Post # 1
Member
333 posts
Helper bee
I just got an updated contract from my photographer today after selecting my package. I booked him in February and already gave him $200 to hold my date (which is June 2010) and now he wants another $600 already. My total package price is $2200. He then wants another $700 a month before the wedding. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel this is a lot of money to be giving him before he even takes any pictures. Is this normal for a photographer to want this much of a deposit so far away from the date?
Post # 3
Member
1042 posts
Bumble bee
Mine has us pay in full before the wedding…so I think so?
Post # 4
Member
613 posts
Busy bee
i had to pay 80% before the wedding. 20% will be due when the album is ready
Post # 5
Member
6009 posts
Bee Keeper
Our package was $2250 and we paid a total of $1500 before the wedding (final $750 was due when we picked up the pictures). It looks like your photographer is asking for about the same amounts out of you (2/3 before the wedding, 1/3 after), but yours broke it into several payments instead of one big check.
Post # 6
Member
27 posts
Newbee
Hi there…
I’m a photographer and the way I do it is $500 to hold the date, another $500 6 months prior to the wedding and the balance a week before the wedding.
Hope that gives you some idea. 🙂
Post # 7
Member
65 posts
Worker bee
Yes that is the norm, as many vendors operate this way.
Post # 8
Member
1718 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: June 2008 - Winery in the Gold Country
I paid 30 percent upon booking, and had to have the full balance paid 2 weeks before the wedding. HTH!
Post # 9
Member
445 posts
Helper bee
We did 1/3 to book, 1/3 right around the wedding, and 1/3 one year after the wedding. I have never seen a contract like that, but I like it! 🙂
My friend is a wedding photographer (I shoot with her sometimes when she needs a second shooter) and I think she asks for half up front.
Sounds to me like your photographer may have updated his policies so they’re more in line with the norm.
Post # 10
Member
4480 posts
Honey bee
- Wedding: March 2010 - Calamigos Ranch
No that’s pretty normal. Most photographers want all or most of the money the day of, but I prefer the ones that have you pay the balance when you get your pictures!
Post # 11
Member
1357 posts
Bumble bee
We had to put half down upfront – and our total was $2000! So I think this is totally normal.
Post # 12
Member
85 posts
Worker bee
We had to put 1/3 down to book, 1/3 six months before, and 1/3 the month before the wedding. We’ve spent $950 already, so I think its definitely normal to pay for everything before 🙂
Post # 13
Member
6 posts
Newbee
we paid 1/3 when we signed the contract and the balance day of the wedding
Post # 14
Member
652 posts
Busy bee
i paid my photograhper 1/3 for deposit, 1/3 the day of and the rest when i pick up the albums
Post # 15
Member
313 posts
Helper bee
Yeah, it sucks.. and seems like a lot of money to be giving just to hold your booking! But we are paying 50% at booking, 25% 30 days prior, and 25% when we pick up our photos/ albums… so i would definately say, normal. However – I would never pay for anything in FULL before the service is even given. You can easily be ripped off if that’s the case!
Post # 16
Member
52 posts
Worker bee
Usually you pay up front in full or pay a half or otherwise agreed upon "deposit" and then are expected to pay the remaining balance at the time the services are given.
Reason behind most of this is because the Photographer needs to order the albums ahead of time, and either have them assembled, or assemble the album themselves. Most of these materials are expensive and require a significant amount of lead time-hence the monetary commitment.
Most venders who don’t stock items they sell you require something similar.
