What would you do? I called DC at 4:30 Thursday to confirm a 9am headshot session Friday in Austin—just a block from the Capitol (yes, protests and all were planned). Austin office said, “We’re good to go!” I show up… no real protestors, but also no clients. Office dark, doors locked. DC says, “They should be there.” 🤷♂️ NOPE!!! I billed them anyway. Would you? Do you charge for no-shows on location, even when you’ve DOUBLE confirmed?
21 Comments
Comments (1-10)
I agree that you should bill a client in that situation, especially because they confirmed that they would be there. Doctors, hairdressers, or other professionals would charge in that situation -- why not you?
Yes !!! Also I'd put a clause in my contracts for such instances..My Time is valuable and Time is money
I hope you got what you need to cover for your travel expenses time etc.. Yes you should charge them..Glad you did
I am a Product Photographer (still making an hourly wage ) and when my boss makes me travel and there's no work and he doesn't let me know it , even though I've let him know I'm coming to work the next day, after texting him that I will be down - I bill him 3 hrs ... I live forty minutes away from the job-..A text is less than a minute to do.. He has left me high and dry like this before so I've let him know I was going bill him a minimum of three hours if he doesn't let me know to come down or not to come down. I've have had had to do this several times...
MY TIME IS VALUABLE and time is money - you cannot replace time ...etc etc etc --
This was the right call for you as well as the industry as a whole. I worked for several A list photographers in my assisting days and it was industry standard then and it should be now. Postponement is one thing especially if it is a repeat client but once travel is involved or the crew shows up at a studio the bill has to be paid for lost time.
If its a new client- GET A DEPOSIT!
My time is majorly valuable so if they no show with me my contracts automatically have a paid protection and no show policy. My question to you is if they paid upfront for the session? If they did they have wasted my time and contract is ended. At that point when they reschedule they have to show up to my studio for there headshots or be charged for a redo session at full price plus travel. I hope that helps you Don Rogers
ABSOLUTELY! Especially since you confirmed the night before. I had a law firm, some years ago, that a similar thing happened. The boss got pissed with me over the billing, tried to explain that a lawyers schedule is extremely demanding, I got paid, they hired another photographer. I really didn't care!!! That interaction only happened once in my career.
Charge if you can but sounds like a scam
Definitely! My time and effort (including travel expenses) are valuable.
Yes!, Maybe. lol
Yessir! Good for you.