For the wedding shooters, what is your time frame for an expectation for the client to select the proofs they wish to print? I have a client who has been dragging their feet, we finally did their book/canvas this week NINE MONTHS later and they are still not done.
Their package was book/canvas/prints, they still have not decided which ones to print for gifts for family then I find out that I sent them a couple small MB files (2-3mb digitals) at Xmas time that I assumed they were just sending the digitals to those family members for Xmas but I found out she made prints from them so they aren’t really in a rush. Their delay is 2 fold, one is a budget and the other is pure laziness. I got them to pay 75% of the print package to cover the cost and I still make 40% profit, the balance of the package will be paid when they order the prints which will bring my profits to 60%.
An Atty friend of mine had a chat that I was ranting about it and she brought up modifying my contract with a defined timeline after proof delivery that they need to pick their choices to print or there is a clearly defined monetary penalty to “motivate” them to act.
My thought was within180 days after delivery or there is a 25% surcharge. I am not a FT wedding shooter, I only do a couple per year but I do have a portrait/headshot business that keeps me busy as well as 2 teenage daughters so I don’t have the time to F**** around with people dragging their feet.
In the meantime I have booked another wedding, I had a $1K print package as part of their cost due 30 days before the wedding with a need to order within 150 days disclaimer. They agreed to the T&C of it.
