Dilema: Bride/Groom not giving me an answer on wedding that I filmed for them

P

PhilipD

Well-known member
I filmed the wedding on the 3rd July, They had a 2 week honey moon.

So I have sent emails saying roughly, "Did you have a nice holiday, here is a trailer that I've made and here is the full wedding video online in 256KBS"

So it was July 19th when I sent them the full version for their review and they reply on 24th July

Hi Philip,

Apologies for the delay in our response. We are still looking at the video, as there are quite a few things we would like to change/amend, and we shall send you this list though as soon as possible.

I would also like to point out that we have not passed this onto other people as you have suggested below, and will not pass it on until we have the full and final copy.

Kindest regards

I asked them again if they enjoyed the trailor and had no response for a week even though they are on facebook every day.

so from 19 July until 14th August they still haven't told me if they like the video or want to pay the balance off to get the DVD's.

What is my obligation now?

If they have only paid the deposit in order for me to go to film their wedding and the final balance only after they have viewed the footage and are happy with it. But I haven't even got a yes or no and I've been asking them this for 5 emails now.
 
Well, I think it's pretty clear the answer is no - they aren't fully satisfied with it seeing as they said "there are quite a few things we would like to change/amend." If they haven't gotten you their list of changes, and they are not replying to your emails, I would go ahead and pull the video offline. They've had over a month to make note of their changes, that should be more than enough time. Perhaps that would get them to communicate with you at least.

Did you ask them for the list of changes, or did you just ask them if they liked the video again?

As far as what your obligation is - that all depends on what is in the contract you gave them.
 
I emailed her on Facebook on the 12th August and she said that her husband is wanting me to email him and not her anymore, to finalise the video and get payment sent. But I emailed him too on the 12th, and he knew I was emailing straight away. I've just sent a final message saying that if they are happy with the video then please send a bank transfer or just state:
"No I do not wish to have the tapes or DVD of the wedding"
or
"Yes but wait until March 2011 and edit for 1 more day" (when I come back from a working holiday)

I should really just send them the tapes and edited version that I showed them online.

I email them the Link to the Video and say "Here is the trimmed version and if there's anything you want deleting then just let me know"
 
I think there are certain times where an actual conversation should take place via the phone
or face to face.
 
I think sending the trailer was fine but giving them full access to the video online was a mistake. Think of it as a screening. You bring them to your home or go to theirs, have pad/pen tell them to jot down notes so you can add revisions.

You gave them the whole meal and they left without paying for the food. How do you KNOW for sure they didn't just take a copy and burn it themselves and got someone else to fix it for them?

Never give out the work without full payment.
 
Very true.
I remember back when I ran a recording studio.
We learned very quickly to never let a client leave with a copy without payment first.
Not even a rough mix.

We had one band take the CD down to their car so they could hear how it sounded
on a car stereo they all bolted.
Too bad they were morons and actually forgot they still had their drums set up in our place :D

There is a good chance your client just downloaded the video.

Definitely call. Emails will get you no where in these kind of situations.
 
I'm still confused. Didn't they tell you very directly already that they are not happy with it?
Did they ever give you a list of things to change?

I feel like we don't have enough information here about what your usual agreement is with clients to help you in regards to what you 'should' do.
It sort of all depends on what your contract says and what your agreement is with clients - and what their expectations are/were.

Though I have to agree with some of the above - this is a case where a phone call or in-person meeting would have been best. Emails and FB messages probably aren't the best way to work out client issues.
 
Telephone. Pick it up and call them. There's something being lost in translation, and email and facebook are pretty passive forms of communication when you're trying to settle business.
 
The Video was only a 256KB one so you could barely see the video actually it would be the size of that smilies window and even then it would look like a mobile phone video.
They know what the true quality is from the 3MBPS Trailer.

They haven't come back with the editing instructions and after a week, I emailed to ask if everything was ok and they didn't say a word.

There was no contract apart from what I film: Bride Arriving, Ceremony, First Dance. Then £200 Deposit and I state they will see the video online and if they are happy with the video then they buy the DVD for the remainding cost.

They had also sent the video to others as it shows who's downloaded
 
TELEPHONE. CALL.

If they ignore your calls then you are probably going to just have to eat the cost of your time. Keep that deposit, and hold that footage. At a certain point they will probably come back wanting their footage. And since they've been so flaky you should probably make a contract and demand half of your payment when they do come back.

And in the future always make some type of contract. It's not hard to draft something with a few sentences that's fair for both sides.
 
Isaac_Brody said:
TELEPHONE. CALL.

If they ignore your calls then you are probably going to just have to eat the cost of your time. Keep that deposit, and hold that footage. At a certain point they will probably come back wanting their footage. And since they've been so flaky you should probably make a contract and demand half of your payment when they do come back.

And in the future always make some type of contract. It's not hard to draft something with a few sentences that's fair for both sides.
Click to expand...

I'm with Isaac.
And, if you haven't already - take the video offline.
 
Isaac_Brody said:
TELEPHONE. CALL.

If they ignore your calls then you are probably going to just have to eat the cost of your time. Keep that deposit, and hold that footage. At a certain point they will probably come back wanting their footage. And since they've been so flaky you should probably make a contract and demand half of your payment when they do come back.

And in the future always make some type of contract. It's not hard to draft something with a few sentences that's fair for both sides.
Click to expand...
He rang when I emailed her first on facebook about giving them a deadline, but then I feel he was calling out of anger as I was only ever talking to the bride who booked and paid everything in the beginning, so she gave me his email and I emailed him straight away. I feel it's better to understand an email than miss things in a phone call.
I hope they do pay, I've sent a message today with my bank account number to send a money transfer instead.
 
I agree with Isaac , you should always have a contract. It protects you from any kind of hassle that you don't want to deal with. Its always good to have a legal document in your possession , in case you ever deal with clients that cause problems. I would do a phone call as well or just show up at their house. force them to deal with you , other wise put their footage on the shelf and leave them a message in a couple of months telling them that your going to delete their footage if they don't respond to you. Can't hold on to stuff forever!
 
This type of situation is more common than not.

Often, all the bride and groom (and their family) care about are photos of their
wedding day. Video is often a last-minute afterthought. What I imagine is happening
here is that your clients overextended themselves with the wedding and honeymoon
are are looking for ways to save a buck. They've got the photos, so the video can wait
until they've got the funds. If they don't get the video, so be it.

Also, complaining to you about the quality and making you wait is a good strategy to
reduce the price. They keeping putting you off until you just give them the footage
for enough money to break even. I've seen it happen (to me no less!).

I agree with everyone above. Pull the video off the web and send a politely worded
email stating "As I have not heard from you regarding payment for the videos, I can
only assume you have decided not to honor our agreement. Please be advised that
all video footage will be deleted permanently on September 1, 2010 unless I have
received payment in full before hand.

Or something to that effect.

Be polite, but firm. You will definitely get their attention. Remember, you're in the
driver's seat here. It's their one special day, and you've got the footage. Chances
are they'll respond and pay accordingly. If not, chalk it up to experience and keep
the footage for your show reel.

Best of luck.

P.
 
Peter Reynolds said:
This type of situation is more common than not.

Often, all the bride and groom (and their family) care about are photos of their
wedding day. Video is often a last-minute afterthought. What I imagine is happening
here is that your clients overextended themselves with the wedding and honeymoon
are are looking for ways to save a buck. They've got the photos, so the video can wait
until they've got the funds. If they don't get the video, so be it.

Also, complaining to you about the quality and making you wait is a good strategy to
reduce the price. They keeping putting you off until you just give them the footage
for enough money to break even. I've seen it happen (to me no less!).

I agree with everyone above. Pull the video off the web and send a politely worded
email stating "As I have not heard from you regarding payment for the videos, I can
only assume you have decided not to honor our agreement. Please be advised that
all video footage will be deleted permanently on September 1, 2010 unless I have
received payment in full before hand.

Or something to that effect.

Be polite, but firm. You will definitely get their attention. Remember, you're in the
driver's seat here. It's their one special day, and you've got the footage. Chances
are they'll respond and pay accordingly. If not, chalk it up to experience and keep
the footage for your show reel.

Best of luck.

P.
Click to expand...
Good Idea, I'll give it a week for now and then tell them, as it can be stressfull thinking and waiting rather than just saying "Goodbye" hopefully getting them to pay...I noticed film companies here say "Final Balance 2 weeks prior to wedding" I should do this, I've had enough of being extra fair :violent5:
 
Burn2Earn pro. said:
I agree with Isaac , you should always have a contract. It protects you from any kind of hassle that you don't want to deal with. Its always good to have a legal document in your possession , in case you ever deal with clients that cause problems. I would do a phone call as well or just show up at their house. force them to deal with you , other wise put their footage on the shelf and leave them a message in a couple of months telling them that your going to delete their footage if they don't respond to you. Can't hold on to stuff forever!
Click to expand...
Will do the last part definitly, you can't be liable if the tapes go missing at a certain point I guess.
 
PhilipD said:
Will do the last part definitly, you can't be liable if the tapes go missing at a certain point I guess.
Click to expand...

always hold on to the the tapes. especially if there is a dispute about payment and delivering the final product.
 
Peter Reynolds said:
This type of situation is more common than not.

Often, all the bride and groom (and their family) care about are photos of their
wedding day. Video is often a last-minute afterthought. What I imagine is happening
here is that your clients overextended themselves with the wedding and honeymoon
are are looking for ways to save a buck. They've got the photos, so the video can wait
until they've got the funds. If they don't get the video, so be it.
Click to expand...

This is why back when I shot weddings we collected 50% as a deposit at the time of booking and the remainder due by the wedding day.
 
If you really must post the full version on-line - and yes sometimes that is necessary - put a watermark on it, preferably slap bang across the centre of frame. You can use your email address, then, if your work's good and the illegal copy does get widely distributed, you might make some new business out of it :smile:
 
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