I don't even know where to begin or how to say this, so I'm just going to come out with it.
It is always a good idea for photographers to have a signed contract before they do any shoot.
I have never had one, but I am going to start.
I was supposed to be a second shooter at a wedding tomorrow.
The friend for whom I was going to be working called the groom Tuesday to make final arrangements.
Well, yesterday, the bride called my friend and said that she had a cousin with a camera who would shoot the wedding for free and that they didn't see the point in paying my friend that much. (And, honestly, my friend's rate is not expensive! $300 for a wedding is a steal.)
So now, not only is my friend not going to shoot their wedding tomorrow, but she may not get paid at all. She offers free engagement sessions to couples who also book their weddings with her, and guess what? That's the offer they took her up on.
I just hope that she can work out what's going on with them without the courts having to get involved.