 Marina K |
Client not paying other half.. Hello All, I am a new photographer, so forgive me for asking a silly question. I did my first wedding 3 weeks ago and I told the bride that I will put all the photos on a CD and ship it out to her AFTER I receive the second half of the payment. We've been emailing each other several times and she keeps promising to send a money order. However, she told me it got really busy at work and she just hasn't had time to send the payment yet. My question is...(oh and by the way, I gave her a deadline of when the payment is due, which was last Friday!) do I charge her a late fee? How do I get her to pay? Do photographers charge late fees if the payment is not submitted by the due date. Its going to be 1 month from the wedding date and I still don't have the payment....... Please help....... -Marina
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Debbie Del Tejo |
My very first lesson in wedding photography was always make the final payment due one week PRIOR to the wedding....if they give you a check...go cash it right away or deposit it right away..if they give you CC then you know if they dont have the money in the account because it will be declined. I take a $500.00 deposit initially to book the date...then I don't require anything else (unless they want to send me payments ) untill the week prior to the wedding. All other vendors get paid in advance...why not the photographer...who is the most important vendor. I only had one bride that asked me if she could pay me the balance when I gave her the proof book and because she was a lawyer I said yes....but to bring cash instead...and she did. This way you will avoid having this type of situation....find a lawyer that can type her up a letter but depending on what she owes you, it may or may not be worth it. I also hope you have a contract...that will cover all bases for you, including payment. Good luck!
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Jerry Frazier |
This usually doesn't happen on the first one. Normally, it would take a couple of years for that to happen. But, this is why I always get payment ahead of time. You might never get it. Don't be surprised if you don't. It's amazing that I have people who have paid, and never come pick up their proofs. I keep them, just in case some day they decide to come on by. But, I think it's weird.
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Slim Brady |
The company I apprentice for gets half to save the date and the other half 3 months before the wedding. If they don't get married (sometimes couples get stressed in the last month and say things they shouldn't) and they call it off, the only way they will get a refund is if that day is booked for a equal or higer value package. You have the pictures and can hold them for randsom (at least you have a chance). It has happened that one B&G just dissapeared off the face of the earth, but had paid a high-end package deposit. So at least you cover your hours. If I were you I wouldn't do any editing until the check clears. If she wonders why it takes so long after that, tell her you're working on other weddings before hers and you'll get to it ASAP (as soon as you get your interest back:)
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Mark Feldstein |
The answers to your questions Mariana, actually turn on whether or not you had a written contract or agreement signed by you and the bride / groom, (whomever was responsible for payment). If it's written, all these things you're asking about, amounts, timing of payments, whether you can charge interest or not, should be clearly spelled out. If it's strictly a verbal deal, and the total amount of the contract exceeds $500.00 then (at least under the California Commercial Code) you've got a real problem and a potentially unenforceable agreement. Sure, you can ask for payments and charge interest til the cows come home, but unless your agreement is written, chances of collecting it are slim to none no matter where she lives and a good lawyer will tell her to go after you in an action for "specific performance" to get you to fork over your photos. I know, I know, it all sounds harsh, but there are reasons for written contracts between parties, including wedding photographers and their clients and you've just mentioned only three out of a lot of others. Take it light.
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Marina K |
Thanks for your input guys. I do have a contract and I did request that she pay me half before the wedding (and she did). My contract says the following: . DEPOSIT of 50% is required as a retainer at the time the wedding ceremony starts. The remaining balance is due after the wedding, before photos are shipped. She owes me $310....I guess I will hold on to the photos until she does pay. But for future reference, I guess I will have to specify more clearly in the contract as to when the second half of the payment is due.
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Mark Feldstein |
Well, since it's a bit vague as to timing, you could send her a note with half the remaining photos on CD. The note could say something like since that was a little vague, as a gesture of good faith, you're sending along 1/2 of the remaining photos and you'll be pleased to provide the rest when she tenders the balance of $310.00. That way, it's pretty tough for her to raise an argument that you're in breach of your own agreement and you're being reasonable under the circumstances. And yes, absolutely you should clarify the terms of your agreement, especially as to timing and amounts of scheduled payments. Mark
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