From Behind the Lens to Founding Unscripted App: A Conversation with Cheryl Kitchener
Interview
When Wedding Photographers Need To Call In Sick
By Katrina Ferguson
It’s happened to all of us.
Or if you’re one of the lucky ones, touch all the wooden things around you and read on so you’ll know exactly what to do in that dreaded moment when the lurgi gets you at a most inconvenient time.
Imagine you’re booked to photograph a wedding tomorrow.
In fact, you’ve been booked for said wedding for 12, 18 or 24 months in advance and now you’re struck down with some sort of illness.
What should you do? What, feasibly, can you do?
Let’s look at your options.
And we encourage you to go with your gut - pun intended - on the best course of action for you, keeping both the present and long-term repercussions in mind.
WARNING: Some potentially unpopular opinions coming up…
Get On With It - Under The Weather And Under The Radar
Option 1: Take a spoon full of concrete, harden up and just get on with it.
In more severe cases, this obviously won’t be an option but for anything where you physically can muster up the energy and professionalism to just carry on quietly, maybe you should.
Maybe it’s not worth worrying your couple - do they really neeeeeed to know?
Chances are they’ve mentally and logistically got a lot on their plate and / or they’re busy enjoying pre-wedding festivities.
So, if you’re under the weather (but not contagious or incapacitated) perhaps you should keep your concerns under the radar and just get on with the show.
What’s to gain by letting your clients know you’re not 100 percent and are you just giving yourself permission to ease off the pedal and take it easier on the day?
Make sure you’ve thought about and are being honest with yourself re: the answer.
I had pneumonia once and shot a wedding! It was horrible but lucky for me the bride and groom were really good and got what we needed. I make sure my second shooter knows me and my routine so if I am not feeling well she knows enough to get the easy shots like the wedding reception!
‘Own’ Up, Mask Up And On With The Show
Option 2: Reach out with a courtesy call or message and let your couple know despite not being 100 percent, you’ll be there as promised, regardless.
I would personally just message the bride and say, “Hey, I just wanna let you know that I woke up sick today. I’m running a little bit of a fever. I’m still good to still do the wedding and shoot as long as you’re good? I can wear a mask if you’d like."
Keep the conversation light and explain you’re planning to drug yourself up (per se) and don a mask for the day to help minimize any possible risk.
Assure your couple nothing will be affected on the day and your photography service will carry on as normal.
Nothing to see here folks!
On with the show…
I still shoot weddings sick unless the client asks me not to and obviously if it was Covid or something I would find an associate.
Back It Up And Call In Sick
Option 3: If you didn’t already have a second shooter coming with you, get one in place now.
Call a backup photographer, explain the situation and ask them to cover for you.
I wouldn’t refund. I would keep my contract and do my absolute best to find a kick ass replacement to shoot the day and would still edit and deal with the customer afterwards. Never let them down, right?
You likely won’t be able to promise your backup the full rate you’ve been paid - you’ll need to keep some to help cover overheads and your time up until that point - but pay them fairly regardless and thank them for helping save the day (and your reputation).
Don’t contact your couple with news of the last minute adjustment until it’s all well and truly in place and you know you can rely on your back up shooter without fail.
That way, you’ll have both bad and good news to share and be able to confidently communicate that - despite the change in plans - there’s ultimately nothing to worry about.
Your couple may not be able to be in your direct hands on the day but, you’re still looking after them.
If it were my wedding, I would way rather have a last-minute associate shoot than have my photographer potentially give my grandfather a severe illness…People's health is simply more important…It's not a flex to ‘push through’ insane illness that you could give other people!
Refund and Bounce
Option 4: Refund any monies paid so far (a deposit and remaining balance most likely), apologize, wish them luck and go back to your sick bed.
In severe and last-minute cases, this may be all you can manage to do.
It’s not ideal - it leaves your couple partially high and dry - but at the very least you’ve refunded the money paid for services you’re no longer able to deliver, whether that’s what you’d agreed to or not.
There’s just some instances when heart should trump whatever your contract says.
Or, even better, send a refund and do whatever you can to help the couple solve their newfound problem of a weddings sans a professional photographer to help capture and direct it.
Send a list of other possible options.
Better yet, do the ringing around yourself, find out who’s available and - in an ideal world - shoots in a similar style to your own.
If you can’t be there personally, you’ve at least somewhat solved that problem rather than dumping it on them.
And that counts for something.
Who wants to call a bride days before her wedding and tell her you can’t capture her wedding?...I contacted every photographer I knew in the area and asked if anyone was available for a last minute wedding.
Pull The Plug And Ghost The Hell Outta There
Option 5: Certainly not a recommended approach but technically it’s an option.
Sadly, no doubt there are wedding photographers out there who’ve done it before too.
It’s also highly likely their career was shortly lived as a result of such careless behavior.
Put yourself in the couple’s shoes - to have a vital service provider cancel and leave you high and dry the day before your wedding day would cause significant levels of stress and disappointment.
It’s not fair, it’s careless…and it sure isn’t good business practice.
I recently got a frantic call from a bride whose photographer said, “Sorry - can't do it!” And just hung up on her. She had to race around to find someone [else].
The Moral Of The Story
If falling ill on or shortly before a wedding day you’re booked to photograph hasn’t already happened to you, one day it probably will and you need to be prepared for that eventuality.
Think about what you could do, what you should do and what plans you have in place for if when you find yourself in that unfortunate situation.
It’s good business…but more importantly, it’s the wise and decent thing to do.
