Hello all

This is something I've done in the past but necessarily as a contest promotion more like I give away a free wedding for a couple who wouldn't be able to afford a photographer.

Anywho for those of you who DO do this (please let's not make it about why you don't or why you think it's a bad idea). What are your terms and conditions? What is included? Is the purchase of anything required such as an album or something else?

Basically I just want be sure my tush is covered in the fine print.

Any and all help and advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!


-Vidish

bumpitty bump

Anyone?

What I want to know is how do you really know that they really can't afford a Wedding Photographer? Everyone's I can't afford it reality is different...

The couple that I gave the free wedding to last year were 19 and 16, pregnant and living with her mom. They drove to the cake and juice reception in a parents car and were going back to MOBs house afterward as there was no honeymoon. They had no money. But again thats not what I'm asking.

For anyone that does do a contest or giveaway how do you address the 'winner' and image delivery i.e. prints, albums, etc.

thanks everyone

Sory, no help here, but I'll bump it for you...

How about a vote on your blog for the winner? Just a thought.

I once saw a group on facebook where the friends of the bride/groom or hometown, were trying to get then a free wedding... whereas they were looking for people to donate their services.

I think many of us are suspicious of running an actual contest for this... since the one's who cannot afford it may not have the abilitiy to sign up for the contest (ie internet, newspaper, cable) So they may not know the contest even exists. For those who do know, whose to say they just want something for free.

However if you already have your "winner" chosen through knowledge of their situation, and you are hand picking someone, I think it is just a donation of your time. I'm not sure if you wanted to give them a free CD or if you wanted to go all-out and give them prints as well. I think when you are donating something like this, you don't have to worry so much about the legalities of it. I mean, it's the contest part, random selection etc that can get you into trouble... but if you are skipping that, then I think you would approach the couple and offer to shoot their wedding for free. Have them sign a regular contract, with the amount listed at $0.

I've never done this, but I just sharing my opinion.

For one of my friends, I told her to name the price, and so she did, and I treated the rest like a regular client.

Hope this helps.

Thank you ladies

Although I've never done such a contest, just off the top of my head I would think you would want to include something to the effect of stating that your "gift" (i.e. coverage, and whatever else you are including) is just that - a complimentary service that is not transferable or exchangable. Just like the reasoning behind the "complimentary" engagement sessions included in some packages - people call them complimentary to make it clear that it is not to be exchanged for, say, the bride's teenage sister's senior portraits or something... it's an engagement session, or nothing.

Make clear not only what people would be winning/receiving, but what they are NOT getting. I would be very careful about saying "you will win a prize worth $2000" as some might interpret that to mean they can use it essentially as cash. Does that make sense? Again, not speaking from any experience here, just something that came to mind.

I saw that Jessica Clare does one of these every year. This year every finalist ended up getting their photography done for free as other photographers volunteered themselves to the runners-up.

Look at her conditions here

Cath

Ive seen comps where they must write in - explaining their situation and why they should win it etc. - which I think would knock out some people who couldn't be bothered. Also attaching a photo is a good idea. If you can get a local newspaper to support it with a story you might get more genuine traffic (+ not!) as not everyone has internet access.

Jonathan

FYI, a friend of mine did a little contest giving a free family session and it was a mess. She thought they were voting more then once a day or something and so she pulled their picture from her blog and it ended up being a major mess, so I say avoid the voting stuff if you can help it.

Yeah with regard to voting I'm not going to go that route. I've heard of several instances where people resorted to outright fraud. I would be selecting the finalist. I just want cover my tush with regard them understanding what they do get and what they don't get.

Thanks for that link Cath

You're welcome

I had this type of contest and in my contract I just wrote out the value of the services/goods that the bride received. I just used my standard contract and in the "package/cost" area just listed each item they get with its dollar value next to it with a "prize worth" next to it. That way it was my same contract I use for all my weddings but everything is still free hence the giveaway, but everyone is aware what the services are and would cost.

tush covered. Does that answer your question?
I don't know if that helped. I will say that the bride who won the contest did go over the details like crazy and we went through a couple of revisions on the contract
-Aruna