Spell it all out!

After a frustrating evening spent at a Verizon Wireless store, the following has been cemented in my mind: get it all spelled out. This is a theory that I apply to all of the A Softer Image contracts, which protects both the photographer and the couple. Should a wedding photography client want more explanation about an article in our contract, I make sure we explain things fully and triple-check to make sure questions are answered. For example:

“Can we print the photos from the disk?” Why, absolutely. It says so in the contract. While we retain the rights to the images (copyright happens when we snap the photo), we give our clients permission to use them. Now, we also say exactly who can do that – we include the couple’s names even on the disk to make it clear that only they have these permissions.

“What if my pastor won’t let you use flash?” It’s alright – in the contract, we make it clear that we’ll follow all of the rules outlined by your officiant, your venue, etc. We also make it clear that it’s your responsibility to negotiate those rules with the officiant/location if you so choose. But don’t worry – with the daughter of a Methodist minister as the lead photographer and a niece of one as the co-photographer, you can feel secure that we’ll be respectful during your service!

“Can other guests take photos?” Yup! Says so in the contract. I can even tell you how we handle this to make sure everyone gets the shot but doesn’t get in our way. That being said, there’s always a chance that someone won’t respect that we’re the hired photographers, and we’re going to be limited by that. So we’ve protected you in the contract as well as ourselves.

So just remember that by spelling everything out clearly and in full, many problems can be prevented later, and everyone can be on the same page. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – a vendor will be happier to prevent problems that would happen due to miscommunication or a misunderstanding of what’s in a contract. Just be sure that you approach it openly and in a non-confrontational way – otherwise, your vendor might misunderstand your motives. Asking questions and having a conversation is always the way to go.