Vital Signs: Canceling on Your Client...Last Minute
You wake up and your head is swirling and your fever could fry an egg. You get halfway to your on-location session, only to get caught behind a 10-car pileup. You get a calendar reminder at 3:00 p.m. that you missed a 10:00 a.m. session. What do all of th ese situations have in common?
Aside from being just plain bad luck, they're all reasons you might have to back out of previously scheduled photography sessions or events. Even though we all hope to avoid such situations, it's important to know what to do should the need arise.
The "in case of photographer's death" provision is also very important in conveying your thoughtfulness and commitment to your client. Death happens, and your client should not be made to suffer loss in that circumstance. Your agreement with your replacement photographer or studio would need to specify that their stand-in function would either be paid for by your surviving business principal or personal estate. There are variations of this depending upon your payment terms with your client. The upshot of this is that your replacement agreement is honored by the original photographer's business and/or family.
by Fri Dec 2, 2011
Ditto! I'd also love to see a cancellation contract under the Contracts and Forms section. That would be very helpful!
by Thu Dec 1, 2011
Thanks for the read. Definitely worthwhile....though I do agree it would be helpful to see what a cancellation contract or clause should look like.
by Thu Dec 1, 2011
I have a clause in my contract that states another photographer may be called upon to take my place if something were to happen to me or my equipment. I clearly explain that though the likelihood of something happening is slim, they are well aware of the possibility prior to the event. One client even thanked me when going over this part of the contract, he thought it was very professional. I do have a list of photographers that I keep in contact with for things such as this. I also have one that speaks of "in case of photographer's death" I have another photographer lined up to finish any pending files with compensation from the business.
by Thu Dec 1, 2011
Good info however, you should include a sample "Cancellation Contract" in the "Contracts and Forms" section.
Comments
by Sat Dec 3, 2011
The "in case of photographer's death" provision is also very important in conveying your thoughtfulness and commitment to your client. Death happens, and your client should not be made to suffer loss in that circumstance. Your agreement with your replacement photographer or studio would need to specify that their stand-in function would either be paid for by your surviving business principal or personal estate. There are variations of this depending upon your payment terms with your client. The upshot of this is that your replacement agreement is honored by the original photographer's business and/or family.
by Fri Dec 2, 2011
Ditto! I'd also love to see a cancellation contract under the Contracts and Forms section. That would be very helpful!
by Thu Dec 1, 2011
Thanks for the read. Definitely worthwhile....though I do agree it would be helpful to see what a cancellation contract or clause should look like.
by Thu Dec 1, 2011
I have a clause in my contract that states another photographer may be called upon to take my place if something were to happen to me or my equipment. I clearly explain that though the likelihood of something happening is slim, they are well aware of the possibility prior to the event. One client even thanked me when going over this part of the contract, he thought it was very professional. I do have a list of photographers that I keep in contact with for things such as this. I also have one that speaks of "in case of photographer's death" I have another photographer lined up to finish any pending files with compensation from the business.
by Thu Dec 1, 2011
Good info however, you should include a sample "Cancellation Contract" in the "Contracts and Forms" section.