Ask the Experts: Tardy clients

Q. How do I deal with a couple who pays for but doesn’t order their album in a timely manner? Despite sending emails and leaving voicemails, one of my clients hasn’t ordered their album from a wedding two years ago. I’d really like to wrap this up and cross it off my to-do list.

A. It’s important to communicate during your sales process the specific timeframes within which you’ll work. This is when you give clients deadlines. I’ve had this problem in the past and as a result added a statement to my contract—which is also communicated during the sales process and after the wedding—that if a couple hasn’t submitted changes to the initial draft of the album within six months of viewing it, I’ll assume it’s perfect and order it as-is. This gives the client a generous timeframe within which to make decisions and also lets them know that if they don’t do their part, I’m going to complete the process on my end.

Again, it’s important to write this into your contract and, more important, communicate it several times as well.

Carrie Wildes, Cr.Photog., CPP Carrie Wildes Photography Art & Design