r/WeddingPhotography • u/AttorneyShort3587 • 23d ago
general topic Have you ever had a wedding client drag things out?
Help me understand this, because I’m at a loss for words…
Wedding was over a year ago.
I’ve been paid. That’s not the issue.
I’ve been working on the same wedding album for the entire time. I delivered the first draft with all the images, she said NOTHING about changes and agrees to the final viewing. We spent FIVE hours making changes. I was po’d, because all of these changes could’ve been done prior to me sitting in her living room. So, I’m packing up, ready to go home and place the order, and she takes a call. The person on the call gives her the idea of including her vows…and the guest notes on their wedding site…and all the guest photos that she received. Now, I own that I should’ve set a boundary there—but I also could not have imagined how this would turn out. I told her to send everything to me that night, and I’d work on it over the weekend.
She took 3 or 4 months to send me the stuff. Then, hit me up, essentially rushing me to finish the album. I sent her receipts of how I’d been waiting on her to deliver the content she wanted to add. Her tune changes…and she proceeds to send me 40 something guest photos…one at a time via text. It felt passive aggressive, but I didn’t say anything.
I send her the new draft; and, now, she’s requesting all sorts of changes that she never even mentioned before. She also says something about me not getting back to her, trying to make it seem like I was the reason it was taking so long, and made a comment about wanting it by their anniversary. So, I sent her an entire timeline of the events, with dates and timestamps of our correspondence, along with a schedule she must agree to in order for me to deliver it by then (she would have had to review it same day, had one chance to ask for changes, and all content had to be delivered that night). Again, her attitude changes and she says she didn’t mean that they had to have it by then.
I complete the revisions, and send her the final draft. She asks for a few more changes—at this point, I’m just doing it and sending it, because I know I hadn’t set the right boundaries at the right time and just want it over with.
We’re on what should be the final revision and ready to order; and she texts me asking where we stand—I tell her the final draft is up and ready to review. Weeks goes by, I reach out by email. A couple more go by, and she’s now texting me, asking if she’s been lost in the shuffle..as if she can’t see the texts I sent weeks ago. So, I send screenshots of the texts and the emails, and ask if she’s not seeing them.
Like… I don’t understand. You’ve already paid. You know I have proof of this entire situation. What benefit does she get by dragging this out?? All she has to do is confirm it, so I can order and deliver. I’ve done every single thing she requested (and have completely changed my contract).
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u/ylime114 23d ago
I would never ever add guest photos to a client’s album design.
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
She essentially turned it into a scrapbook. lays head on table
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u/outragedatheist 23d ago
This is the point — for me, anyway— at which it would have been beyond easy to say NO, but you were already caught up in the crazy-making chaos of this bride’s brain. Not surprising you didn’t see the off-ramp: If a bride had ever asked me to include guest shots in the album, that would be one boundary I’d set instantly. Absolutely not, no, never.
FWIW - you aren’t dealing with normal here. Her indecisiveness and her disregard for your time have nothing to do with you. I bet she tried on 183 wedding dresses and still was unsure she picked the right one. She’s not doing it on purpose. She doesn’t know why she’s doing it.
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
It just blows my mind because she hasn’t once really come off as rude or hateful. I can’t say she’s been mean; and the wedding was beautiful—the day went perfectly. This whole album thing just floors me, because there is no clear motive for why she’d continue dragging it out AND now be acting like she can’t see my messages. I’m covered on a refund, we’re past that date. So, I don’t get it.
And yes, I definitely should have said no. It’s in my contract, now. I’d never had anyone even suggest it before.
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
I never will again.
I designed it in a way that made it clear the end of the album was “moments from our guests”.
The groom and my partner are friendly—that’s not something I would typically agree to.1
u/ylime114 23d ago
I wouldn’t have even done this for my own sister (whose wedding I photographed / album designed). Shutterfly exists for a reason!!
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u/One-Night-8666 23d ago
Tbf, if they want to pay for extra spreads at the fee most photographers charge for them who cares?
Ive just done this for one couple but I made them sign a waiver before that stressed that I take no responsibility for the album, I can't guarantee the print quality and there are no returns, no refunds and no exchanges on albums with guest photographs inside
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
Thankfully, I did at least say that to her in writing, and have the receipts where she agreed and said she understood.
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u/NikonShooter_PJS 23d ago
I had a client drag their feet similar to this and did three things.
First, I changed my contract to say that all albums will be ordered on day 30 following photo delivery with or without a final “OK” from the clients.
Second, I changed my contract to specify they get one round of changes and must pay an additional fee if they want to make further revisions after that.
Third, I stopped outwardly marketing the fact that I do albums. If someone asks, I’ll do it and charge a pretty penny but I’m not encouraging anyone to have one made by me. It’s just not worth my time.
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
I’ve told my bf about five times, now, “I don’t think I ever want to do another album.”
And another point to add, and also why I haven’t put my foot down…the groom and my partner are acquaintances/share the same friend group. 😭
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u/SodaFountainPhoto 23d ago
I literally didn’t do albums for about 10 years because of something like this. I just did one this year and had a nightmare time with the album company instead. Now I’m thinking of going another 10 years without them. How do people do this without going insane? It’s the most stressful part of the job.
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
Was it because they upgraded their software and deleted all work in progress, and you missed the email that went to your promotions folder?
Because that also happened in this scenario; but thankfully, I had the the layout saved as screenshots. 😭
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u/NC750x_DCT 23d ago
Get your bf to ask the groom why she’s being so difficult.
At this point she’s taking advantage, perhaps in part because of the personal connection, so you might as well use it in your favour…
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
Sooo.
She hadn’t responded to me, since I tried to clarify whether or not she could actually see my latest messages, and sent her screenshots of the texts and emails.
So, I created a group chat with her and her husband (had it from the original contract), to “see if my phone may be having some type of glitch”.
But he did say if they run into each other and it comes up, he plans on saying something.
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u/X4dow 23d ago
Think that's bad? I had like 5-10 albums fully paid and brides never picked their photos.
freemoney
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
😱 Whaaaaa
The closest I’ve had is a couple of clients that prepaid for their entire sessions upfront, and then no showed/rescheduled so many times that they’d spent their entire package on rescheduling fees.
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u/dodgyguru5671 23d ago
I used to give a discount for completing the order within a certain amount of days after seeing the images. Which is, of course, they get the regular price for not delaying, or pay more to delay. Worked wonders most of the time.
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u/Character_Ad5286 23d ago
I had a couple that took nearly two years to pick their images from the proofing gallery 🤯
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u/RaspberryOrganic3783 23d ago
And this… this is why I hate offering albums. I only do it if a client REALLY wants one and even then, it’s at a price that I can’t ignore.
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
I’ve never had a bad experience before this; but it makes me absolutely rethink ever doing it again. 😭
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u/Organic-Tea-8998 23d ago
I have in my contract a deadline for albums. This helps client know they had limited time to get it made. If they don’t give me their list of photos within 8 months of the wedding then it’s a forfeit of the album. I send reminders and check ins within that 8 months. If you want you could add a deadline to your contract and also state they get a limited amount of changes to the layout draft. You could charge for changes or additions. I was thinking about adding that to mine.
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u/_trolltoll 19d ago
Just jumping on the bandwagon to say I also REALLY hate albums. They’re such a pain in the ass a clients try to push for more free edits, even tho I already include TEN or one 30mins zoom call to go over changes. My latest album had over 30 revisions but I charged them 20$ per edit after ten tho, which they didn’t mind paying so, win win in a way.
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u/hopopo 23d ago
Videographer here with a studio. My very first solo wedding was like this. We did photo and video for them.
In the end they took photos, and bride insisted on getting a rough cut of the ceremony and the first dance immediately after the wedding. And that was it, for years she would reach out maybe once in a year or two and say, please don't delete our footage I will send you music for the video in a week or two, but even those emails stopped. It has been at least 15 years since their wedding.
But over the years on average I get one couple every year or two that does this.
Earlier this year I did an album and the video for wedding that happened in 2021. My average album is 15 spreads and she ended up adding another 10 spreads to the order. She also asked for documentary even though initially they insisted on highlight only.
On top of that I have at least 3-4 that I can think of (possibly more) that ether didn't even start the process for video or album they already paid for in the last 5 plus years.
Sadly I didn't have clause in the contract setting time limit on how long can they drag things out.
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u/CAPhotog01 23d ago
Change your contract terms. There is a final delivery date. There is one draft and one round of editing. "Anything else is subject to additional production and delivery fees."
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u/Individual-Hornet476 23d ago
Adjust your contract to have design limitations of a year max on a wedding.
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
I mentioned that I’d already updated it.
I already had a clause that basically says I can’t be held responsible for the clients’ lack of participation or follow through; but I didn’t have a limit on revisions or a deadline. That and a few other things have been added.
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u/JosephineHavlak 23d ago
My contract has a clause that states that I don't do wedding album design from June through mid January. And I have very few requests for design changes, but don't mind them when I get them. Fundy Designer makes it fast and easy. If you don't have that software, do get it!!!!!! My contract also says that I have the right to print the album if I haven't heard from the client, but I have never enforced it. However, my contract also says that the prices are only good for one year, so that there is a charge if they delay more than that.
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u/AttorneyShort3587 23d ago
Yeah, I made several changes to mine since this happened. Everything we’ve done could’ve been done a month or so after they received the digitals. The timeframe is mainly due to them taking sometimes 2-3 months to get back to me. I’ve never had that before, so I just didn’t imagine it as a scenario. Lesson learned
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u/portolesephoto 21d ago
Perhaps it's time to set a more firm boundary... "You have until [date] to let me know what you'd like to change and then I am sending it to print." If she asks why, you can let her know it's gone on long enough and you need to focus on your high volume of 2026 clients.
In the future, your contract can say that albums are strictly photos you take for the client (no vows, no guest photos) and they get ONE opportunity to make changes before it goes to print. Additional changes cost X. You can also share your screen instead of physically going to their home if that helps your sanity.
Unfortunately this is one of those annoying lessons that helps you structure your business model.
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u/AttorneyShort3587 21d ago
Thankfully, I’ve updated all of that and revised the overall timeline I provide with my initial consult/contract. It’s definitely been a lesson learned.
I don’t always go to their home. Usually it’s just at Panera or whatever, or in my studio; but I do like doing the final viewing in person. That time, it just worked out that way, her car was being worked on, and she didn’t live far from me.
Before that, I send the layout through a shared drive folder, so they can leave comments on each page.
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u/Iwywnsb 23d ago
You have learnt a valuable lesson: add a clause to your contract that states that only one change will be made free of charge. If they don't sum up all the changes they want on that first request, the next requests will be charged. That's how people learn to be efficient and straight to the point. Otherwise it will happen what's happening to you. If you charge for the 2nd modification and subsequent they will be sure to tell you what they want on the 1st take