And what does 'assume' spell?

Another rant. I cannot help but wonder if the proximity of moving the studio isn't contributing to the fraying of my delicate sensibilities. Yet again we have someone who has a sense of entitlement (check the prior post for my feelings on THAT).

A bride came in today to pick up her proof album. It was huge! The DH and his second shooter had taken a lot of photos at what was a very long wedding/reception, and they had done lovely work. In fact, there were so many pictures that it took a bit longer than usual to get it ordered; our lab couldn't handle that big of an upload and we had to cut CDs and send them in. Turned out very nicely, though.

A bit of back story. This is an older bride than the usual first-timer, and she had some very definite ideas about what she wanted. She was also not shy about saying what other photographers could do for her. The DH handles that kind of pushiness much better than I. I personally would have sized her up and been pretty sure I could take her Amazon-tall self down. He, talented man that he is, booked her.

Now, as a courtesy to our brides, we offer them free engagement and bridal portrait sittings. She didn't want to take the former but was eager for the latter. And the usual in-studio session wasn't enough; oh, no, she wanted that AND an on-location shoot. DH acceded, but if he'd known what a pain she and her mother (this is an only child for mom, who also has step-children with whom I sympathise totally) would be during the studio section, I wonder if he'd have done the second part. Yeah, he would, and I know it - it was a neat place to shoot and he got wonderful stuff. He's so good at what he does!

Onward, and glossing over the groom throwing a fit because the bridal party caused his section of the formals to be running late...actually beating on the sanctuary doors multiple times!! - and over the mother of the bride missing half the reception because she had to be the one to clean up the wax from the so-called dripless candles that btw caught fire during the service. Back to today.

The bride calls me to complain that after taking her proof album home, she was upset to find it didn't include the bridal portrait sitting pictures. Confused, I asked why. This is a wedding proof album. The bridal sitting isn't part of the wedding day, and is not even part of the wedding contract, but a gift from us.

"But we set it up during the contract session when we purchased the proof book." Yes, and? Were you told this separate sitting was going to be in the proof book? "I just ASSUMED it would be."

Uh-huh. And this is my problem how? You didn't ask if it were, we didn't tell you it was, and it never has been. No proof album she looked at included anything but the wedding day.

None of which I said out loud. DH should be so proud. Instead I said that of course we had no way of knowing what she assumed since she didn't tell us, and that the bridal sitting is never part of the proof album. "How can I pick some to put in my albums, then?" she whined. I told her I'd be happy to print her some thumbnail proof sheets, and Ms. Entitled sniffed, "That won't be the same." No, it won't, but it will give you something to use to plan your album. Then what she assumed (again wrongly!) would cow me..."I'll just have to check my contract."

Yes, you do that, Princess. I probably know that bit of paper a wee bit better than you. It says Wedding Contract, not Bridal Portrait And Wedding Contract. And it says Digital Proof Book, not And We Include Whatever You ASSUME.

She didn't call back. Let's hope she has the sense to realize that she's at fault for not asking for what she wanted. But I don't count on it. Entitlement and good sense never seem to go hand-in-hand.

Except in your Goddess, of course.

We R Prefeshunuls

You're in for a treat! One of my favorite rants, which always follow on from the universal theme, "People Are Idiots." I think from now on we'll just call them PAI rants. It'll be our little code. Don't tell.

Today we have that not-so-rara-avis, the micro-managing bride. These women (and, God help us all, their mothers) have every chance to see our work in advance of booking us. Any time a bride calls us who has not seen our work, we suggest they visit our very nice website. We have them visit our studio, where there is work on the walls and in albums. They have seen what we do, what we produce from our work, and they HIRE us. We're not big city expensive, but we're not cheap...this is our living, after all...and so one would think that the very fact that we get hired indicates a faith in our abilities.

Yeah. One would think, and that's what you get for thinkin', chum. Yes they love our work, yes we make beautiful images, and oh, yes, they are still going to tell us how to do our jobs.

Usually it is the LIST. Not just, as you might expect, the formal photos that we can be sure of taking as long as the people show up to deliver their gift and eat rubber chicken. That's okay; we tell the bride to give that list to the person who will drive you nuts if you don't give them something to do, someone who knows these people, which we, often thankfully, don't. Let him/her call them up, we'll arrange them and shoot 'em. (It's legal when we do it.)

No, our lovely brides-to-be want to tell us to get Uncle Harry and Aunt Darlene dancing together whilst sipping champagne and simultaneously smiling at the camera. Never mind that Uncle Harry doesn't drink, Aunt Darlene is in a cast and oh, yes, they aren't speaking. Never mind that we can either capture events, or have our heads buried in a list and miss them. Never mind that no one wants us to start telling them where to stand and how to act when they are trying to enjoy the party. And never mind that your contract tells you we don't work from lists!!

Folks, there is a quote from Red Adair that the DH loves: "If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait till you hire an amateur." My corollary? If you do hire the professional, trust them to do their job.

Oh, and don't ask if they sell their 'negatives.' Oy.