Massachusetts-Boston
Need Help, Photography Contract ….long
So we found a photographer that we want to book for our wedding. When looking over the contract last night, it stated that they are guaranteed for up to 10 hrs with each additional hour costing $500. Our ceremony will be at 2pm and reception is schedule for 6pm-12. (There is no way of changing the ceremony time with our church). We already know we will definitely need them for more than 10 hrs. If we started getting ready 2 hrs before the ceremony that would be at Noon and now we are talking 12 hrs for a photographer. I’m assuming we’ll start getting ready well before that so now its closer to 14+hrs. When did you start getting read on your wedding day? How many hours should we plan for? I have 5 BMs, 2 mothers and 1 grandmother that will being getting ready with me. We’ll be about 15 minutes from the church. Should we have an exact number of hours listed in the contract? They have been very casual when I’ve asked them about it and say, “oh don’t worry about that, we’ll can discuss that once it gets closer to the wedding. We’ll be there all day.” I think they are sincere but I don’t want to pay the huge fee they will be charging for the contract and then get a bill for a couple thousand dollars after the wedding for additional time. Sorry for the novel... any help is greatly appreciated!!
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Re: Need Help, Photography Contract ….long
What I WOULD suggest is talking with your photographer and letting them know that you have a budget to adhere to, and if they can accommodate the extra (what seems like 4 hours from your desciption) within that budget, then they can. If they can't, then they cant, and you'll at least know now.
They seem pretty easy to chat with-- just call them up and talk to them about it.
I also want to edit this post with the following:
I see WAY too many girls on here afraid to talk money with their vendors. Yeah, HI-- this is cold hard cash we're talking about. No one (that I know...) has so much they can just leave it on their seat in the T, or casually light it on fire just because they 'can,' so I don't expect folks out there to be willy nilly about financial contracts with vendors, either. Just talk to them!! If you're upfront and honest with them, I think they'll thank you later. If it means your on the hunt for another vendor-- then it was for the benefit of everyone. Really.
I know my photog told me she doesn't have to be there for the BMs getting their hair and makeup done and stuff, just for you, which usually is close to the end. So maybe 2 hours is ok?
Another thought, if your ceremony is at 2, then it will prob go to 3 at the absolute latest, then to take formals will prob put you at 4:00. That's almost two hours downtime in there. Can they charge you like $150 for those two extra hours since they wont be taking pics?
I agree with Evs, talk to them about it. Tell them your concerns with your budget and see what they can do to work within it.
When we met with them they were super sweet and easy to talk to. My first instinct is to trust them and go with the flow the way they said we should. Who doesn't love to hear that. But then the more realistic side of me is thinking about the fact that this is a business transaction and a contract is involved and I don't want to get caught in a bad situation at the wedding or post wedding.
I didn't realize that they don't really need to be there for the BMs, that makes sense though. So maybe the 12 hrs is fine. Should I just have them put that in the contract now or take their word that they'll be there whenever we ask them to be on the wedding day.
I could just be over thinking it. They are a completely sweet, reputable and experience couple that has been doing this for a long time. They seems sincere from the moment we first started speaking with them.
Planning Bio - Woefully out of date
I would also add that the photographer is the one place where I absolutely did not want to scrimp, since pictures are forever!
Seriously, this is a business agreement and if someone says "just trust me", I'd be concerned. The contract is there to protect both of you and make sure you both know what you are agreeing to. If you already know you will need them for more than the 10 hrs they include, you need to figure out how to deal with it. When you were talking, they may not have realized that you have a gap in the middle that will make the day pretty long, or maybe they didn't think you wanted the getting ready shots. Anyway, talk to them about it and don' t be shy. They want you to be happy and everyone is better off to discuss these issues up front in the beginning to prevent misunderstandings and problems later on. They might give you a discount since you have such a big gap, but be prepared that they may not since it is not like they can go home or do anything else during that time. You are hiring them for a very long day.
And i just want to reiterate evseidl's point: this IS a business agreement, make sure you discuss all terms up front or you may have issues later on. Good luck!
Oh, and like evs said...don't be afraid to ask questions, be blunt about your budget, and hash it out ahead of time. If they are experienced they will have already heard it all before.
GOOD LUCK!
My hubby & I rock the frock.
Bio
6.12.2010
You could probably have them arrive an 1.5 through 2 hours before the ceremony (noonish) and stay till 10pm... only missing 2 hours of your reception. Is that feasible?