Flexibility

[G.T.D.Productions]

I just thought I'd share my point of view on this subject and see what all of you think, if you agree or disagree. About three weeks ago, I booked a family portrait. The original booking was for oct 24th, the client is a young woman who wants a portrait of herself, her little brother and her parents. It's to be a christmas gift for her grandparents. Well, she wanted to shoot at sugarloaf mtn which is about 20 miles north of where I live in maryland. We talked about how beautiful the fall colors would be and what a great gift it could make. The problem came when we had rain for roughly 2 weeks straight. So oct 24th became the afternoon of oct 31st, only they had a death in the family so we had to reschedule again. Both are reasons that are out of anyone's control. So I decided not to charge anything extra for having to reschedule. The other "hassle" is that my clients brother happens to work for the secret service. Needless to say his schedule is very strict and VERY unpredictable.
So here we are closing in on a month since the originally scheduled date. I've literally just checked the weather and we're looking good (10% chance of precip all day). In our contracts, as well as many of yours, I'm sure, there is a "act of god" clause. Saying basically that things out of anyone's control will not become the "fault" of myself or my clients.
I feel that being flexible with my clients is a must in some cases, as there are some things, "acts of god", that are simply beyond our control. Rather than be unyielding and charge her for rain, her brothers schedule with the secret service or worse yet for her family member dying. While I definitely would rather have done the shoot on the original date, I haven't perfected the art of weather control. Nor would I be so cold-hearted and expect them to skip a funeral to make a shoot (having sad faced family portraits where everyone is thinking of poor "uncle Bob" (not the real name, just illustrating my point))

Now I'm not at all referring to flaky clients. I've had several calls "Would you come do a portrait of my child?" then weeks and months pass by without a call to talk prices or schedule a date. I see them for what they are when they go silent after prices come up. In hard times as well as good ones, people will always want something for free. But for legitimate "out of our hands" type events... Is there such a thing as being too flexible when it comes to those good ol' "acts of god"... What do you think?

[windrider86]

I've had this happen as well. Weather was bad every time, then the gal had a black eye. then she got sick. Of course the pattern seemed to follow when it came time to purchase. lol
I dont know what the answer is. You have to decide how far you are willing to go. If it isnt anyones fault, reschedule. Wow that customer, time and time again. Customers talk, they'll be quick to tell the story to thier friends and family on how accomodating you are.

Now, if its something like they had to go shopping or whatever, by all rights, charge them for your time. After all you could have had another sitting for that time frame and lost out.