i’m dealing with a little bit of a frustrating/annoying situation. this might be long, but bear with me so i can give full context.
i had a senior book two sessions with me this year, one on june 19th for regular portraits and a second one on august 2nd for sports and activities in their hometown. i always set up phone calls for a week before the senior’s session to go over details, outfits, locations, confirm times and weather, and all that good stuff. i had reached out to the senior about getting their call set up, no response. not a big deal! i know lots of teens work or have sports camps during the summer, so i reached out to the mom and got a call set up.
now the day of the call, was the same day their final payment for that first session was due (2 days before the session [i already changed it to a week before senior sessions in my contract after this incident]). she had automatic payments set up, but her payment declined. i let her know that the payment didn’t go through and she said they had just got back from a trip and hadn’t gone to the bank yet, but would go and complete the payment. i told her that’s fine, but i do not edit or release any images until that payment is complete (which is covered in my contract that she signed).
the day of the session comes and it was only an hour long. first half was great, then we switched locations. before we depart to the next location, i always text the address, even if they are local. it’s just a piece of mind thing for me in case they get stuck at a light while following me. the mom said she didn’t need the address and knew where we were going, but i still sent it. the distance between the first location and second location is just 7 minutes, and i saw them turn off into a gas station behind me. i thought maybe the senior was changing and it wasn’t a big deal. i got to the location and waiting for 15 minutes. i texted them, watched my mirrors, waited. the distance from the gas station to the location was 2-3 minutes and there’s one stop light they’d have to go through. they must’ve just made a pit stop for drinks and snacks because the senior wasn’t dressed in their second outfit. it was just one of those situations where you put on a smile and finish up. at that point i still hadn’t received the final payment, but i didn’t want to bring that up with the senior present.
i sent out a late payment reminder the following monday. opened, no response. i thought maybe they’re waiting until the end of the week? payday? end of the week comes and goes, nothing. i send out another reminder and started i do not edit or deliver anything until that balance is paid. opened 15 minutes later, no response. we’re now approaching 3 weeks and i haven’t received payment, all of my emails get opened, and the communication has been radio silent from the mom. i do have it covered that a late fee will be added on after 30 days of no payment.
now remember, they have a second senior session booked for their sports and activities on august 2nd. i’ve already made up in my mind that i will not be continuing on with this second senior session if both sessions aren’t fully paid for, including any late fees that may occur.
i think what’s so frustrating is that there has been zero communication from them since the session about anything.
if i still don’t hear anything from them before their second session, do i send out a cancelation contract (if they even sign one)? do i just leave the overdue payment sit or can i get rid of it somehow?
thanks for sticking around this long!
