Wedding Contracts/Shooting Outside ?

[scottalanphoto]

I do have a wedding contact that is already written up. However, it does not say anything in it about an outdoor wedding and weather conditions... Of course I'm not going to shoot in the rain and get my equipment ruined... Does anyone have a copy of a wedding contract where it states what they do in that situation... If you could e mail me a copy or copy paste on here that would be wonderful..

Scott
scott@scottalanphoto.com

[CaptainTom]

You should be prepared to shoot in the rain if they have the wedding in the rain.
A simple plastic garbage bag will protect your camera, or invest in something more appropriate. Like a 7D, 1D, etc.
or get a Storm Jacket.
or an all pupose weather protectant device like this.

[S-Man]

If it's outside and it's raining, either everyone will run inside, or everyone will be soaked. If it's the latter, you should be prepared for that by getting a cover. They're around here somewhere.

edit: There they are, up there with Tom's post.

[toverman]

Has anyone covered a ceremony that actually took place in pouring rain? Seems like there is usually an indoor alternative if the weather gets too nasty. If not, could make for some really interesting shots with all the umbrellas out. For me, I'd be prepared by protecting my equipment and also having a few plain white umbrellas handy to help reflect white onto the bride's and groom's faces. If it does rain, that's a part of the story that can easily be incorporated into the coverage.

Are you hoping to craft a clause that says you won't shoot in the rain? Seems like that would be a deal-breaker for a couple, maybe?

[kula23]

or this http://www.wadayaneed.com/umbrellahat.htm if this ever will fit in your camera under it.

[bondarnes]

I recently had a wedding in between showers. The wedding party was dry in a gazebo, but the guests and I were not. Towards the end of the ceremony it began to drizzle. Not enough to drive anyone inside, so I just popped open my trusty umbrella and finished the job I was hired to do.

[MicWayWal]

Scott,
You had better prepare for anything as a wedding photographer. That doesn't mean trying to weasel out of your contract however. For crying out loud you are a wedding photographer or your supposed to be. If you represent yourself as a professional wedding photographer you had better get the coverage come hell or high water, or prepare for the consequences, which means you might have to pay for the whole wedding. Because people today WILL sue you over any lapse in coverage.

As a professional I am expected to get it covered, NO MATTER WHAT comes my way. I have photographed weddings in and despite: Rain, Snow, Ice, Lightening Storms, Floods, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Cars breaking down, Cameras breaking (notice the plural there), Flashes not working, People being late, Running out of film and/or flash cards, Second shooters not showing, Pastors who decide at the last minute to NOT marry the couple, Bride passing out drunk at the reception, Groom showing up drunk, Bride two hours late, No electricity in the church, No air conditioning at the reception place in August. If you don't want to prepare for things like these then please don't be a wedding photographer.

I don't drive a Suburban to the wedding because it is stylish. I drive it because it is the only vehicle in which I can carry everything I could possible need to get the event covered. Be prepared Scott or get you a nice cushy indoor desk job.

Originally Posted by toverman

Has anyone covered a ceremony that actually took place in pouring rain?

Yes. The ceremony literally was in the rain AND the alter returns too. I mean we were already wet to the bone, so why not. This couple had planned to get married on a beautiful picturesque stone bridge over a creek. When we started gathering a couple of hours before the ceremony, it started to rain just like it has done the past few weeks. No lightening just a steady pouring rain. They had no backup place and everyone lived far away. Hoping it would break we waited it out in cars. Kinda hard to get PJ coverage with people in their cars. Sensing the rain was not going to break, the couple decided to go ahead with the ceremony IN the rain. So my wife held an umbrella for me. After a while that was too difficult so I just got wet. It actually was a very hard challenge. But I think I did a very nice job for them. Again kinda hard to get good shots under dark rainy conditions, under a canopy of trees, nearing sunset time, but you have to do what you have to do. I got everything covered.

MicWayWal added 7 Minutes and 8 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

You should be prepared to shoot in the rain if they have the wedding in the rain.

Testimony to Captain Tom doing this very thing this week. He had agreed to photograph with me at a golf tournament on Monday. Monday turned out to be cold, wet and raining. It was a very hard mist, to sometimes a light rain. Did he phone me and let me know he could not get his brand new camera wet. Not on your life. He showed up, with his rain gear on himself AND his camera. Grabbed a cart and drove the course shooting action shots.

Nice job old man! And we didn't have a contract. All I had was his word. Turns out, that was enough.

[ADP Photography]

Another thing about shooting a wedding is that I wear black, pants and flats. As a woman I've had to throw fashion sense to wind because I know at the end of the night after a wedding, if I wasn't wearing black, my clothes would be anyway. We shot an outdoor wedding last Saturday where it was 40 degrees... the wedding was sunrsie. Even though the guests and bridal party got to stand on dry land and huddle together. My husband and I were out doing our shot rounds in the mud, which meant even kneeling in the mud. We used mono and tripods because the bride would not have taken lightly "the shots didn't turn out because we were shaking so bad from the cold weather it interfered with the photography".

You do what you have to do for the shot... more importantly for your reputation.

[Outlaw]

Scott,

Good job stirring the fires around here! I love reading the passionate responses of our fellow photogs here on TPF.

To tend to your actual question, I can honestly say I haven't used or heard of a photographer who used contract language to give them a pass at a wedding if it rains. Wedding photography, unlike most other realms of our industry, is pretty do-or-die. I can see you getting some funny looks and losing some potential clients by including such language.

That said, I am a firm believer that we do what we do by choice, and we don't have to do a blessed thing we don't want to, regardless of the opinions of others. So long as both parties know the score going in, it's all good.

If I were going your route, I would keep it simple:

"In the case of inclement weather (rain, snow, etc.) which could damage my equipment, I will not be able to make photos except from a position of dry cover."

Make it simple and make it clear, and just like any part of your contract, go over it with your potential clients. 90% will already have a bad weather backup plan. For the 10% (if that) who decide in advance that they will be married in the pouring rain if necessary, make it clear that if that happens, there won't be photos. And if that's a deal breaker for them, refer them out to a fellow photographer who doesn't mind shooting in bad weather.

Why the drama? We can all grab our crotches and say "you're not a real photographer if you don't blah blah blah" and we'd all be full of crap.

Your art can suck, your customer policies can be downright antisocial, your prices can be dirt cheap or outrageously expensive, but your clients determine whether or not you get paid.

If they like your art and like your price and are okay with contract language that says you won't shoot in the rain, don't let anyone on this forum tell you you aren't a "real" wedding photographer. Refusing to shoot in the rain is no different than refusing to shoot on Sundays or refusing to shoot for free. You own your business. You make your rules and clients who don't want to play by them don't have to.

Personally, I'd just buy an umbrella.

(not a lawyer, your mileage may vary, consult with someone who knows what the hell they're talking about, etc.)

[OTRphoto]

I shot a wedding this past July with Allen Ayers and we had a DOWNPOUR mid ceremony. We were somewhat prepared with umbrellas - but I just kept on shooting in the downpour with my 30d and 5dmii. Figured I had a 20d as backup in the truck if needed and I have insurance on the gear. By the time it started raining I would have been soaked before I got to an overhang. So we just kept shooting. got some adorable shots...

http://otherthanroses.com/wedding/we...stacey-jeremy/