Will I get burned in Wedding Photography?

Question

I don't want any money up front. I do the pictures and in 10 days the pictures will be delivered. Then the wedding couple pays. If they don't pay they don't get the pictures. After all one looks at a new car and then buys it. One would never pay 25,000 dollars for a car unseen and then pick it up 10 days later. So!! I do the wedding......in 10 days if you like the pictures you pay and the pictures are yours.

Doing weddings since 1994. Trying to get the upper hand over others. Is this "Pay after you see the pictures going to work?"

We (wife and I) do nice work.

Answer 1

Yes and no. Your clients might not burn you, but you will have virtually zero cash flow when you need it, assuming you're trying to make a living at this. If this is just an occasional weekend gig, with no desire to do it full-time, then by all means go for it. But those of us who need to feed our families all year round will continue to charge ahead of time so we don't get screwed by cancellations and flakey clients.

Consider this little nugget: There's a reason that those of us who do this for a living require payment upfront. Whether or not you understand that reason isn't the point. The point is that we do it because it is what works. You'd be hard-pressed to find an experienced professional who does it any other way. (Though there are plenty who do half upfront and half on delivery.)

Also consider your perspective and attitude toward wedding photography. You are treating it as a commodity, like a car or a can of soda or an iPod. That type of wedding photography certainly exists, but it's rarely interesting or impressive. But those of us who treat wedding photography as an art ascribe to a very traditional business model: commissioned art. The client pays and then the work is performed.

Also, here's the simple advice I give to anyone considering getting into the business (realizing you didn't specifically ask for it): There is a physical limit to how many weddings you can do in a year, particularly if you're in an area where weddings are very seasonal. Most in this area cannot handle more than about 30 a year. Those who do more, perhaps 50, have to sacrifice the service level they can provide.

If you think you can undercut everyone else and charge less and get more business, realize that there is a very real cap to how many you can actually do. If you're taking home a grand from each wedding, and you really work your butt off and provide very low customer service (both amount and quality of time spent with and for each client and their images), and you manage 50 weddings, that's $50,000. Reasonable, but not exactly making a killing, and meanwhile you're killing yourself to do it. And I'd be amazed if you can get 20 weddings in a year without really going the extra mile with your clients so you can get referrals.

There are photographers in every town in every state trying to do wedding photography by advertising on craigslist that they can shoot for $500. I feel for them. I've only met 2 photographers with more than a year of experience who still charge that little, and they are both women with husbands who provide most of the income for their families.

Good luck!

Answer 2

This doesn't sound like a wise idea to me.

To stick with your car analogy, imagine that the car lot was only allowed to be open on Saturdays (usually), so it only has 52 days per-year to do business. This car lot is also only allowed to service one customer per-day, and the customers typically schedule appointments months in advance.

The reason most wedding photographers require a deposit is that if the couple cancels last-minute, the photographer has been turning away other business for months based on that date being booked. With only a finite number of days per-year to do business, any cancellation can have a dramatic impact on a photographer's bottom line.

I also think you're setting yourself up to get into disputes with the customers over the value of your work. I agree with the above poster that questions why you're viewing wedding photography as just a commodity.

I think its an admirable sentiment to give control to the customer, but a recipe for disaster in practice.

I also noticed in your other question thread, about the difficulties of being a wedding photographer today, that you accompanied your selection by the sentiment that "the days of $2k weddings are over...." I would encourage you to think another way: there is always someone who will work *cheaper* than you. Aim to improve your skills and strive to reach the high-end of the market.... There will always be a market for quality.

Answer 3

I did wedding photography for 10 years. I always asked for a deposit, you need to cover your costs for the day. I had weddings where the couple split up a week later, another where one of them died in a car crash, and one where the bride cancelled it at the church. I only had one wedding where any film was damaged (by the lab not me), I still had a complete album. If you are good and the couple sees your samples before hand, they'll want to pay the deposit to lock you down for the day.

Answer 4

im really wondering if you are serious,

do what Evan says, i havent read his answer to be fair, but i know from past experience he is very very smart

many people pay for cars before they buy them, some lamborghinis have to paid in full 3 months before delivery

if you have been in business since '94 you should know better than your question

i always get a deposit - non refundable, for the 1 or 2 weddings i do a year

anyway i dont think you are for real, if you are do what Evan says

a

Answer 5

Trying to get the upper hand using financial incentives rather than quality of work, then you're definately not on the right track.

Answer 6

It might work out better than the marriage. After all anything over 50% is better odds than a marriage! LOL

Answer 7

You should at least get paid for your time up front....you've comitted your time and it prevents you from accepting other shoots for that time slot.

Answer 8

always get half upfront that way both people will want the best to happen

Answer 9

that's a great idea!

There are many lawsuits against photogrophers and such that "ruin" a wedding b/c they fail to take good photos/recordings

doing this prevents all that...

BRILLIANT~!