Quote:
Originally Posted by laceylj
Hello,
I'm new to the forum and hope to learn a lot while I navigate through the site. Anyway my question is what is the best way to collect payments from customers when doing a wedding?
For example, I charge a customer $1000, I'll request $500 to lock the session, no problem there. Now I have to collect the remainder without getting ripped off: stop payment on check, money order, cashier check. What has been the practice out there and what would you recommend to protect yourself to secure payment?  |
Welcome to the Photo Camel Forums.
The best way to collect payment for a wedding is in cash.
In this neck of the woods final payment (even cash) is required 30 to 45 days before the Wedding date so the instrument of payment has plenty of time to clear. It can actually take that long. It's all written into the contract and covered in the consult at contract signing.
There is also the usual language detailing what happens to the final payment should the wedding be cancelled and the photographer not be able to reschedule the date.
In other parts of the country and at differing levels of professionalism some require final payment 15 days before the wedding, some accept final payment the day of the wedding. Some get stuck with payment instruments that don't clear.
Oh, the wedding photographers around here don't request payment to hold a date. No payment, no date, it's in the contract.
In this economy more photographers are arranging payment plans for weddings. However, the final payment is still due 30 to 45 days before the wedding date. If they need to make payments for the retainer, their date isn't held until the retainer is paid in full.
Be sure and call it a retainer and not a deposit. Legally they are quite different. Consult with your attorney.