U wake up on the AD with a terrible stiff neck / back impairing your movement. Or u have a high 40 degree fever.
Call your client to postpone their schedule for 8 hours while you look for a backup from whatever network?
Or call them to say sorry and refund them the deposit?
All these isn't going to work because the couple is not going to get any pictures!
All of u're using clause to protect your liabilities but never a solution for the couple who is going through their once in a lifetime moment. U're engaged because they treasure that special day.
While many will have a system for backup gears, I think it is also the responsibility of the photographer is to get himself a ready backup photographer.
KH,
I always have a backup photographer ready to go. However, i do believe that the majority of photographers don't have that luxury. It's not as easy as getting some Tom, Dick or Harry to shoot, but the client also has to accept that the final work isn't going to be similar.
Yes, i understand where you're coming from with regards to weddings being a once in a lifetime event, yet, we have to understand the concept of "shared risk" here.
In today's context for example:
My equipment is always well kept, cameras replaced annually, CF cards replaced every 6months, HDD replaced every year as well....etc etc. Assuming i've basically done everything i can do to prevent any mishap.
I'm contracted to do a shoot for a client, and the files mysteriously go missing. I do everything in my power to retrieve the lost information to no avail. Who's fault is it??
This mishap can happen, and this is even more unexpected than falling sick. At least if i fall sick, i'll most likely feel it coming at least an hour before. Plenty of time to mobilize the backups and contact the client.
Shared risk is a very reasonable concept: I take certain risks shooting in digital, and the client takes risks wanting their images in digital. Same concept applies to film as well.
Do my clients feel at ease even with the risks involved? How about me as the photographer? Everyone has a responsibility here, and as long as i've laid out the steps taken to lessen the impact of mishaps, there's only so much one can do.
We can beat the "What If" scenarios to death, and we still won't come up with a solution.