SUMMARY: Dashboard tells you the Arrival Time and Arrival Address. This is the ONLY information you should rely on. If the timeline is different, ignore it. We’ll always have your back if you follow the Arrival Time and Arrival Address listed on Dashboard.
ARRIVAL
Dashboard will list two critical pieces of information: the Arrival Time and the Arrival Address.
The clients enter this information themselves. We tell the client they must be extremely careful, because this is what we’ll rely on.
You should ONLY rely on the Arrival Time and Arrival Address listed on Dashboard. We understand that couples and wedding planners sometimes send timelines that are different. Ignore the PDF timeline, ignore text messages, ignore phone calls, ignore what another photographer may tell you. You should only rely on the “Arrival Time” and “Arrival Address” listed on Dashboard.
You must arrive early or on-time. In your contract, we’ve explained the potential payment reductions for arriving late. It is your responsibility to leave extra time for traffic, construction, road delays, getting lost, GPS errors, and all other sorts of routine problems.
DEPARTURE
Touch base with the couple about 15 minutes before your departure time. Ask if there are any final shots they need before you leave. LEAVE RIGHT ON TIME. DON’T WORK FOR FREE.
Clients know they’ll need to pay for a full extra hour even if you stay 2 minutes late. It’s in their contract. Don’t work for free under any circumstance. Some events run late, such as a sparkler send-off. Make sure the client knows they’re going to exceed the departure time and would be charged for an extra hour.
If we discover through timestamps that you stayed late for free, even just a few minutes, you could be responsible for reimbursing the company for the lost revenue.
ADDING HOURS
If the client wants to add extra hour(s), they can make this decision on their wedding day. It’s easy. You don’t need to do anything special. When you fill out your payment request, simply check the box that the client added an extra hour(s).
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
- All team members must work the same number of hours.
- Hours can only be added in full-hour increments.
- If the client asks, the cost per hour is listed in their contract.
- Clients know they need to pay for an extra hour, even if you stay 2 minutes late.
- Don’t work for free.
What if the timeline is different from the Arrival Address or Time listed on Dashboard?
We understand this happens. Unfortunately, this is because the couple was not paying attention. We send four (4) separate emails and reminders to couples. Some couples simply don’t pay attention—no matter how many times we remind them! You should ONLY rely on the Arrival Time and Arrival Address listed on Dashboard.
Can I know the timeline before the wedding?
We completely understand you’d want to know the timeline and logistics as soon as possible. So do we! Clients don’t need to provide their final logistics until 2 days before the wedding. Until then, we don’t have any additional information outside of Dashboard.
We ask clients for this information as soon as they book, but many clients don’t make their final decision until much closer to the wedding. You have everything that we have.
We aren’t able to pressure clients to tell us their arrival information any faster. Please remember, when you fill out your availability calendar, you are saying you’re available for a full day of work. Weddings can be full day events, and the timelines can change. Even if the client provides a timeline now, they are perfectly entitled to change it as often as they want to (until 2 days before the wedding).