CV-19 Cancellations or Postponements & Moving Dates

Four weeks in, another three weeks on the cards. After that more restrictions most likely on who is allowed to work, social distancing continues etc. These therefore, are my "official" thoughts rather than my ramblings & musings!

Moving Dates

Nothing so formal as the two sections above. You check my online calendar, find a date that we can all do and send me an email to that effect. I can hold dates for a limited amount of time to allow you the time to arrange other suppliers, but I can't hold indefinitely.

No charges for moving dates, no extra fees, no "premium" charge for premium dates (yea some wedding photographers are charging a premium for dates in mid-Summer 2021 and beyond as a way of recoupling costs. Bastards). Nothing else to pay except any outstanding balance when it is due. Not even more Jaffa Cakes!

What happens if I can't make your new date?

As you know I'm a business coach for several other wedding photographers, I've got a wide variety of contacts who I really trust. I'll find you someone who will be able to make your date.

You pay me, I pay them. No charges for moving dates, no extra fees, no "premium" charge for premium dates. Nothing else to pay except any outstanding balance when it is due. In some cases, I and another photographer have just swapped weddings totally. I'll do one for her, she'll do one for me.

#AMP-Approved ;-)

Postponements

I.e You tell me, in writing as per Section 12 of the contract, that you will not be going ahead with the wedding; but that it is only a postponement

1. The booking fee is non-refundable. The booking fee essentially pays for my time in meeting you face to face (time spent driving, motoring costs, administration costs etc). It also blocks out the date in my diary, and having an online calendar this means I have no way of knowing what other business I may have turned away as a result of your booking.
2. I will honour your booking fee and place it on hold for 6 months. After that time I will treat it as a cancellation and you will have nothing to pay.

What you need to do when you are back on track is check my online calendar for my availability, sort out a new date with your venue & other suppliers etc and let me know. That's it, nothing more complex than that.

The longer you leave getting back to me with a new date however the less chance there is of me being available for that date. I am still having meetings with couples, albeit via Zoom, and still taking new bookings.

(In short I'd really really prefer it if you DID NOT CANCEL. ;-) )

Outright Cancellations

I.e You tell me, in writing as per Section 12 of the contract, that you will not be going ahead with the wedding.

1. The booking fee is non-refundable. The booking fee essentially pays for my time in meeting you face to face (time spent driving, motoring costs, administration costs etc). It also blocks out the date in my diary, and having an online calendar this means I have no way of knowing what other business I may have turned away as a result of your booking.
2. If you cancel within 28 working days of your wedding then the full balance from your wedding is due.
3. If you cancel between 29 days and 84 working days of your wedding then 50% of the balance is due.

I realise this may be hard to accept; however please also remember that I not only have a business to run (with associated business costs that still need to be paid even though I have very very limited income at the moment) but I also have the same personal costs as you to pay for - food, mortgage, utilities, phones etc.

I have a legal obligation to follow my contract Terms & Conditions, or I will be in breach of contract. Just as you will be in breach of contract if you fail to pay the invoice for the remaining balance... and you can see what a shit place that would leave us all in!

In short I'd really really prefer it if you DID NOT CANCEL. ;-)

Summary - CV-19 Cancellations or Postponements & Moving Dates

It's going to be a shitty emotional time for all of us. I'm here to help and support you in anyway I can.

Things will get complicated when it's all back on track, so trust me on the process when I say you WILL either have me photographing your wedding as usual or someone else, less handsome obviously but just as able, to photograph your wedding.

Your wedding photos may take a few days longer to get back than usual, your wedding album draft may take a bit longer to get back to you than normal.

p.s. The photo is of me in 2018 on top of Mt Snowdon in some of the shittest weather that summer. July 29th (my birthday). Hammered it down all night, 60mph winds all night. That tent was flimsy but perfect. I was bone dry and warm as hell. I planned that 48hr trip for 2 years so I would be warm, dry and safe.

I do planning, I do emergency planning. I do chaos management. Work with me and together we can get your wedding sorted. XXX

p.p.s After all this is all over I'm sort of demanding hugs from previous couple; whatever gender you are. Just putting that out there.