Turnaround times?
 

I know this varies across the board. I've read where some people turn their wedding videos around in a week or two...and some are telling their brides 9-12 months.

Now...there's no way I can do it in a few weeks. Wedding videos aren't the only thing I do and sometimes another project comes up that needs to be done right away so the wedding gets pushed back...and back..and back..until bam backlogged!

How do you guys feel about telling a client.."don't expect your video for 9-12 months". On one hand it gives you LOTS of wiggle time..and if you delivery early..well good for you...but i think some clients think "a whole year?!?! good grief..we'll go elsewhere"

I want to have good turn around times...but I don't want to sacrifice quality or other work to have good turn around times.

Suggestions?


Jeremiah

We're up front about our 3 - 6 month turn around time. If they want faster turn around with less quality, they can go somewhere else. Don't be afraid to stand your ground. If they want your work, then they know what they have to pay and how long it takes.

I like to keep my turn around time under a month. Granted, I am in Utah and most of my videos are significantly shorter and less complicated than most traditional weddings. Personally I think asking anyone to wait for 9-12 months is utterly ridiculous. 3-6 months is passable, especially for a more popular videographer who is talented and people want their work. Anything over six months just seems unprofessional to me. If you are that far behind you need to hire more help. That's just my take on things.

That's really absurd, In the beginning of the weddingseason I manage to handle a project in a weeks time but by the end of the weddingseason it's max 2 months. That also includes unexpected projects with real deadlines. If you take 9 - 12 months it won't be long before you are out of business, that should mean that you accept much more projects then you can possibly handle. If I would ever get in such a situation I would take in extra people to get the job done, can't imagine people taking you seriously if it takes that long.

As I see it about 3 months is the max limit waitingtime for a weddingfilm but if you work for a company the deadlines are much tighter and you don't have the luxury to tell them to go elsewere if they don't like that, because they will..

I'm not sure you can call it unprofessional if a company is up front with the client about how long it takes and the client likes that person's work enough to wait on it.

I state in my contract that delivery will be within 6-12 weeks of the wedding, but so far have not exceded 2 months. I am cutting it close on one that I am working on now, but I should get it out in about 10 weeks from the wedding. I think if they wait too long for it, it kind of looses that special touch. I don't like having all the back log either... with 2 kids under 3, its best that I try to keep up, because you just never know what will come up to set you back a little!

I totally agree that 9-12 months is way too long. However, if I tell a client 3-6 months and I go 7-8 months because a large project sidetracked me on the 4th month, what do I do?

I'm a one man band and can't afford to deal my work or even parts of my work to others...even someone working for me. Weddings are pretty steady for me...but at the same time I'll get a random job that I don't want to pass up but I know it will take a full month of my focus away from editing weddings...when at the same time i'm still shooting a wedding every weekend...thats where the pileup comes. I hate to turn most jobs down because if I do I'll starve through the lean seasons.

I hope that a person is hiring me for my talent and therefore will trust me in deciding how long it will take to finish their "masterpiece" of a wedding. I can turn a nice wedding around in a week or two, but that's only if it sucks up every hour of my workday. I couldn't possibly work on anything else.

I always told my clients it takes 3 months to finish. Usually I will sent out a list of items that I need about 1-2 months after I finish the first rough cut.

The list usually includes some song selections, photos for making DVD menu and cover, slideshows and stuff like that. It will take them a few weeks to 10 months before getting those items for me. Since I'm waiting for them to finish up, the ball is not on my court. I can work on the next project during the waiting time.

I know what you mean, I sometimes get very lucrative offers that are hard not to accept but if I see that it will mess up my planning completely, like add a few months to it, I won't accept it. Especially companies demand deadlines for their projects which means you have to drop all other ongoing things. I also work alone and I also will not sacrifice quality just to get more done. As I see it it all has to do with planning, I allways give my clients a waiting time in which I'm sure I can handle the project in, so if something extra comes along I can still handle both and deliver in time but if I get 3 or 4 extra not planned projects in a short time then the only thing that's left is just to say "no" to some of them or hire an extra person to do some of the work for you.

I suppose that's fair, but I stated my initial thoughts based on the idea that there is very little reason why it should take 12 months. At the end of the day, the bride and groom have hired you for a service and they eventually want a product. If I hired someone to come put carpet in my house and he was the best carpet layer in town I still wouldn't wait 12 months for him to do it. I'd realize that he has far too much to do and that MY time is more valuable than that. If a couple wants to wait a year for a wedding video that's their choice. I just don't see how it is worthwhile as a company to be touting that your clients will receive their product a year after the event. Just my thoughts, I'm not trying to tell anyone how to run their business.

You can cite all the contract references and warnings you want but the bottom line is... the sooner it's in your client's hands the better. And anybody that thinks delivery time doesn't affect your business is misguided IMO. Just because you hear no complaints doesn't mean they didn't complain to somebody (and that "somebody" can never do anything about it of course)

Personally, I can't see taking 100% of a client's money up front then taking 9-12 months to give them what they paid for. And having contractual commitments for that long just doesn't make good business sense to me. I would think you'd make more money in the long run by outsourcing the edit or hiring another crew (or both). A backlog should be a good problem to have when you think about it... it's how we deal with it that gets us in trouble.

The exception might be those prima-donna videographers who can charge whatever they want because they're simply in such high demand. (Don't know too many of those though).

2 weeks ain't bad... right after the honeymoon is even better. That being said... I know there's only 24 hours in the day and I'm as guilty as anybody else with long turnaround times.

I don't know about you guys, but I kinda want to be one of those people... that's kinda my goal. Am I wrong here? Isn't that the ideal situation?

I only take a $250 deposit for all my wedding packages and the rest is paid when I deliver. Does that make a difference?

That's definitely a goal of mine. I already see myself with multiple locations. That's not a far-fetched goal is it? Being that I'm fairly new to this, I don't know if there are any wedding videography companies that have locations outside of their state. If there are, I want to do that, if there aren't I have no problems being the first.

Well darn it Jessica, I was kinda hoping you'd run Silver-Media's Carolina branch.

Now that would be making me an offer I wouldn't want to refuse. You do AWESOME work.

Were I the client I'd certainly feel more comfortable dealing with you but...

...being the irresponsible newlywed I am, I just might spend all of your money on a new Xbox, a 50" plasma and a case of cheap scotch while you edit. :)

A whole case of Scotch Rick? Slow down brother.

I take all $$ up front. Early on I had problems getting a couple people to pay me after I'd done all the work. Generally most people blow their budget and then some for the wedding so I'm more comfortable knowing that I've got the cash while there's still cash to be had.

Oh and Jessica, thanks for the compliment. Now if only I can start making awesome money.

Now I know why my turnaround times suck, I'm reading DVInfo all the dang time.

haha....i hear that...sounds like something i would do too...

maybe I should start taking everything up front...

We take 50% at the signing of the contract, 25% 45 days before the wedding, and 25% a week b4 the wedding. We prefer not to bother the bride and groom on their day if we don't need to; figure they have enough going on during the day then to be concerned with paying us. On top of that I would hate to record, and take precious hours editing a wedding, only to find out when I'm ready to deliver, the newlywed's don't have the money.
We tell our clients the video will be completed in 8-12wks, but like others, we try to get it to the client sooner than later.

As part of our consultation we tell people that generally speaking there is an 8-10 week turnaround time. We preface that by explaining that there is time spent on color grading and putting the piece together. We do, however, try and get a Highlight or Teaser to them before the main video is complete. I have to agree that if you are getting backed up, it's time to get some assistance. Typically we get assistance on getting the rough cut on line and that really seems to help us out. If you are running behind a bit, be very up front with the client and keep them in the communication loop. It always seem much longer to them when they are left out to wonder what is going on.

Heck no. Wait till you get burned once, then change like the rest of us did. :)

Really though, whatever works for you. I think most in this biz (70%?) do get 100% up front so clients shouldn't have a coronary if you do the same. There's no denying one works a bit faster if final payment is dependant on delivery but I work fast enough just to get the backlog monkey off my back. (usually... sort of... sometimes)

Thought I would chime in here FWIW- we get one third package price to hold the date. Final payment due 2 weeks before the wedding. Delivery is 6 months. Sometimes, if they drag their feet, come back and try to negotiate- 10 months- and still don't negotiate. Basically I extend an offer with a dated contract that is good for two weeks. If they don't sign then they are essentially forfeiting their place in line but this only happens for the BIG dates.

I see from all the posts here that everyone is different. If you are in position to hold your rates and possibly lose work then great- you'll live and possibly earn a reputation. If you gotta make the rent or mortgage then never say no to work.

What am I doing reading and posting at 1 AM Christmas Day/Eve?
Answer: waiting for the wife to get out of the bathroom.

I cannot see how anyone who takes 9-12 moths to edit a wedding video can be in business as at that rate of speed you would only be taking on one wedding a year which would mean charging between £20000.00 + £35000 per video and I can't see many people paying that sort of money.

Alan

I had clients come to me as they found some videographers took 9 months to finish (stated in the contract too).

I used to tell them four to eight weeks, but I never delivered a wedding video any earlier than 16 weeks.

I still have a video shot in September of 2005 that isn't finished (it was a freebie for a friend...)

Now I'm sure I've never spent more than 40 hours total time working on a wedding video, but they're too easy to put on the back burner.

I do about 50 weddings a year (along with other work) and quote 12 to 14 weeks for delivery and in most cases deliver in 8 to 10. Do I like spending 60 or 80 hours a week editing? Nope, especially during golf season BUT I made a comittment and I try very hard to keep every delivery comittment I make. While it may not be possible in ALL case 99% of what I do is out by the 10th week after shooting depending of course on the other work I have going.
I do a lot of seminars and training videos and they are time consuming. Can't edit while your in an all day seminar listening to some of the most boring material with the worst speakers you can imagine BUT I still have to be there and pay attention to what's going on so that means late nights and early mornings. if I did a 9 month edit I would have been out of business 25 years ago. In my opinion if it takes that long to edit the wedding then 1 of 2 things is happening. either it's too much work and the person can't keep up OR there is a full time job involved which means to me there's too much work and the person can't keep up. In either case either hire someone to edit the backlog or take less work OR quit the day job.
This business is hard enough without having brides and grooms and all their friends and family going to the big bridal website bad mouthing because of a extrememly long delivery time.
Of course this is just my opinion and not the opinion of management, it's employees nor the governing body. ;-)
Seriously, 9 months even if the client is told that is a very long time and frankly I cna't understand it. I generaly am working 4 to 6 days in a week,shooting or running an AV setup and editing comes after that but it gets done in what I believe is a reasonable time. It's called time management.
You get better at it as you get farther behind :-O
BTW, I get 100% of my money no later than 30 days before the ceremony-once burned twice learned. Never had an issue with clients about that either. Been doing it that way for about 10 years.
YMMV
Don

thanks guys for all the input. To clarify...it doesn't take me 9 months solid to edit a wedding...I just get behind because other jobs come up and the wedding has to go on hold. Either way...I guess I just need to step up to the plate and say about 3 months turnaround time. A little extra hard work never hurt anybody I guess :o)

Thanks
jeremiah

IMHO, that's getting things turned topsy-turvy. Regardless of the nature of the business, whether shooting video, installing bathtubs, or anything else, one should never put existing commited work on the back burner to free up time for newly arriving opportunities. Figure out a reasonable delivery time based on your customer's expectations and regional norms and after signing that contract, only accept as much new work as will allow you to maintain your original delievery estimate. You wouldn't book two weddings on the same day, why book two edits that similarly overlap? Production scheduling is always a headache for almost any sort of business but it's something that has to be done in such a way as it doesn't overtax your facilities. At some point, you have to say 'no' to new business in order to deliver proper customer service to your existing business. At some point in time all vendors and contractors have to decide on what business they're really in and can't maintain operation as a 'jack of all trades.'

My plan for 2008 is to deliver in 2 weeks or less. I have been at 4-6 weeks all year, and now that I am full time, can spend the fisrt 3 days of the week editing and getting it ready, and Thursday & Friday marketing, preparing etc. I had someone suggest that advertising a quick turnaround is a bad idea because it partrays that I don't take enough time on the produciton, and quality takes time. Thoughts?
Bill