divorce

Hi all,

I went to see an old friend of mine who has been shooting weddings since I was a baby. His customers are mainly from his Slavic ethnic community but others call him often and he does about 120 weddings a year. That's Fri', Sat' and Sunday(I wish I gad his work load).

He told me that he called a customer he'd finished a package for and asked them to pick it up. (He got the groom on the phone)Didn't seem to be a problem. A few weeks went by without anyone looking for the photos.
Soon he learned from others that the couple had separated and were headed for divorce.
He called the groom back and explained that if someone didn't pick the photos up or didn't want them... that he'd(the photog) lose money and it wasn't his fault that they weren't getting along.

I thought he was a bit silly to bother so much about it and asked him how much he charged as a booking fee. He charges 'five hundred bucks' to book and then the rest of the money is made up in the packages they buy. They owed him about 'three grand'

I suppose that he spent the 'five hundred' on the printing and leather bound album... etc,. I also suppose he may have lost money cause 'five hundred bucks' wouldn't cover the costs; a nice album in Aus' can cost around 'three hundred bucks' alone.

BUT... ultimately if you call and nag people who don't want to look at each other anymore... you may find that they'll spread stories about how you hassled them for money they didn't want to spend anymore. Regardless of them owing anything... "you lose"!

My opinion is that he should just drop it at this point cause "they ain't comin around".
I don't want the bad publicity if something like this happens at one of my weddings and I would just drop it.
I'm positive a not so small but talkative ethnic community would think that he should just leave the couple alone to their mysery.
He doesn't see it that way and keeps calling but does think that his bookings got a little thinner since.

??
Bill.

[PhilMarshall]

For me, I'd say drop it, and chalk it down to experience.
I guess there's a reason most wedding photogs charge everything up front. It only takes on experience like this - and even if you're not actually out of pocket (i.e. your deposit has covered your expenses) you're still missing out on what you *should* have earned.

It also wonder whether his accent/background is counting against him. If he is identifiable by his accent (of whatever) then word of mouth could really be a problem. It'll no longer be a case of saying "MR X did this" but more a case of "I heard that the guy with the strong accent did..." and even more distant contacts of the couple could be put off by word of mouth (it's easier ot remember a distinguishing feature than just a name, I think).

Phil

[JeffBarrie]

Well your right in one aspect, word will travel that this guy won't push the issue to get paid if you give him the run around enough. This couple entered into a valid contract with your friend. He has fulfilled his end of the contract, they haven't. Whether they want the photos or not is irrelevant, the still owe him and should pay.
Maybe he would be willing to settle for less and not deliver the photos but, still he should be paid and not at a loss.

Your friend should make one more call and simply ask, "Are you going to pay me or not?" If the answer is no, then a visit to his lawyer and begin legal action against the couple. If they bought a house or a car and got a divorce does that forgive them for the money that is still owed?

I think both you and Phil make good points but either way it's a hard call.

I try to convince my friend to charge a higher booking fee. I charge three times his booking fee just to turn up. At $1500 I'd have a days wage and cost cover.

My friend has been shooting weddings since I was a baby. I've worked with him a lot in years past and he's now sending me any one he can't get to.
I always remember his business ability was lacking. He has always had difficulty getting people to pay him the way he wants to be paid.
I always have to explain to his referals that I'm a separate business and do things differently. I handle the customer with cotton wool at this point and usually win the booking.

Regards,
Bill.

[David_A_Smith]

As mentioned, there are good points made here already. While I wholeheartedly agree the couple have entered into a contract and should pay, I also know the practical and long term problems of enforcing that. Being an outsider but having worked extensively with a variety of ethnic commounitys, I know "the grapevine" is about as large and carrys the same amount of info as your average trans atlantic telephone cable. It is not at all hard to see the story of the photographer wanting his money overshadowing the story of the couple's divorce itself amoung the old women and you know dam well that the " incedental" facts like their legal obligation to pay their debts will be completely overshadowed. No doubt the story will have the Photographer as the Rich ,mean ogre and the Bride as snow white and the groom Prince Charming.

This is the precise reason I get my money up front. I have had 3 couples never come back now and while I certainly make less money from it that if I can get them back and finalise the album with extra's, I still come out in front not behind. Some charitable souls may think that sounds a bit hard but my priority is to MY family and MY creditors. I am also a business person and a photographer, I am not responsible for other people's problems as I have enough of my own to deal with already [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

As for your question Bill, I agree with you mate. Drop it. IMHO the situation should have largely been avoided in the first place and no use trying to shut the gate after the horse has bolted. I know your friend is probably getting on for retirement now but I can only suggest he learn from the experience and take steps to stop the consequences of other people problems affecting him in the future. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]