Wedding Photography Charges

[visagephoto]

Hi I am a Glasgow based photographer and wondered if anyone could give me advice on the following.

We have had some couples coming back to us long after their wedding date with their final print (album) order, sometimes 12 to 14 months later.

To cover the additional lab costs & labour this creates we are now adding a surcharge of 85p per 8"x 6" print, for the previously agreed No. of prints in the album. However one bride in particular is complaining that we had already agreed a price, which she paid, and she should'nt have to pay any extra, even though it's 14 months later.

This problem only became apparent shortly after this contract was signed, and our T&C have been amended on subsequent agreements.

Are we being unreasonable?, should we absorb the extra costs, or are we entitled to be compensated?

[CaroCaro]

I agree with the bride, you may have changed your t & c's but she is not to know that. As a goodwill gesture I would honour it. Women always ask other women who are married 'who was your wedding photogrpaher?' - personal reccomendation is worth it's weight in gold, and then some, in this industry. Do you want her to say to future brides to be 'his pics were great, but he stung us in the cost' or 'his pics were great, I would definatley use him' What sticks in your mind the most after reading those two comments? 'stung us on the cost' NOT 'his pics were great' In time, your old brides wanting more pics will fade out so new T&C's won't be an issue. Also get rid of that word 'surchage' enough to make any budget concious bride run a mile, and I don't mean a cheapskate bride, I mean the ones who run their weddings like a military operation eg: 95% of them!

[Joyous]

Apparently this is not unusual. I remember when I was getting married being very surprised when our wedding photographer told us that couples sometimes took up to a year to order their final prints. And then sure enough when the time came we took about a year to finally get down to ordering ours.

I agree with CaroCaro's point about using the word surcharge. It might be an idea to offer a 'discount' on prints ordered within a given time period. You then build your surcharge into the undiscounted price and the client feels good about taking advantage of your most generous offer.

Regards

Joy

[coxadmin]

It might be an idea to offer a 'discount' on prints ordered within a given time period.

That's exactly what the wedding photographer I used did. It was something like x% discount on orders placed within a month of collecting the proofs.

[bitsnstuff]

If you don't already (can't access your website), I would suggest setting up a passworded online ordering system where the proofs can be seen and ordered. When I got married, I had guests and potential photo purchasers, arriving from Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Portugal, and all over the UK. It was impossible to show them a large heavy book of proofs, so we ended up with just local family and friends placing an order. Even that was a pain, as we had a short time to order before the book had to be given back.

What I am trying to say in a long winded fashion :oops: , is that the online system, combined with the book of proofs, should speed up the process, as then the couple do not have to try to get the book around to everyone and may avoid the problem you are facing now. Also you would probably get larger orders by doing this as well.

But to go back to your actual question - I would definitely honour the original agreement and wear the cost on this occasion. If you forced the issue, without a doubt, you would end up with negative publicity from the bride. Don't forget, there are also loads of wedding forums, where she could have a moan and in one I have even seen a name and shame section! :shock:

Kate

[Alpha]

From a business perspective not a legal one although I would think that the legal stance will be the same...

You had a signed agreement which she has honoured by paying you(presumably at the time you took the order) so you have had her money for 14 months and also the interest on it.
You should honour your part of the contract by providing the album as requested. It may be too late now but by honouring it you would have given them the service and may have got referrals from it in the future(always think what the future value of each piece of work is not just the discrete job.....as other friends, relatives, work colleagues get married in the future if they ask for recommendations what is she now likely to say? The potential revenue that you may have lost could be substantial !!!)

At least now you could try and repair the damage by sending her a letter explaining that your terms and conditions have changed but you will be honouring the contract that she signed (and poosibly give her a small freebie as a token gesture and sorry for any distress the misunderstanding may have caused)

[visagephoto]

Thanks for the good advice guys.

Ok I agree! seems like maybe I should be prepared to bear the extra costs (but only a last resort).

It's just annoying that because of their reluctance to complete & post an order form I've got to be out of pocket. It may only be an extra £20-£30 per wedding, but multiplied by six or seven wedding orders it can become quite expensive.

The discount idea may be an option, but only for reprints, as the wedding album is paid for in advance, and only if placed within 8 weeks of recieving the preview prints & accompanied by the complete Bridal Album order.

The term surcharge was used only for this posting,

On our T&C it reads as

>>May be subject to any price increases which have ocurred<<

I still don't think my request to be reimbursed for the additional cost is unfair. . . but I'm prepared to submit to public opinion :cry: :cry:

[CaroCaro]

A little thing is the T&C is not going to get read, when you sit down with a couple verbalise all the T&C's to them, or get them to sign the t&c's after they have read them and don't take orders without a signed order form, you are making a rod for your own back! I can appreciate how annoying it is, but the devil is in the detail!

[Alpha]

Change the charging structure round so that you assume that they will take 12 months and give a discount bringing it down to your original post if they order within your required timespan.

Always ensure that you sit down and explain exactly what is in your contract and why ...they will appreciate it more. :)

[visagephoto]

When meeting the B&G, I always advise them to read the T&C's, before completing the booking form & signing the declaration. Some do, but most I find just skim over the headings & carry on. I can't insist that they read the T&C thoroughly before accepting their booking.

My booking forms are printed on three part NCR forms with the T&C printed on the back of the T/C (ours) and the B/C (thiers). The declaration at the bottom states that they have read and understood the T&C's

I'll definitely look into the discount for early orders option.

[clairemackaness]

Sorry to say but I am a bride who was married in June 2004. I still havn't got round to getting my photos done and my place kept the price the same for me. It's fine to put a clause in the contracts for any new business. But you should honour your old brides.

Choosong pictures can be soooo hard. If I where you I'd offer a special one 2 one after the event where you can help the couples choose their pictures over a glass of wine!

[Alpha]

When meeting the B&G, I always advise them to read the T&C's, before completing the booking form & signing the declaration. Some do, but most I find just skim over the headings & carry on. I can't insist that they read the T&C thoroughly before accepting their booking.

Alan

this can be the difference between customer service and great customer service.

You don't have to read the whole of the T & C verbatim but just draw their attention to the main points of the contract. The discount being one of them!!

[ReelLifePhotos]

Tying up everything I have read on this thread about charging or not charging couples who delay in finalising their album orders, I agree that it is unethical to ask them for an additional fee, agree that spending time with them after the wedding going through all the photos (we sit with them for about 3 hours on average) and assuming you have good prices for hard work anyway, what's a mere £30 extra in making a couple happy! We put everything online anyway, so they often come armed with a list of favourites, having devoted hours and hours online they are so keen, and to make doubly sure we usually upload their choices for a final check before going to print. We are unusual in that we DON'T take full payment before the wedding, so have every reason to work extra hard to make sure our clients are really pleased with their albums, but since it would be impossible to clear all the summer's orders in one go this allows them to order when they are ready financially, and us to spread our processing workload throughout the year, so maintaining a steady cash-flow, and keeping all parties happy.

[MH1]

I can't insist that they read the T&C thoroughly before accepting their booking.

As mentioned, simply read the appropriate T+C that are causing concerns for you tot he B+G, and ask them to initial the clause(s), even highlight them if required.

Saves all the arguments at a later date.

[ReelLifePhotos]

Each new client is unique so brings with them their own individual slant and experiences, so we listen to their feedback/complaints or praise and adapt T&C's to pre-empt new issues of concern. We now include a clause that clarifies a grey area, stating that we own the copyright of all comisssioned material - legally - so are able to use clips from videos and images from weddings on the Internet to show potential clients what we do, without having to notify them retrospectively of our intention.

[Zeno]

I would say that even if your terms & conditions state you can (and assuming that it is indeed in accordance with the law) it seems wrong to use pictures of what is a private event in your marketing material without prior permission.

I would be put out if I discovered any slack jawed gawker with an internet connection could look at the "happiest..." day of my life.