Hi Bees, I need your opinions! I have corresponded with a bride after she posted on a forum asking for help on wedding locations on the same island I'm getting married at(destination wedding) in Mexico. I referred her to speak with my photographer who was wedded at the same venue I will be, and also because she is very knowledgeable about the island in general. Well, the bride ended up signing her on as her photographer as well. Do you think I should ask for some sort of credit/reimbursement/incentive for this? And if so, how should I phrase it appropriately and politely?
I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask. You could email her and say "I heard my friend booked you for her wedding after I referred her to you! By any chance do you offer any type of referral discount or credit? I thought I'd just ask.
most vendors advertise or prefer to advertise by word of mouth anyway....they count on referrals to promote their business. I doubt they will give you a discount for referring them....but I suppose you can ask.
I wouldn't ask. I think that while you could potentially make a buck in this situation, I think the question is whether you should. Your photographer gave you good service, you pay her a fee and tell others how great she was. It's when people start expecting kick-backs that the pay it forward waters get a little murky. For example, I would never hire a day of coordinator that gets kick backs from vendors. I would never trust that person to give me the right referral for me, I would feel she was just in it for the money. Businesses survive because of good word of mouth, but I don't think you should ask for compensation. Refer because you want to see that person's business succeed.
I agree with Niki. Most brides give references because they want to give the vendor more business, not because they're expecting a reward from it. Also, what if your photog says no? Would you feel awkward working with her after that (I know I would, but that's just me)? Is it worth risking a good working relationship for a few bucks?
I wouldn't ask for a credit explicity. If you're interested, you could always send a quick email to the photographer, as NorthCarolinaBride suggested, but leave off the bit about any discounts. That way, the photographer knows you helped make the connection - it will probably make them happy to know you value the service enough to recommend highly. If they want to throw something in as a thank-you, they can do it. If not, no worries - if you don't mention it, there isn't the potential for awkwardness if they say no.
An even more low-key approach would be to add a line at the end of an email about something else.
I personally think that there's nothing wrong with asking, and I wouldn't be surprised if your photographer does have some type of referral discount or bonus. After all, it's not like you referred your friend for a single portrait session - a wedding is big business. Every photographer I have worked with over the years does offer a discount for repeat business - the photographer we used for our wedding did the last four portrait sessions (including two rounds of senior pictures) for our families, and he gave us a pretty significant discount because of that. A referral discount or bonus is not really that different.
Hi Bees, I need your opinions! I have corresponded with a bride after she posted on a forum asking for help on wedding locations on the same island I'm getting married at(destination wedding) in Mexico. I referred her to speak with my photographer who was wedded at the same venue I will be, and also because she is very knowledgeable about the island in general. Well, the bride ended up signing her on as her photographer as well. Do you think I should ask for some sort of credit/reimbursement/incentive for this? And if so, how should I phrase it appropriately and politely?
posted by Jen4637 117 posts 4 months agoI guess it wouldn't hurt to ask. You could email her and say "I heard my friend booked you for her wedding after I referred her to you! By any chance do you offer any type of referral discount or credit? I thought I'd just ask.
posted by NorthCarolinaBride2B 47 posts 4 months agomost vendors advertise or prefer to advertise by word of mouth anyway....they count on referrals to promote their business. I doubt they will give you a discount for referring them....but I suppose you can ask.
posted by dreambml 429 posts 4 months agoI wouldn't ask. I think that while you could potentially make a buck in this situation, I think the question is whether you should. Your photographer gave you good service, you pay her a fee and tell others how great she was. It's when people start expecting kick-backs that the pay it forward waters get a little murky. For example, I would never hire a day of coordinator that gets kick backs from vendors. I would never trust that person to give me the right referral for me, I would feel she was just in it for the money. Businesses survive because of good word of mouth, but I don't think you should ask for compensation. Refer because you want to see that person's business succeed.
posted by Niki 432 posts 4 months agoI agree with Niki. Most brides give references because they want to give the vendor more business, not because they're expecting a reward from it. Also, what if your photog says no? Would you feel awkward working with her after that (I know I would, but that's just me)? Is it worth risking a good working relationship for a few bucks?
posted by rebecca 989 posts 4 months agoI wouldn't ask for a credit explicity. If you're interested, you could always send a quick email to the photographer, as NorthCarolinaBride suggested, but leave off the bit about any discounts. That way, the photographer knows you helped make the connection - it will probably make them happy to know you value the service enough to recommend highly. If they want to throw something in as a thank-you, they can do it. If not, no worries - if you don't mention it, there isn't the potential for awkwardness if they say no.
An even more low-key approach would be to add a line at the end of an email about something else.
posted by missm 485 posts 4 months agoI personally think that there's nothing wrong with asking, and I wouldn't be surprised if your photographer does have some type of referral discount or bonus. After all, it's not like you referred your friend for a single portrait session - a wedding is big business. Every photographer I have worked with over the years does offer a discount for repeat business - the photographer we used for our wedding did the last four portrait sessions (including two rounds of senior pictures) for our families, and he gave us a pretty significant discount because of that. A referral discount or bonus is not really that different.
posted by suzanno 1,976 posts 4 months ago