Sometimes brides take awhile to pick up their video. Just wondering how you all get the bride to pick it up? I just let a bride know her video was complete and her response, "Thanks, we'll keep in touch". Of course they owe me money. A big selling point for me is not being paid in full before the wedding. Thanks for any responses.

That is why I am paid in full before the wedding date.

I do not want to deal with collections, reporting lost lost revenue due to a bad debt, and all of the other time consuming issues a business owner must face when the receivables account ledger doesn't match on the bottom line.

That is why I am paid in full before the wedding date.

I do not want to deal with collections, reporting lost lost revenue due to a bad debt, and all of the other time consuming issues a business owner must face when the receivables account ledger doesn't match on the bottom line.

I just find that I book so many more weddings by not having the bride pay in full before the wedding. Don't get me wrong, most brides pick up their video right away and I do get paid. Plus, I do have a tactic that forces them to come pick up their video. I just wanted to hear everyone's experience first.

Instead of announcing to the bride that her video is ready, ask for a specific day and time that she can stop by. If she can't, offer to deliver it to her at her earliest convenience. If she just doesn't have the money, then I guess you're stuck.

I do similar - just call them few days before the wedding is completed, and ask them when they want to meet or if they want to come to pick up the DVDs. If they say they're busy I can always send it, but they have to mail me the check first.

For years we provided, as part of our packages, a sizable third payment that wasn't due until 3 months after the wedding. It worked great for years. Then the economy tanked and we suddenly had 1/4 of our couples defaulting on their balance. As of last summer, we decided to discontinue that perk and now all of our couples have to pay in full before the wedding. We're probably missing out on some bookings because of that, but it sure is nice having full payment before the wedding and we're filling our schedule anyways.

IF you still want to allow for payment after the wedding, here are some tips. First, make sure the final payment isn't due 'when the videos are done'. Pick a set time after the wedding that the payment is due. Second, make sure your contract is very specific about this policy, and that the moment this final payment is late you're charging a late fee .. and repeating that process every 30 days. For us, the late fee motivated 99% of our delinquent couples to get paid up within 2-3 months of being late .. and that's partly because we were charging a 15% late fee too. Also, have your contract specify that the couple has 7 days from the time of completion of the DVD's to review them for errors. But at the same time, make sure your contract states that they don't get the DVD's (or even get to see them) until their account is paid in full. This is extra motivation for people to get that final payment paid because they want to make sure they get to review their DVD's. Also, we have a policy that once the account is 90 days late, we contact the couple and inform them that they have 30 days to pay off the account before we pursue a small claims action in court. At this time we are open to developing a payment plan for the couple if necessary, because we'd rather not go to court. The goal is to get them paying SOMETHING on the account to make sure you're getting money and that they remain committed to paying the account off.

Again, we had an after-the-wedding payment system for years and it worked great .. but after the economy flipped we decided it wasn't in our best interest anymore. If you have full payment up front them getting the couple to come in and pick up their DVD's is pretty easy. However, even then we still have the 7-day-review policy to make sure couples don't drag their feet .. and to make sure we can clear the project from our drives without having to worry about error correction later on.

Hope that helps!

I just find that I book so many more weddings by not having the bride pay in full before the wedding. Don't get me wrong, most brides pick up their video right away and I do get paid. Plus, I do have a tactic that forces them to come pick up their video. I just wanted to hear everyone's experience first.

So come on spill the beans what is your tactic.

Alan

I guess I am an odd duck as I do not even require a deposit. Anyways when the video is complete My wife and I invite the couple over for dinner and we all preview their video together. Seems to work for me.

Gene...

So come on spill the beans what is your tactic.

Alan

LOL. My tactic is to tell them that after 30 days, my editor has to delete their video off of his computer's hard drive to make room to edit another bride's wedding. Once we delete your video, we can not go back and fix any mistakes we may have made. So if your name is Christina and we spelled it Kristina, we can not go back and fix it. They usually come pick it up right away. ;-)

Pick a set time after the wedding that the payment is due. Second, make sure your contract is very specific about this policy, and that the moment this final payment is late you're charging a late fee .. and repeating that process every 30 days. Hope that helps![/QUOTE]

This one I like very much. So if their wedding is August 1st, tell them the final payment is due September 1st. I like that!

I guess I am an odd duck as I do not even require a deposit. Anyways when the video is complete My wife and I invite the couple over for dinner and we all preview their video together. Seems to work for me.

Gene...

Wow... not charging a deposit? That's risky! Remember, TIME is money... not just product. Holding a product ransom won't get you back lost time and lost opportunity.

I charge roughly 30% as a deposit (non-refundable) and the remaining balance is due 30 days BEFORE the wedding. This has not been a problem for me as it seems like many other vendors in my market have adopted this same policy. I know a videographer in my market who has shot and edited more than one wedding recently and the bride and groom (for what ever reason or hardship) changed their mind and never picked up their final product and payed there balance. I had a couple once split their marriage 2 weeks after the wedding... you just never know!

After getting burned once by a couple who said they loved their video and had no issues with quality or content etc bounced 2 cheques and never made good on the balance.... Lesson learned. Now our policy is $250.00 up front as a deposit so we save their date and the total due day of the wedding. Most couples are paying everyone else at the same time so most won't bat an eye. We may lose a few opportunities this way but I think it works out in the end as I am not much of a fighter... Collection calls, Court etc...
That's what we do and it seems to be working.

I used to collect the balance on the day of the wedding. Problem was, I hated bugging brides about money on their wedding day, that's usually the last thing on their minds.... and because of that often I would get passed over to a parent who is now a little frustrated that they are having to take care of this "problem".. I only ever got burned once, but that's all it took... so then I started taking the balance 14 days before the wedding to coincide with their final planning meeting. I never had a bride that had a problem with that, I explained that I would rather take care of their balance before the wedding then bother them on their wedding day trying to settle up. It's very understandable and the brides actually appreciated it. I later switched to 30 days as I found many of the other vendors in my market were doing the same. I still have yet to have a client who had a problem with that policy.

I do 1/3rd as a booking fee, 1/3rd 2 weeks before the wedding and the final 1/3rd when I deliver the DVD into her hot sweaty hands. Never had a problem yet with that method and it does give the bride a little bit of confidence that the final payment is made when the goods are delivered. After paying for 2/3rds of a package price I doubt whether a couple would want to lose that money and get nothing in return if they decline the DVD!!!

I normally email them when it's ready and they normally contact me when they come back from their honeymoon and I do a personal delivery and more often than not, collect cash!!


Chris

I am suprised to read that videographers don't make sure they get all over the payment at leasdt 30 days BEFORE the wedding.

We take a booking fee ( no longer called deposit) to secure the date, with the balance due 30 days before the wedding. So far we have had 100% compliance in the 6 years I have been filming weddings. This year we had our first "split" before the day and I told th bride if I filled the date she would get a refund, and if I didn't, I would knock off the deposit from the fee when she found a new guy to marry!

get the money up front and you never have to worry about a thing. No need to call them and ask them around to pick it up. Just mail the parcel out to them. No need to sweat over if they have the money to pay you, or whether you will have to take them to court to get what's owed.

And my booking are up on every year. 2010 has so far been very good.

Get the money in. It's called good business sense.

The 'trust' model does have much going for it, but I suppose that the more you do, the greater the chance of discovering couples who are skint and possibly have a few rubbishy videos provided by friends at the wedding and they don't feel the need to have yours. I only do work for businesses, not for individuals and just start the UK county court system on-line and this usually works - and it's not a big problem.

If you can afford the occasional loss without financial problem, then as you say - the extra business you might get from NOT requiring payment in advance still works.

If you can afford the occasional loss without financial problem, then as you say - the extra business you might get from NOT requiring payment in advance still works.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Paul. I do find that this works really well for me. I have constructions workers building me a new office on my property. I haven't paid them in full before they started the job.

Michael...

I also share the same mind set in terms of payment. For me it's much easier to accept their remaining balance once I know they 100% satisfied with their product. I have been lucky so far to only work with the kindest couples around in my area...
Most brides love to hear that the payment is due once they are satisfied with what they have in their hand. It shows them that I'm commented to my work and customer satisfaction.
All that being said I only film around 15 weddings per year and this isn't my full time job. If I was relying on this to pay the bills I would most likely rethink my business plan.

Steve

seems like this is one of those subjects that comes up about 1 or 2 times a year.
About 21 years ago I did a wedding for a couple, shot it, did the edit, remember it was lineal deck to deck; control track and all that loverly stuff. Anyway when I went to deliver the tape they told me they had the marriage annuled after about 2 weeks. Ooopps, didn't tell me. BTW this was about 6 weeks after the wedding. I got burned for about $500 which back then was a lot of cash. Hmm, still is today. Anyway I never got paid and finally threw the tape out a couple of years ago, don't ask me why I held on to it. About 12 years ago I go burned again, they ran out of money after the honeymoon, the tape was edited (no DVDs then but no lineal either whoohoo) and guess what, I was out about $500. I started seeing a pattern. Well not really but I did start asking around to photogs, DJs, bands, banquet and facilities and other vid guys in my area. 99% of the other got all their money up front so I started to do that. I get 50% at the booking and the balance is PiF no later than 30 days prior to the event. Of course I will work with people if they seem reasonable and there is enough time before the event. Has anyone objected, yeah 1 or 2. Have I lost business because of it? Probably the same 1 or 2. Do I care? Yes and No. Yes, because I want the money, NO because they are generally the same ones that are the real PITA that we don't want to deal with. In my area almost every vendor out the of any kind get their money up front, it's pretty much a standard thing around here so the couples are very used to it. Much of this business is built on trust going both ways but when it comes to money I simply tell them that IF I went around screwing people for the money I don't think I'd still be around in 5 years much less 26 going on 27.
But that's just me.

sorry dudes, there is none in this type of service industry. booking jobs with no deposit is damn foolish, and I bet you all that are doing it are charging amounts most of us wouldn't leave the couch for. I have held strict terms when it comes to payment, and have
never been burned. as far as delivery goes, if a couple is local i usually will meet them.
if not, in the mail it goes. no frills padded envelope with their copies. no popcorn, no wine, just a plain brown wrapper.

"Plain brown wrapper"??? I don't do THOSE kind of videos. Heh heh heh.

Seriously, though. For me, this is just a way to make enough money to buy new toys. I charge a non-refundable deposit to hold the day, and collect the balance when the proof copy is delivered.

If I depended on the business for a living, (and that may be the case in the near future) I would definitely collect 100% of the fee up front.

All this talk has me thinking about changing my policy, though...

they ran out of money after the honeymoon,

It seems to me that this isn't that unusual. Prior to the wedding and up through the honeymoon, the romance of it all can overshadow good judgment and sound financial management. But after the honeymoon is over, it's back to reality - and bills. Then, the costs of setting up a household etc. suddenly loom and the little "details" such as the wedding video payment can get pushed down the list.

heehehe, plain brown wrapper meaning a big bubble wrap envelope. with regards to doing this just to buy toys, you need to get that out of your mindset right now. I love upgarding gear, but after going through tax returns over the past few years, i could have had my kids college and my cars paid off already. Keep your current gear until it just isn't feasable to keep using it. make a profit. spend money only on necessary supplies like ink, dvd media, paper, etc. pass ALL extra costs onto the client. I really want to upgrade my still cameras, but i am keeping them, they are paid for.

I don't do weddings to much mush.

heehehe, plain brown wrapper meaning a big bubble wrap envelope. with regards to doing this just to buy toys, you need to get that out of your mindset right now. I love upgarding gear, but after going through tax returns over the past few years, i could have had my kids college and my cars paid off already. Keep your current gear until it just isn't feasable to keep using it. make a profit. spend money only on necessary supplies like ink, dvd media, paper, etc. pass ALL extra costs onto the client. I really want to upgrade my still cameras, but i am keeping them, they are paid for.

I just bought the Canon 7D and accessories. Cost me close to $7k. I'm charging each bride another $350 if they want me to use it over my A1. I show them videos shot on both cams. So far, every bride has upgraded to the 7D and I've already got back over $3k.
I'll probably bring in close to 18K this year just on the 7D.

with regards to doing this just to buy toys...

Bad choice of words on my part. I am using all the money I make with my videography to buy new necessary video gear, not upgrade existing gear that does the job well.

I'm going a bit OT here. When I use the new gear (or, my "toys"), the price of my services increases because the quality is normally improved. What I earn at my next gig will allow me to buy a DTE and a BR burner. Then I'll be able to do same-day-edits at weddings (show the ceremony footage in a loop while I'm shooting the reception), and deliver BR to clients. The next gig will be priced a bit higher because of the added services, and that money will be spent on a stabilizer rig.

My ultimate goal is to have enough of the proper good-quality gear that I can branch out into other video production services. At that point, video production will by my primary income source.

Hmmm....I'll have to change my forum signature once I get that DTE.

is all wrong. I operated like that for years. Let me clue you in - Brides don't care what you shoot with. content is king. they won't pay a higher price because you bought new gear they don't give a flip about. You will HATE having an external DTE on your camera, it is cumbersome. Buy tapeless cams, make the initial investment and be done. it is a blackhole man, that you will never get out of until you look around your empty house and wonder WTF did you waste money on depreciating electronics when you could have made your daily life and your families' daily life more comfortable?

IF you are single, then I say buy a hot tub. I am telling you this out of hard lessons learned. This business is part of the reason i lost my family, and now I need to continue with it to support them even when they are gone. As much as I want to upgrade to DSLRS for video, I am done buying stuff. Maybe hard drives, but thats it man. focus on content
be a story teller. BRIDES DON'T CARE WHAT YOU ARE SHOOTING WITH AS LONG AS YOU ARE THERE COVERING THE EVENT!

sorry for going to OT.

Yeah i agree with Scott...majority of couples don't care much for the lux rating on your cam or the glidetrack you just bought..as long as you are there to capture the moment and tell their story on video. Also, i always thought that its the skill that dictates the pricing and not the equipment..was i under the wrong assumption?

Hi Guys
What I have found is that brides (who order the videographer anyway) are normally totally non technical!! I think we tend to get very wrapped up in technical issues rather than getting more involved in content issues and getting involved in getting technical perfection and then the bride watches her wedding on her 15 year old 21" CRT TV and is delighted (not for any technical issues whatsoever, but purely because she looks so pretty and the bridesmaid's dresses are fabulous)
We do the tech stuff mainly for ourselves to satisfy our technical needs and we HAVE to have something to talk about on the forum too!!! I agree that content is absolutely KING and as long as you present a visual story that delights the bride she really couldn't care less what you used to achieve it.

With this in mind maybe we need a few more posts about filming technique and better ways to tell the story..I've seen a few, but the majority are technical issues.

Chris

Yes, I concur... most brides/couples don't care about equipment specs.

For years we did the "Pay final amount on delivery of DVD", but I've recently changed that to 100% due before the wedding. It works just fine so far and is a lot less hassle.

Plus, just about every other wedding vendor (florist, caterer, photo) does the same thing.