DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Delicate Question...
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 11 of 11, (reverse)
AuthorThread
06/26/2006 10:23:45 PM · #1
This is for all of those photographers out there with a wedding business. I am just getting my wedding business off the ground (Got 2 more booked this weekend and I am VERY excited) but I have another issue as well. My husband and I have made the MONUMENTOUS, WONDERFUL, EXCITING decision that it is time to add a little bundle of joy to our family (and I am not talking about another cat LOL). My question is how do I handle bookings that are a year or more in advance when obviously I don't know when I will get pregnant? Do you have a backup person on call to shoot if you are in the hospital, or heaven forbid on something terrible such as bed rest! I don't want to put all bookings on hold, as who know's how long it will take us to get pregnant (if there is one thing I have learned it is that these things do NOT necessarily follow your idea of a plan)...but I don't know what to do exactly. Word of mouth and my website (even though it really needs some changes) are just starting to get me off the ground and I am afraid to take myself out of the market totally at this point.

Any ideas? Anyone willing to be a backup ? LOL:)
06/26/2006 10:26:22 PM · #2
I am assuming you are not pregnant yet, so go ahead and book. Then, when you get pregnant, you can start getting backups in place, etc.

Don't take yourself off the market right now. Like you said, conception can sometimes take its own sweet time. ;)

06/26/2006 10:27:53 PM · #3
I have recently been the back-up person. A friend that I met only once at a pro photographers guild meeting recently became pregnant and is totally bed-bound for the next 7 months.... so she's given me all of her bookings since. Its good that we chatted on the phone a few times and agreed upon a pricing scheme that works for both of us so the client barely notices the difference, they just show up to a different address for the shoot day. Believe me, clients dont' mind as long as they trust you and trust that you know who to sub for you in your absense. No worries... just find yourself a back-up that doesn't mind filling in in a pinch.

She'd just placed some major ads right before the bed-bound issue and didnd't/doesn't want her ads to go to waste.

Message edited by author 2006-06-26 22:30:07.
06/26/2006 10:30:08 PM · #4
I don't have alot of advice for you on the business aspect, other than you'll have at least 9 months to get a back-up in place.

But I do want to say congratulations on this monumentous decision!! :-) You're child will bring you nothing but joy! (okay, so maybe some tears and possibly some insanity) but I think the joy outweighs all that... I think. LOL! Congratulations and best of luck with your business! :-)
06/26/2006 10:32:51 PM · #5
Originally posted by jenesis:

...and possibly some insanity


You shouldn't lie to her like that...it's just not nice! ;)

Congrats and best wishes for your business and your family...both are stressful additions but are worth it in the end...insanity, grey hair, tears and all. :)
06/26/2006 10:41:14 PM · #6
sshhhhhh!! you weren't supposed to mention the grey hairs Laurie!! ;-)
06/26/2006 11:02:15 PM · #7
The people here never cease to amaze me...5 answers in like 20 minutes!!! Thanks so much for the advice. How do you approach someone about being your backup if needed? What do you tell clients?
06/27/2006 07:48:39 AM · #8
Bump for morning people! :)
06/27/2006 11:52:50 AM · #9
Originally posted by carisakD70:

The people here never cease to amaze me...5 answers in like 20 minutes!!! Thanks so much for the advice. How do you approach someone about being your backup if needed? What do you tell clients?


In my case the photographer told her clients the truth, that she wouldn't be able to do the sittings because of her pregnancy complications and gave them my phone number and website address. They checked me out and decided for themselves if they wanted to use me instead. You could probably find someone to help you out at your local camera club or even by calling a few of the local photographers in your area. DO make sure you discuss prices with them. You wouldn't want someone to surprise your client with a fee much higher than the one you've already discussed with them.
06/27/2006 12:06:41 PM · #10
Originally posted by karmat:

I am assuming you are not pregnant yet, so go ahead and book. Then, when you get pregnant, you can start getting backups in place, etc.

Don't take yourself off the market right now. Like you said, conception can sometimes take its own sweet time. ;)


took us over a year and a half for our kid... been working on the second for over two years now...

so yeah... don't take yourself off the market so early. just be sure to have a clause in your contract that states, in such a case that you are not able to shoot their wedding, you will supply a competent professional in your place. i really wouldn't even bother worrying about replacements until after the first trimester or better...

above all... good luck...
06/27/2006 12:24:47 PM · #11
Looking at it from the other side - I just got married a little over a week ago. We spent a lot of time & effort finding the "right" photographer for our wedding. It would have been a real bummer to have had them cancel on us.

On the other hand, I totally agree it does not make sense to put everything on hold...

My suggestion would be to network with other photographers - absolutely have some kind of designated backup (or two), but also have a number of other photographers that you know well enough to recommend to a distraught couple that just had a major vendor drop out on them. Seems to me that this approach could also be beneficial to you as they might recommend you for things they can't handle.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 09:17:28 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 09:17:28 PM EDT.