Let me first start this post by saying I AM SO SORRY for my absence over the past week! I have was having image-uploading issues that prevented me from sharing any new posts. But thankfully, the problem is temporarily fixed and I can upload images again! Blog posts are just so much better with pictures! 🙂 Now on to today’s topic…

With today’s exploding photography industry and the growing number of photographers, it’s probably safe to say that everyone reading this blog post knows at least one friend or family member that is a photographer. I bet it’s also safe to say that every other one of you have had that friend or family member take pictures for you. It’s a natural thing to invest in those friends and family members who practice a certain profession or craft, so I don’t blame you. But what if it’s your wedding pictures? What if your friend says they’ll provide you with wedding photography services as a gift? Pretty tempting, right? Not only do you know the person well, but you’re now getting something free for your wedding. WOWZERS! That sounds awesome! Before you jump right into that offer, however, consider this:

GET A CONTRACT!

I’ve recently heard of a few couples scrambling to find a wedding photographer because their friend, who was supposed to gift them their wedding photography services, backed out or cancelled at the last minute. Without a contract or binding document, there was really nothing they could do about it…except scramble (and maybe even panic) to find a replacement. If you’re almost a year out from your wedding, that may not be a hard thing to do. But if you’re just a few months or even days (yes, it happens!) away from your wedding and it’s during busy season, it’ll be a real challenge.

My contract states that in the unlikely event that I wouldn’t be able to provide coverage on the wedding day, a substitute photographer will be chosen with the help of the photographer (me). Since I have a large list of photographers that I hire for second shooting opportunities, I am confident that if I would have to “cancel” my services, I could easily find another photographer who would do quality work at a style similar to mine. When I found out I was pregnant with Ally and had a due date less than two weeks before a New Year’s Eve wedding, I had to cancel my services with a couple and help them find a new photographer. But things went smoothly because we had a contract (even though we were friends from high school) and both parties understood what needed to be done and were covered from damage. Without the contract, there wouldn’t have been a clear means to our end. I don’t at all plan on cancelling on anyone when it comes to their wedding photography, but the contract keeps the transaction safe and covered.

So if your best friend Suzie or your Uncle Bob is offering to take your wedding pictures for free and you really want them to be your photographer, awesome! But suggest putting a contract together first. Make sure it includes the specifics of the wedding day, what’s expected from both the couple and the photographer before, during and after the wedding day, and what happens when someone has to cancel. It’ll make Suzie and Bob a lot less likely to cancel or back out on you, and leave you scrambling to find a new photographer.

This past weekend was a double-header for JFP. I’m excited to show off Lisa and Josh’s beautiful outdoor Morgantown wedding next week…

And later this week, you’ll get to see Tara and Branden’s wedding!