When should they pick up the dvd's? at DVinfo.net

Jeremy Rank · February 3rd, 2005, 04:27 PM

I've finished editing and authoring the dvd's, but was wondering when I should contact them to pick up their dvd's?

What is customary: having them pick up the disks, shipping them off, or delivering the finished product?

Considering that the couple lives an hour away and I did the job for free, would it be terrible if I had them drive over to pick up the disks?

Richard Alvarez · February 3rd, 2005, 04:34 PM

In my book, they owe you the drive. Or at least, the postage.

Jeremy Rank · February 3rd, 2005, 04:42 PM

How long should I wait until I contact them? The wedding was on 1/29 and I finished everything up in a marathon edit session on 2/2...should I let at least a week go by before contacting them (I don't want to interupt their honeymoon) or should I call anyway?

Richard Alvarez · February 3rd, 2005, 04:50 PM

Jeremy,

Are YOU married?

Sorry. No, don't interrupt the honeymoon, especially if you know HOW to interrupt it. When they get back, they will want to look at videos and write thank you notes. It sounds to me like you are in a hurry for feedback. If you want to drop a line to their home address and tell them the stuff is waiting for them when they return, then that will clue them in.

Also, think twice before screening the video for "In-Laws" first. There is a chance, though small, that the couple will be offended if they don't get the premiere screening.

Unless, of course, you ARE the brother in law, and your parents have been watching you edit.

Jeremy Rank · February 3rd, 2005, 05:31 PM

I AM married....and YES I am looking for feedback...lol 8-)

I'll set them aside for another week before calling them.

Brian Burns · February 3rd, 2005, 07:09 PM

My thoughts are they definitely owe you the drive to come and pick them up. Even though it's an hour away for them I would ask them to come.

As far as the wait time, if you have finished it in record time, although you might put some of us to shame :) I don't see the harm in calling sooner than later. Not only will you have filmed for free but you offered a quick turnaround. Imagine what they could tell other couples!

You could caveat this when you call by telling them that you wanted to surprise them with a quick turnaround (or something like that -> perhaps more creative).

Some things to conside though.... they might still be on their honeymoon or if they just got back , they might need some time to adjust before they would be ready to come and pickup the DVDs. Do you know if they are back?

I did this once and left a message on a couples machine saying something to the effect that I had a nice surprise waiting for them and to call us when they returned from their honeymoon. They called back about 2 weeks later and I had it all ready for them. It was a pleasant surprise for them and they had it for weeks before they got the photogs proofs back :)

Davi Dortas · February 3rd, 2005, 07:20 PM

You shall always treat customer with utmost respect and courtesy be shipping DVD to them. Give they the choice of pickup or deliver. Do not make assumption they have to drive to you to pick up their DVD, if you respect you clients, you mail to them. This is simple courtesy. If you are too cheap to do that, then you need to raise you prices or else get out of the business.

Bob Costa · February 3rd, 2005, 07:35 PM

Considering he did it for free and wants instant feedback, I think it is okay to ask them to come get it. But if it becomes a problem for them, then mailing it is certainly a second option. And free or not, he may have to wait to get feedback . I have heard that some people wait months before watching their wedding video.

Jeremy Rank · February 5th, 2005, 12:48 PM

Would it be alright if I give them a 3 minute preview when they come pick it up? Probably just the vignette since that's the part I spent most of my time on and am the most impressed.

Glen Elliott · February 7th, 2005, 02:03 PM

I usually deliver the DVDs in person. However this coming season with the increased workflow I'll find it harder to make time to do so.

On another note the biggest reward is when the client gets to finally see the finished edit you've spent countless hours on. It's wonderful experiencing the emotion of the couple and their family has to well produced, emotional, video.

I usually sit in on the beginning (getting ready) montage and let them continue watching the rest of the program in privacy.

Peter Jefferson · February 16th, 2005, 07:49 AM

bloody hell, thats record timing mate.. lol
ive got 9 weddings still waiting for their rough cuts.. :(

usually i hand deliver them, i feel its more of a personal service to them and the word of mouth with regard to the service outright will get you enquiries.

remember if your doing this for business, good service is paramount to success.
With regard to the product, i will not leave anythign with someone else.. with regard to preliminary viewings, i only have on epackage whcih offers that, and thats my big cahouna package... hell theyve paid enough and most people who pay that much usually have over 300 or so gusts and sometimes we may have a shot of someone they dont like.. so its at thsi pointtt where we bring them to the studio and go through it with them.

I usually dont have teh time to do this, so it makes it hard.. so you reallyhave to be careful what you promise

above all , feedback makes life easier when you know that your client is happy with your work. When they conttinue to send yo uemails to see how your doing and best of all, when they ask you if they can buy shares in your businss... LOL hats always a good sign ;)

look after your clients and they will look after you :)

Jeremy Rank · February 17th, 2005, 02:58 AM

Got a small thank you note in the mail today from the couple thanking me for the job and said that they loved the dvd's...especially the vignette.

I'll take that as positive feedback :)

Peter Jefferson · February 17th, 2005, 05:20 AM

good to hear mate :)

i remember once when i was first starting out doing weddings on my own, i had a couple that didnt know what they wanted.. they went the basest of packages and i thought.. well why not.. so i jsut went with it and had ALOT of fun.. they gave me totla freedom to do what i wanted with it.. so i did..
back then DVD was rare so to get a dvd in a base package was something that they were shocked with (i had been editing for 4 years prior to filming my own jobs)

but the feedback was golden.. it wasnt for the money.. and to tel u the truth, it still isnt.. coz i have a ball when i go out and film.. it gives me a chance to be the xtravert (within my art) that i never was on face value.. i have so much fun sometmes i feel guilty taking the money.. .:)

when i stop having fun.. thats when ill call it a day :) until then, im gonna rock and roll and make some noise :)~

February 3rd, 2005, 04:27 PM	#1
Jeremy Rank Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 66	When should they pick up the dvd's? I've finished editing and authoring the dvd's, but was wondering when I should contact them to pick up their dvd's? What is customary: having them pick up the disks, shipping them off, or delivering the finished product? Considering that the couple lives an hour away and I did the job for free, would it be terrible if I had them drive over to pick up the disks?

February 3rd, 2005, 07:35 PM	#8
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	Considering he did it for free and wants instant feedback, I think it is okay to ask them to come get it. But if it becomes a problem for them, then mailing it is certainly a second option. And free or not, he may have to wait to get feedback . I have heard that some people wait months before watching their wedding video. __________________ You are either growing or dying.

February 3rd, 2005, 04:34 PM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	In my book, they owe you the drive. Or at least, the postage.

February 3rd, 2005, 04:42 PM	#3
Jeremy Rank Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 66	How long should I wait until I contact them? The wedding was on 1/29 and I finished everything up in a marathon edit session on 2/2...should I let at least a week go by before contacting them (I don't want to interupt their honeymoon) or should I call anyway?

February 3rd, 2005, 04:50 PM	#4
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Jeremy, Are YOU married? Sorry. No, don't interrupt the honeymoon, especially if you know HOW to interrupt it. When they get back, they will want to look at videos and write thank you notes. It sounds to me like you are in a hurry for feedback. If you want to drop a line to their home address and tell them the stuff is waiting for them when they return, then that will clue them in. Also, think twice before screening the video for "In-Laws" first. There is a chance, though small, that the couple will be offended if they don't get the premiere screening. Unless, of course, you ARE the brother in law, and your parents have been watching you edit.

February 3rd, 2005, 05:31 PM	#5
Jeremy Rank Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 66	I AM married....and YES I am looking for feedback...lol 8-) I'll set them aside for another week before calling them.

February 3rd, 2005, 07:09 PM	#6
Brian Burns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 56	My thoughts are they definitely owe you the drive to come and pick them up. Even though it's an hour away for them I would ask them to come. As far as the wait time, if you have finished it in record time, although you might put some of us to shame :) I don't see the harm in calling sooner than later. Not only will you have filmed for free but you offered a quick turnaround. Imagine what they could tell other couples! You could caveat this when you call by telling them that you wanted to surprise them with a quick turnaround (or something like that -> perhaps more creative). Some things to conside though.... they might still be on their honeymoon or if they just got back , they might need some time to adjust before they would be ready to come and pickup the DVDs. Do you know if they are back? I did this once and left a message on a couples machine saying something to the effect that I had a nice surprise waiting for them and to call us when they returned from their honeymoon. They called back about 2 weeks later and I had it all ready for them. It was a pleasant surprise for them and they had it for weeks before they got the photogs proofs back :)

February 3rd, 2005, 07:20 PM	#7
Davi Dortas Membership Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Brazil Posts: 78	You shall always treat customer with utmost respect and courtesy be shipping DVD to them. Give they the choice of pickup or deliver. Do not make assumption they have to drive to you to pick up their DVD, if you respect you clients, you mail to them. This is simple courtesy. If you are too cheap to do that, then you need to raise you prices or else get out of the business.

February 5th, 2005, 12:48 PM	#9
Jeremy Rank Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 66	Would it be alright if I give them a 3 minute preview when they come pick it up? Probably just the vignette since that's the part I spent most of my time on and am the most impressed.

February 7th, 2005, 02:03 PM	#10
Glen Elliott Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,898	I usually deliver the DVDs in person. However this coming season with the increased workflow I'll find it harder to make time to do so. On another note the biggest reward is when the client gets to finally see the finished edit you've spent countless hours on. It's wonderful experiencing the emotion of the couple and their family has to well produced, emotional, video. I usually sit in on the beginning (getting ready) montage and let them continue watching the rest of the program in privacy.

February 16th, 2005, 07:49 AM	#11
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	bloody hell, thats record timing mate.. lol ive got 9 weddings still waiting for their rough cuts.. :( usually i hand deliver them, i feel its more of a personal service to them and the word of mouth with regard to the service outright will get you enquiries. remember if your doing this for business, good service is paramount to success. With regard to the product, i will not leave anythign with someone else.. with regard to preliminary viewings, i only have on epackage whcih offers that, and thats my big cahouna package... hell theyve paid enough and most people who pay that much usually have over 300 or so gusts and sometimes we may have a shot of someone they dont like.. so its at thsi pointtt where we bring them to the studio and go through it with them. I usually dont have teh time to do this, so it makes it hard.. so you reallyhave to be careful what you promise above all , feedback makes life easier when you know that your client is happy with your work. When they conttinue to send yo uemails to see how your doing and best of all, when they ask you if they can buy shares in your businss... LOL hats always a good sign ;) look after your clients and they will look after you :)

February 17th, 2005, 02:58 AM	#12
Jeremy Rank Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 66	Got a small thank you note in the mail today from the couple thanking me for the job and said that they loved the dvd's...especially the vignette. I'll take that as positive feedback :)

February 17th, 2005, 05:20 AM	#13
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	good to hear mate :) i remember once when i was first starting out doing weddings on my own, i had a couple that didnt know what they wanted.. they went the basest of packages and i thought.. well why not.. so i jsut went with it and had ALOT of fun.. they gave me totla freedom to do what i wanted with it.. so i did.. back then DVD was rare so to get a dvd in a base package was something that they were shocked with (i had been editing for 4 years prior to filming my own jobs) but the feedback was golden.. it wasnt for the money.. and to tel u the truth, it still isnt.. coz i have a ball when i go out and film.. it gives me a chance to be the xtravert (within my art) that i never was on face value.. i have so much fun sometmes i feel guilty taking the money.. .:) when i stop having fun.. thats when ill call it a day :) until then, im gonna rock and roll and make some noise :)~