Is it normal for a vendor not to sign the contract?

[Stina168]

I am in the middle of booking my photographer and she sent me a contract for us to sign and there was a place for her to sign, but she didn't actually sign it. She just typed in her name and the date. Did your vendors do the same? I'm just worried if something bad happens, she could say it's not a legitimiate contract because she never signed it. I emailed her and asked her to sign it and fax it and have yet to hear back from her. I wanted to see if anyone else had similar experiences or not.

[WhiteVeil]

I have to do something similar as a photographer. When you are getting a number of brides all interested in the same date, if you go sending out signed contracts to them all you may find yourself double booked, but quick.

 

It's very common for prospects to hold contacts for weeks or months before signing and mailing it back with the retainer. Some are never returned. The only sure way then for the photographer to know when it is safe for him to sign is when the the retainer is paid and he knows the deal is actually happening. Double bookings suck!

[Stina168]

I was worried about just sending over money without having a signed contract, but is that how these things usually work? It seems a bit scary to do that.

[WhiteVeil]

I guess it comes down to trust. How much of their work have you seen? Have you at least spoken on the phone with them? How long have they been in business? Is this their full-time job? Any references? Are the prices too good to be true? There's more than money on the line. Your wedding photos are also. I don't know who you are looking at, but could offer an impartial opinion if I could see their web site.

[Scott C]

I send out an unsigned contract. The bride and groom return it signed at which time I review that there has been no alterations to the contract and then with the payment of their retainer I sign and date the contract. At that point I return a copy of the contract to the bride along with a statement showing their payments and balance. We dont do alot of weddings where we havent met the bride in person and typically conducted the details in person but the process would be the same for us. In my eyes it is only fair for you to have a signed copy of the contract that we are working with.

[BePhoto]

We offer our contracts online and clients can print them out. - our clients notify us of their intent to book and we hold the date for one week. If at the end of the week, we do not have the deposit, the date is released. That way, there is no racing anyone to the mailbox - and no weird issues if you get two contracts for the same date in the mail at the same time.

 

I think it would be strange if the photog did not sign the contract.... and especially if they refuse to.

 

- but of course, everyone does it their own way.

[WhiteVeil]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Be Photography LLC We offer our contracts online and clients can print them out. - our clients notify us of their intent to book and we hold the date for one week. If at the end of the week, we do not have the deposit, the date is released. That way, there is no racing anyone to the mailbox - and no weird issues if you get two contracts for the same date in the mail at the same time. I think it would be strange if the photog did not sign the contract.... and especially if they refuse to. - but of course, everyone does it their own way.

I'd have to say if you sign a contract, you can't arbitrarily say your signature is good for a week and then the contract is invalid - unless you clearly write in the contract a default clause that includes the payment due date of the retainer. And that could backfire if the bride is at all late paying the retainer.

That signature is your word of honor that you will do the wedding and gives the bride considerable legal rights. Having more than one signed contract out for a given date would be begging for trouble in my opinion.

[Jen_S]

I just got a contract I am signing it then they will mail me their copy signed.

[WhiteVeil]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkcz0702 I just got a contract I am signing it then they will mail me their copy signed.

And that's the perfect solution.

[BePhoto]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteVeil I'd have to say if you sign a contract, you can't arbitrarily say your signature is good for a week and then the contract is invalid - unless you clearly write in the contract a default clause that includes the payment due date of the retainer. And that could backfire if the bride is at all late paying the retainer. That signature is your word of honor that you will do the wedding and gives the bride considerable legal rights. Having more than one signed contract out for a given date would be begging for trouble in my opinion.

No, I guess I was not clear.... I dont sign anything. - The blank contracts are available. If a client verbally tells me that they are going to book with me, I tell them that I will hold the date for them for one week - at that point nothing is signed. I dont sign anything until I receive the deposit. - If I receive other leads for the same date during that time, I tell them that it is not booked, but is on a one week hold for reciept of a contract