Is it normal to pay the photographer up front?
Is it normal to pay the full cost of wedding photography before the day? Our photographer is asking for the full amount beforehand, but what if something goes wrong on the day?
Bruce, Hamilton
Official Site Photography by Wellington Photographers
Chris McCarthy answers...
Our site photographer, Chris McCarthy of Wellington Photographers, is an award-winning professional with a respected name in his industry.
Hi Bruce,
I'd suggest that it is reasonable to pay a significant portion of the total photography fee before the wedding. This might be in the range of 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the total, with the balance being payable on the wedding day or some days after the wedding. The reason for this is that once a specific date is held for a client, the photographer will then turn away other clients asking for that same date. In the event that the wedding does not proceed, then the photographer is left without any work through no fault of his or her own - unfortunately, those other customers that the photographer turned away will have made other plans.
I'm not sure that it is reasonable to demand that a client pay the total fee before the wedding. This means that the client takes all of the risk, and the photographer shares none of the risk. Best thing would be to ask the photographer to explain their reasons for wanting the entire fee up front, and then decide whether this is really the photographer for your wedding day.
All the best for your wedding,
Chris McCarthy
