Over the last few weeks, I have noticed a lot of scams being pulled in the wedding industry. And I know, that scams happen all the time but, nothing boils my blood more than when it's done to wedding couples who are planning their wedding. In an industry that's already so hard to gain couples trust with, stunts like this just make it so much harder, and what's worst is how can you tell the professionals from the fakes?
This blog is a little something that hopefully might be able to help you when looking over all your suppliers, although this is more for photographers, the same sort of questions can be asked across the board.
If your planning a wedding there will be a good chance that your are using Facebook and If you’re on any Facebook I'm sure you will be using wedding groups. I’m sure that you’ve seen the story's going around about the company's that take all your money and then run, and there's one that stands out from recently.
If you haven’t, let me shed a little light onto it for you.
So basically this company, ( that i'm not going to name incase I get done for slander ) is a photography and videography company and what he’s done is basically scammed hundreds of brides out of thousands of pounds by declaring bankruptcy days after taking payments from hundreds of brides. Now personally I can’t even start to express how angry and upset this makes me as this puts a lot of photographers under the same spotlight and it’s just not fair.
I’m a big believer in that if it’s too good to be true then it normally is, and I would say that I’m very passionate about what I do, I live and breathe weddings and when couples get in touch with me wanting me to capture their day I make it exactly that, all about them.
Anyway, enough of me going on, and let me share what it is that you have actually came here for and that's some tips on what to look for, right?
Number one, make sure they’re active on social media. Me personally I try and post at least four or five times a week for wedding content or blogs this shows that I’m actively doing what I’m saying I’m doing and that’s capturing amazing couples on their special day.
Number two, do some research check reviews or reach out to all the Brides that have used that photographer. I’ve encouraged it personally that if a couple aren’t too sure, I’m more than happy to pass on Bride‘s details so long as it’s okay with them to discuss what it was like having me at their day.
Number three, jump on a phone call or a zoom call or even better in person to make sure that the person that sending the emails and texts is who they say they are. Again I personally encourage my couples to jump on a phone call or zoom call you can also get the personality so much better from a phone call then you can an email.
Number four, get yourself covered!! Make sure you get wedding insurance. Prevention is better than cure.
Number five, ask to see their portfolio, a good photographer will have plenty of portfolios to show you if they don’t this could be a red flag so be sure to ask plenty of questions.
Number Six, make sure you sign a contract. A contract is there to protect you as well as the photographer if a contract isn’t offered, again this could be a serious red flag. With all my couples I encourage jumping on a quick call to go over the contract if this helps put their mind at ease. I would rather spend an hour on the phone going over my contract and knowing that my couples are happy with what they are getting rather than them signing a contract and not being too sure what it means. again a good photographer would do this.
Number seven, Do not pay in full!! I’ve never heard of a photographer asking a couple to pay in full upfront, unless it was a last-minute booking. most photographers will ask for a percentage as a retainer with the remaining balance being paid a week before the wedding date or on the wedding date. me personally this is what I do however I do also offer payment plans with all my couples but this is something that’s discussed over the phone call when trust has been established.
Number eight. Make sure they are contactable. Make sure that you have several ways of getting in touch with your photographer, with all my couples I can be contacted via email Facebook WhatsApp or a phone call.
I hope that this message helps with the decision of your Photographer please do be careful and do your research I can’t stress this enough, too many photographers out there are scamming innocent people and it paints a bad light for us all them photographers that are genuine and truly go above and beyond to help the couples.
If you have any questions all about anything I’ve spoke about in this blog then please do reach out to me I’m always here to help all my couples or new potential clients and at the end of the day I want to make the experience as enjoyable and as easy as possible for you.
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