Photography: Escape Clause in the Contract?

All photographers have to assure you another professional to do the job in case she/he is sick or An out of control emergency has come up. This reassures you that your pictures will be taken.

Ours reads like this.... "Be Photography LLC reserves the right to replace the contracting photographer with another professional photographer in the event of accident, illness, death, emergency, or any other reason deemed necessary by Be Photography LLC." - which strictly states the reasoning for the replacement - You may want to ask your photographer to change the wording - I've heard of photographers just wanting to bail on the couple and having someone else shoot it instead. - They should be open to any contract changes you want to make. -- We've even had people not comfortable with the "and any other reason deemed necessary by Be Photography LLC" part and we can just take it out!

It is a standard clause in the contract to ensure that you have a photographer for your wedding in case of a personal emergency. Most photographers have associates they deal with for this issue.

If you do not allow the clause to stand I expect the photographer will refuse to work for you , their lawyer, and liability insurance carrier will insist.

Yeah that definitely needs to be in there. theyre not trying to get out of the work, they ust do that so if something comes up, your not stuck last minute without a photographer. more often than not, everythingll be fine, but like brian said, you should be worried if that wasnt in the contract.

Yes. Imagine if your photographer falls and breaks her leg the day before your wedding. She will then send another photographer, usually one she's worked with before and can stand behind their quality and photographic style, and they can photograph your wedding day. Emergency diverted.

We hired an amazing DJ for my wedding 10 years ago...paid extra to have him travel to us! 2 days before the wedding, he called to inform us that he fell and broke his neck and would be unalbe to be our DJ. He said he had another DJ to replace himself the he had trained and assured us we would be satisfied. Everything was perfect, the new DJ was great and I had no complaints. Trust your photographer!

Be Photography has it exactly correct... that clause is standard in most photographers contracts, however it typically needs to state that he/she can only be replaced due to illness/etc.

Yes its normal but only for emergencies. Make sure that you ask that the backup photographer have a similar style to theirs since that is why you are hiring them.

Don't stress, totally normal. My Mom was a wedding photographer for more than 25 years (3rd generation), she had it in her contracts too. There was only one time she ever had to get a photographer friend to fill in for her, when her father was dying in 1990. It was a friend who worked in her father's studio and someone she trusted. Whoever their backup person is, it must be someone they trust as well as their reputation depends on it. Again, don't worry too much about it.

If it is bothering you why dont you ask if there has ever been a situation in which it was used, and for what. I asked my potential photog about this b/c of your post. he has been doing pics for over 10 yrs in a tiny little town. He said he has never had to call in for back up (but listed about 4 potential backups he has, that he trusts and will shoot in his style). In the same breath he said he missed the birth of their last child b/c he was scheduled to take pics. He has gone to weddings sick (swallowed the pharmacy we all posted about the other day) But this made me think it would be okay for our wedding too. Being reassured is part of the trust you should have in the person you choose. i am sure they will happily provide the details to ease your worries. :>)