Can you guys tell me what your payment schedule is with your photographer? We're about to sign a contract, but all the payments are scheduled BEFORE the wedding. FH is worried about this and thinks the last payment should come afterward when she delivers the proofs. Also he thinks we have no guarantee that she'll actually show up if we've already paid her.
Is it normal to pay photographers in full before the wedding?
ChristineC68
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Re: Photographers--help!
We didn't have to make our final payment until we ordered our album.
I wouldn't worry about the photographer not showing up - the guarantee is a signed contract that is enforcable plus their reputation would be put on the line.
You can always ask to negotiate the payment terms if you are not comfortable with them.
rcs
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Re: Photographers--help!
Our photographers asked for 90% to be paid by the day of the wedding. If fact, all the vendors we met with had similiar practices.. Good luck..
september2004
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Re: Photographers--help!
DO NOT DO THIS!!!!
Your gut is correct; do not pay in full prior to the event because if something were to go wrong, you have NO LEVERAGE.
My photographer wanted something like 90% up front, I told him to go fly a kite. He changed it to whatever I was willing to give...I think it was like 50%...
wc0143
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Re: Photographers--help!
We had to pay all but a third of the total which was due at proof pick up.
laudipop
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Thanks. Ugh, I hate negotiating! But I guess I really should, huh?
james'pokey
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Re: Photographers--help!
We don't have to make the last payment until after the wedding. You should speak to the photographer and express your concerns about making the last payment before. You shjould be able to work out another payment plan. Good Luck!
GoingNutty
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Re: Photographers--help!
We pay 2/3 before the wedding and the last 1/3 after.
I wouldn't pay them in full until you have something in your hands from them!
palebride
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Re: Photographers--help!
Posted by wc0143
We had to pay all but a third of the total which was due at proof pick up.
same here although, our photographer was a personal friend, so we weren't really worried about him screwing with us
laudipop
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Re: Photographers--help!
You all convinced me that it was weird to pay it all upfront, so I called and told her I wanted to do the last third when she delivered the proofs. And she said okay!
