also paying for a lot of her wedding so she definitely wants them there.
She’s also a really stressful person. So with this pandemic going on she decided it would be wise to postpone it for a year. To protect her and her family (Her parents are very high risk with this disease.) and to let her family join her.
All her vendors are ok with moving the date except her photographer. Her photographer is not saying no to the rescheduling but is making it difficult. I’m just wondering what is the practice within the wedding photographers. To give some insight:
Her final cost will come to $3,500 with 6 hours of time. 1 photographer, all digital files and edits.
She wanted a retainer/deposit of $1750 up front and she’s agreed to payments. My friend has $500 left to pay this month.
The photographer doesn’t want her to move her wedding date and to just wait and see what happens. But since it won’t be safe for family she’s agreed to reschedule for free but only if she picks a Monday-Thursday’s wedding date. If she does want a weekend date that she has to pay for an additional 50% of the total price. That will come to a total of $5250.
She’s very stressed over this obviously and I was just wondering if this is common practice to do and what you guys suggest.

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5 Comments

Latest activity by Mrs. Rachel Lamb, on July 3, 2020 at 2:53 AM

Master May 2021
Cristy · on May 6, 2020 at 12:54 PM
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I'm not a photographer, but a bride in search of one. I have had similar issues with my photographer, which is why I'm responding. Our wedding was supposed to be May 30 of this year. When it was clear that the shelters-in-place were going to drag on for awhile, we made the decision to postpone to May 2021. I contacted all of my vendors, and every single one of them was cool about the postponement. They all understood, and I wasn't the only client scrambling for a new date, and trying to get everyone on board.
EXCEPT my photographer. First, she whined about the money she would be losing, not being able to rebook my date, blah, blah, blah. Then, at first, she said I could reschedule, no problem. About a week later, I get an email from her saying that she's changed her mind, and that I can book another date in 2020, or I will have to start over with a new contract (higher prices), and a new deposit (already paid $2000), forfeiting the original deposit I paid. Also, if I insist on picking a date in 2021, of course she'll honor that, but I will also have to pay a pretty significant travel fee for her, since she has decided to move her home/business out of state by the end of 2020. What?!?
I decided then and there to look for a new photographer. It wasn't my choice to postpone my wedding. I'm an older bride (52), and this is my first (and only) wedding, and I've been planning it for 2 years!!! Does she really think I would be postponing if I didn't have to??? NO! But she only cares about her business, I guess. It's bad enough that I'm losing $2000, no matter what decision I make. But to then have to pay another $2000 deposit, and have a contract with significantly higher prices, and have to pay a travel fee? Nope. That's too much. When I tried to negotiate some of this stuff down, she wasn't having it. She said it was my fault for postponing. Ok, then I guess instead of getting some of my money, she won't be getting any!!! And now where I would have recommended her to anyone because I liked her so much, after this behavior, I'll be warning people against her.
I would recommend your friend find a new photographer. I've been reading lots of stories like this, and it seems to be the norm for photographers. Not sure why. All wedding vendors are going through this right now. I'm sorry she is going through this, and wish her the best of luck finding someone new!
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VIP August 1997
Belle · on May 6, 2020 at 1:21 PM
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I am a photographer but not a wedding photographer. My friends who are doing photography also don’t have that kind of experience. They are mostly flexible and a lot of their customers are postponing here in California. They only have to pay a fee but not a crazy fee ($150-400ish) and no rule stating they have to pick a weekday. They are free to book any future date as long as it’s still available, and most of them use online booking, so you can see their transparency.
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Master October 2021
Mrs.a · on May 6, 2020 at 6:59 PM
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It should be in the contract, regarding cancellations or rescheduling, and if they don’t have any verbiage in there regarding this I would push the envelope regarding the fees.
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Savvy April 2024
Apeal127 · on June 28, 2020 at 5:05 PM
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That’s awful. As a photographer right now I’m being extremely flexible with my clients, and as safety is priority, I’m not charging any rescheduling fees until COVID has eased. That’s a lot of money to be that rude about moving it, and then to put a restriction down on when she can move it to. She should be thankful for the work, even though she has to wait a bit longer for it.
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Dedicated October 2021
Mrs. Rachel Lamb · on July 3, 2020 at 2:53 AM
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I’m having the same problem right now. All my vendors have agreed to reschedule without any additional fee (October 10, 2020) except for my photographer. She said that prices for weddings next year has increased, that I have to pay for the difference. Also she wanted me to pay for changing fee since its not within the same calendar year (moving the wedding to October 10, 2021). It says on the contract that “Reschedule must be within the same calendar year of 12 months. A new retainer will be made if date change is made for 1 year after the agreed upon wedding date.” So I guess unless I change the date to October 09, 2021 I will have to pay for these extra fees that she mentioned. Should I wait for the “additional fees” or move on to another photographer and just let her have the retainer. Thank you!
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