How to Deal with Last-Minute Photography Clients 😬
How to Deal with Last-Minute Photography Clients 😬
Clients don't need you until they really need you...
What do we do and how much should we charge for scheduling snafus?
We’ve all gotten the last minute calls to photograph a wedding this coming weekend.
Most of the time, we’re happy to help (if the stars are aligned) our clients when they’re in a pinch. No one wants to be without a wedding photographer last-minute.
So how should we proceed?
Accommodate if the schedule allows
Charge a rush-fee
If you’re not available, find a trusted freelancer or recommend a friend
Politely decline
1. Accommodate
That’s it. If your schedule allows for a wedding shoot this weekend, then great! You are free to proceed with booking this client - or not. It’s up to you.
2. Charge a Rush-Free
When the wedding client is undergoing what we would call a “Nuclear Event” they become price insensitive.
“I don’t care what it costs, Lauren, are you able to photograph our wedding this weekend OR NOT?!”
This is great for us because that means we can charge a higher price than what we normally charge - and why shouldn’t we?
It’s perfectly legal and I would hush any guilty voices in your head that you are somehow gouging your client. Not in the slightest. The value of us showing up Saturday morning with less than 24 hours notice is incredibly high and we should be incredibly happy to charge 2X, 3X even 5X our normal services.
3. Hire Out or Phone a Friend
In the event that you’re unavailable but you still want to help this client you have three options (the third option is in the next section).
Option #1 is to hire a trusted freelancer that can work this wedding for you. In this scenario, you act as the business owner (*kudos), factor in your freelancer’s rate plus 30-50%, and send that price over to the client. All you have to do is manage the project’s execution.
Option #2 is to pass this project off to a friend/colleague for them to handle it. Maybe you hire them in a freelancer capacity or they send you a finder’s fee (20-30% of revenue). Follow this finder’s fee option if you have no capacity to manage the project.
4. Politely Decline
Sometimes, it’s just not in the cards to get this wedding photographed by you. Or perhaps the client doesn’t want to pay your rush fee. Simply thank them for the inquiry, recommend another photographer in town, and politely decline the project.
I’ve done this option plenty of times to find out in hindsight that the client would have been a nightmare to work with. Headaches avoided.
Cheers,
Jordan P. Anderson
P.S. - Did you know that you can directly reply to these emails?
(All replies are privately sent to my inbox)
Prefer to listen to these emails? Listen here: https://geni.us/jordanpodcast
Watch the first lesson of my new online course! Click here: https://geni.us/personalbrandingvideo
100% Typo Guarantee —This message was made with love, not spellcheck. No English teachers were harmed in the making of this email.