International Wedding Contracts

[PIC]

I have done various contract weddings in the U.S.
and now have a verbal client in U.K. interested in a B.C. Canada wedding.

This wedding is planned for end of May and apparently I was refered to the bride
by "someone" she meet in London. The Groom is presently in China and so is the wedding planner.
The bride - my only contact so far - understands my policy on air travel clients and has agreed to the quote of my most deluxe package and $2000 travel. She also understands 100 % payment and signed contact are due by April 1, 2007.
The proof of this will be check in the mail.

Has any one experience with such non US weddings {Chinnese in particular}, contracts, payments, etc. ???

Any tips passed along would be good.

EL

[ShaneKislack]

Careful, I've had people try and pull scams that read exactly like what you wrote above. They will next ask you if you can pay the florists/stylists/caterer/etc by western union and they will reimburse you. They'll say they only have one check or something.


Here's the transcript of mine.
<b>Hello Shane,
Thanks for a favourable respond to take up the service.Having goting the price ,we are pleased to inform you that the some of cashier check of $5,000 will be sent to you.

This cost will include your charges and the dressing maker of the day,who took care of the decoration and other material on the day.

There for , i here by urge you to send the balance of to the dressing maker as his professional charges through (WESTERN UNION). so i want you to send this information.
FULL NAME STATE..
CITY..
ZIP CODE..
COUNTRY..
CELL PHONE..

To be written on the check .i would be so much appriciate your good service, if you can surprice me as recommended and i promise to give you a greater opportunity in new year for a greater and highly exposed show.
please get back to me soon.
Kindest Regards.

Shane Kislack <shane@shanekislack.com> wrote:
My fee is $XXXX for ceremony and reception...all done digitally. Travel
expenses, in addition will be $XXX. To reserve the date, I require a
deposit of $XXX.

thank you
Shane
On Jan 10, 2005, at 4:41 PM, jones cole wrote:

> Hello photographer,
>
> I seek for your photograph service.i have given the contract to stand
> as the orgerniser of a wedding ceremony which will definitely take
> place on 26th febuary 2005 in hoston Texas.usa In a bid to make it
> most perfect occation i here by require the service of professional of
> which you have been choosen as the photographer of the day.
>
> With this , I would want to know your cost,including flight and
> service charge.
> Thanks Best Regard.
> please get back to me soon.
> Kindest Regards.
>
>
> </B>

[PIC]

Shane,

Yes, my first thought was SCAM from Nigeria.
Your post above is interesting and thx for input.
But to this early writting it "looks real".
The proof will be cashiers check by April 1, 07.
I belive my contact and more importantly my policy
and 100% advanced payment terms will protect me from such scam.
Note - your memo is bad English and got SCAM written all over it.
You might also use the term retainer and not deposit - see threads on this ...


Was really looking for input on over the border jobs, tax etc. - can be wedding or ... whatever ...

EL

[ShaneKislack]

Good luck, keep us updated. Cash upfront.

[HotHolly]

From my years on eBay - international fake cashiers checks can take a few weeks to figure out. Confirm with your bank how long it will take to confirm funds. My bank in town won't clear a check (any check) for 10 biz days if its from out of state and over $1K. Out of country might be longer.

I've been to a mass in Spanish - but nothing in Chinese. It also deviated from the normal mass, which threw me a little. My 2nd shooter had no clue what was going on. Never been to a mass and didnt speak Spanish.

The best thing, if you want good images, is to google looking for what customs come with the background. It will make sure you capture what's important and you know where to be during the ceremony.

[PIC]

Originally Posted by HotHolly

From my years on eBay - international fake cashiers checks can take a few weeks to figure out. Confirm with your bank how long it will take to confirm funds. My bank in town won't clear a check (any check) for 10 biz days if its from out of state and over $1K. Out of country might be longer.

EXACTLY !!!

Thats why I said unless check is here by April 1, 07 with signed contract or I WILL NOT DO THE WEDDING ON MAY 29 th.

It gives time to clear and still book flight room car at lower rates.

Shane's memo above reeks of SCAM.
I wont even respond to something like that.
It is possible to get a smart scammer and I think my policy will block such.
F.W.I.W. .... the address of the wedding in B.C. checks out with Mapquest but
the phone # to reach her in London had area code 702 {Inner London is 207 and outer London is 208}.
Mistake or what ??

EL

[ShaneKislack]

I called the hotel to see if a wedding was reserved there...none. You might be able to verify like-wise. Other than that, cash upfront or no photog.

[Pikachu]

To go to Canada to work, you will probably need to get a visa.