Wedding Photography payment in advance...
Discussion
Good afternoon everyone,
I've been asking people to pay in advance for my 'services' as a wedding photographer more recently.
I ask for 50% as a deposit and the other 50% a month before the wedding. Emailing the bride and groom (in addition to chatting/meeting) forms the basis of a 'contract', so we all know what we are doing.
Before I asked for payment upfront, I had a few problems being paid, often by those who I thought unlikely to 'try it on'.
I wondered what sort of tales other photographers have had over the years with payment 'issues'...
Here are a few of my own experiences...
1-Big wealthy families involved here, but despite agreeing the whole plan for the day and after, what I'd do etc etc (in writing) the groom decided (after returning from 2 week honeymoon) that he thought I was going to provide them with a number of massive canvas prints. Never any mention of this, but some people are always right, so I had to wait months before I got paid, which involved meeting the bride at a pub (minus groom) and generally made to feel like I was some kind of conman for asking.
Furthermore, I was expected (by the groom) to produce/pay for the canvas prints out of my own pocket, without even a sniff of payment from them.
They loved the photos though, which I'd got to them weeks before.
I'd known and both worked with them for 2 years, it all seemed like a good choice.
They split up after 6 months.
2-Another big wealthy 'do', and again someone I worked freelance for (as a photographer). I did the predictable thing and felt obliged to do the wedding for them, despite the 'staff' photographer turning it down...
Same tale as previous example, except no canvas print scandal involved this time. Both bride and groom were delighted with photos, so I expected to be paid promptly. Silly me.
It took 2 months from return of honeymoon to be paid, and I felt like asking for the money (my fee which I'd 'discounted' as a nice gesture) was going to mean I caused problems with the freelance work I did (for a magazine).
As it happens I was paid, and continue working for the magazine until this day.
The groom was made redundant 3 years ago.
3-Is there such a thing as a modest wedding? Yes, but again this example was a lavish affair. This time I asked for a substantial deposit, the rest to follow when I gave them photos. Moving forward here I thought...
"No problem" said the bride. So we went to the venue and did some 'engagement style' photos, so the camera-shy groom would get used to 'having his photo taken'. All went well. They loved the photos. All is well.
When it came to paying the deposit, I had a text (a text!) explaining that bride's Mum is paying for the photos, and she always thought photographers got paid after the event...so I felt like I had no choice, didn't want to create any ill-feeling etc, didn't want any negative vibes.
So on the day of the wedding I made sure I took lots of photos of the bride's Mum (you might say too many) to ensure she got value for money (if unpaid at that point is VFM).
So those 3 examples justify why I stipulate (politely) for payment in advance, just like the disco, venue, florist, vicar, wedding car people, honeymoon travel agent, airline etc etc does.
Your thoughts on payment in advance and non/slow payment experiences please! Thank you.
I've been asking people to pay in advance for my 'services' as a wedding photographer more recently.
I ask for 50% as a deposit and the other 50% a month before the wedding. Emailing the bride and groom (in addition to chatting/meeting) forms the basis of a 'contract', so we all know what we are doing.
Before I asked for payment upfront, I had a few problems being paid, often by those who I thought unlikely to 'try it on'.
I wondered what sort of tales other photographers have had over the years with payment 'issues'...
Here are a few of my own experiences...
1-Big wealthy families involved here, but despite agreeing the whole plan for the day and after, what I'd do etc etc (in writing) the groom decided (after returning from 2 week honeymoon) that he thought I was going to provide them with a number of massive canvas prints. Never any mention of this, but some people are always right, so I had to wait months before I got paid, which involved meeting the bride at a pub (minus groom) and generally made to feel like I was some kind of conman for asking.
Furthermore, I was expected (by the groom) to produce/pay for the canvas prints out of my own pocket, without even a sniff of payment from them.
They loved the photos though, which I'd got to them weeks before.
I'd known and both worked with them for 2 years, it all seemed like a good choice.
They split up after 6 months.
2-Another big wealthy 'do', and again someone I worked freelance for (as a photographer). I did the predictable thing and felt obliged to do the wedding for them, despite the 'staff' photographer turning it down...
Same tale as previous example, except no canvas print scandal involved this time. Both bride and groom were delighted with photos, so I expected to be paid promptly. Silly me.
It took 2 months from return of honeymoon to be paid, and I felt like asking for the money (my fee which I'd 'discounted' as a nice gesture) was going to mean I caused problems with the freelance work I did (for a magazine).
As it happens I was paid, and continue working for the magazine until this day.
The groom was made redundant 3 years ago.
3-Is there such a thing as a modest wedding? Yes, but again this example was a lavish affair. This time I asked for a substantial deposit, the rest to follow when I gave them photos. Moving forward here I thought...
"No problem" said the bride. So we went to the venue and did some 'engagement style' photos, so the camera-shy groom would get used to 'having his photo taken'. All went well. They loved the photos. All is well.
When it came to paying the deposit, I had a text (a text!) explaining that bride's Mum is paying for the photos, and she always thought photographers got paid after the event...so I felt like I had no choice, didn't want to create any ill-feeling etc, didn't want any negative vibes.
So on the day of the wedding I made sure I took lots of photos of the bride's Mum (you might say too many) to ensure she got value for money (if unpaid at that point is VFM).
So those 3 examples justify why I stipulate (politely) for payment in advance, just like the disco, venue, florist, vicar, wedding car people, honeymoon travel agent, airline etc etc does.
Your thoughts on payment in advance and non/slow payment experiences please! Thank you.
Edited by BlimeyCharlie on Friday 14th October 16:41
I've never had any payment problems from my wedding clients or misunderstandings over deliverables, they are all clearly defined in the schedule of my contract. Full balance a month or so before the wedding date is pretty standard for all of the key wedding day suppliers. Without the balance payment, I certainly wouldn't be turning up on the day to photograph a wedding.
Dealing with corporate clients I find an entirely different matter, those often need chasing for payment...
Dealing with corporate clients I find an entirely different matter, those often need chasing for payment...
MartinP said:
I've never had any payment problems from my wedding clients or misunderstandings over deliverables, they are all clearly defined in the schedule of my contract. Full balance a month or so before the wedding date is pretty standard for all of the key wedding day suppliers. Without the balance payment, I certainly wouldn't be turning up on the day to photograph a wedding.
Dealing with corporate clients I find an entirely different matter, those often need chasing for payment...
Ha, I find the opposite is true for me, corporate clients have been no hassle, with only 3 exceptions, and 2 of those are 'serial' late-payers that I invoice promptly so it doesn't go too long.Dealing with corporate clients I find an entirely different matter, those often need chasing for payment...
JustinP1 said:
Simpo.....?
He he...
Haha indeed! At the outset I asked for a deposit when booking and the balance after the photos (disk) were delivered. For a long time this was fine and payments arrived in good time. I then had the misfortune to be employed by a pair of professional complainers who thought it would be clever to copy all the photos onto their PC, then send the disk back saying the photos were no good. To cut a very long story short, they lost. After that episode I requested full payment in advance. No-one's batted an eyelid; payment in advance is standard for the industry.He he...
I must be quite lucky, I'm in my 6th full time year as a wedding photographer (shoot around 45/50 per year) and I haven't had any payment issues at all, I ask for £350 to book then the balance to be paid one calendar month before the wedding date. Also shoot a fair bit of commercial for big brands and although sometimes you have to wait 30/60 days they always pay up eventually.
Photomattbrown said:
I must be quite lucky, I'm in my 6th full time year as a wedding photographer (shoot around 45/50 per year) and I haven't had any payment issues at all, I ask for £350 to book then the [b]balance to be paid one calendar month before the wedding date[b].
That's why you haven't have any payment issues 
If the balance didn't arrive despite reminders would you chance it or keep the deposit and take the day off?
Simpo Two said:
Photomattbrown said:
I must be quite lucky, I'm in my 6th full time year as a wedding photographer (shoot around 45/50 per year) and I haven't had any payment issues at all, I ask for £350 to book then the [b]balance to be paid one calendar month before the wedding date[b].
That's why you haven't have any payment issues Presume if the balance didn't arrive despite reminders you'd keep the deposit and take the day off.
Message Board | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff