Photographer cancelled wedding in 8 weeks!

Maybe Google to see if you can find any reviews.

It could be that yours is more last minute, hence the bigger discount. I reckon the story about a couple dropping out could just be a selling technique he uses to make people feel like they are getting a bargain!

Maybe have a look at other photographers before you sign the contract/hand the cash over. And definitely don't pay anything without scrutinising the contract!

I reckon you'll be fine, but just do a bit of research first. X

A big factor in wedding photography is trust, in my opinion if something someone said turns out to be untrue then all trust is lost also some things should be considered a little more than just a selling technique. Also when using a 3rd party introduction service do as much research on them as the service you are buying from them.

I agree about trust, that was my instinct. I did some further asking around and a photographer I found who was booked posted in her network to see who had availability. I’ve got one who came highly recommended and is amazing, not only that but they are doing a similar deal.

photographer has always been a priority for me, but on a budget isn’t easy.

What sort of things do you look out for in a contract???

I checked things like cancellation - what are the costs if I cancel, what do they promise to do if they have to cancel.

Also, who has copyright of the photos - will they have a watermark on, are you allowed to put them on Facebook without credits.

Any additional costs - travel, breaks, food (some photographers will bring their own lunch, others will expect you to provide food).

Most of this you'll probably discuss with them, it's just getting it in writing.

Hi,

Any decent photographer would have a website. An actual, proper website. If they have that and have lots of work online then sure, should be ok.

With regards the discount thing. They might just be pricing themselves high so that they can seem like a steal to you and so they can secure the booking.

Either way, not morally fantastic. If unsure meet the photographer. If they don't have a contract run a mile. Your intuition can cut through most things. Use that.

Hi,

If you are still in search of a wedding photographer, please feel free to get in touch with Jay from Windsor Bowen. They are friendly and professional and really accommodating. Their website is: www.windsorbowen.com.

I can understand him doing you a deal for 8 weeks time - unless it's a peak date and he's hardly got any bookings? The discount offered to your friend is very odd though. It may be that he's newer to wedding photography than you realise.

For what it's worth I don't like the way Bark works. I manage a wedding and function band and we are registered with lots of different agencies, e.g. Poptop, Freak, Entertainment Nation, LMM UK, Morris, Encore. I filled out the application for bark and only after that became aware that the way it works is that as a service provider you have to pay Bark to be allowed to get in touch with anyone who has made an enquiry. You are unable to make any contact prior to this payment as the contact details of the client are withheld, so you inevitably never know all the details you really need to quote properly. We're a successful and regularly hired band, but it is still only 1 in around 15 enquiries that ends up being a booking, even when greater details are provided up front.

Via our own website the conversion rate for an enquiry becoming a booking is more like 1 in 3, so this shows how important it is to be able to discuss requirements up front in detail.

I therefore think that Bark's approach may eventually encourage some suppliers to bend the truth regarding what they are offering to get the job and recover their investment. I'm not saying this is Bark's fault, they are totally up front about how it works, but it's not a modus operandi that I would want to use.