my wedding photographer...?

Question

I got married in the summer and I really want my wedding pics on a disc. It was never really discussed before the wedding but I just assumed that we could purchase it. I thought that was like a standard thing. Isnt it?
She is making it difficult. Acting like it is an insult. Saying it is so much work to figure out how much it is worth. And do we want all the pictures? YES. and what file size? large or small? I dont know what file size.
How should I deal with this situation. I really need that disc to make christmas presents for family and friends, especially since she does not have time to do them for us.
Help

Answer 1

It is really easy to burn images to a disc. My photographer burned over 300 pictures on a DVD. It is so easy to do. Ask her if she could do that...

Answer 2

She doesn't use a consumer camera, it's not like the point & shoot cameras. If she shoots RAW (which she should), then you wouldn't even have the software to edit the pics as she shot them. She would have to convert to a TIFF or JPEG file for you. Which is time consuming.

The photographer owns the rights to the pictures so for you to have the "digital negatives" will usually cost. So, it's not a "standard" thing, it has to be negotiated. She doesn't "owe" you the disc unless it is stated in your contract that she agreed to furnish it to you. If it doesn't stipulate that, then she would just be doing you a kindness to give it to you.

She needs to know what you are going to be doing with the pictures in order to create the right file sizes. If each picture is 30 or 40 megabytes your computer may not be able to handle it. So don't assume you want the full size pics.

What size prints do you want to make 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10? They are different aspect ratios and have to be cropped to suit that. My guess is you will be happy with 1 Megabyte files and then just crop them yourself.

Do you have photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop? You can purchase Photoshop Elements for about $ 100.

It doesn't sound like she's being difficult, it really is hard for her to perform what you are asking without very much info and in the timeframe you are looking to have it done.

Answer 3

Actually it is NOT standard to get your wedding photos on a disk after the wedding unless this was in the contract. Wedding photographers make money off elling prints to you and your family. Usually they will have a clause releasing the pictures to you on a disk after a set amount of time (usually 1 year or more).

Destination Wedding phototgraphers are different. They usually release all the pics on a disk after the wedding.

Answer 4

It kind of depends on where you are but some of the photographers where I am, that is not a standard thing with their services. If you need them for Christmas presents, than insist on it, but if she does not normally provide this service, she will need to figure out a price. Once she's done that, it shouldn't take too long to make the CD up though

Answer 5

That's sooo funny Because I had almost the same problem. After I got my proofs back I had asked if I could buy all of them on a CD and she screwed around for months before telling me that her computer had crashed and it would be too much work to recover them all.....I was so pissed. But she was very rude about it and acted like it was a chore to even discuss it.
I gave up though...I couldn't make her sell them to me but I was sooo disappointed. I was going to mail a CD with all my thank yous....

Sorry it doesn't really help but I totally know how you feel!
Good luck though!!

Answer 6

Although it is a pretty standard thing, if it wasn't in your contract then the photographer isn't required to provide it...if every service in your contract was fulfilled, then the photographer is at no fault. You can always scan the pictures into your computer and put them onto a disk yourself...or print them onto cards or other things like calendars, etc.

Answer 7

I'd say you'd want the large file size because they will be better quality and you can always resize them as needed. If this woman took your pictures with a digital camera than this is an easy task. You paid for her services and she needs to provide you with a disk. I have a feeling she's giving you a hard time because she's not very computer saavy and she's going to have to learn how to do this or she's asking someone else to do it for her. Try to stay calm and be nice but if she keeps stalling start getting mad and you'll likely see results then. Good luck!

Answer 8

She's probably scared of technology!

Ask her for the negatives or prints of all of the pictures if you don't have them already. Give her a deposit and get it in writing that she'll give you the money back, if she's insistent.

Then, go scan the pictures yourself, and burn them onto a disc. If you don't have the equipment to do so at home, try Kinko's or a friend. Kinko's may not do it if you are not the owner of the images though.

Answer 9

Yeah I made sure with mine that it was part of the package. But like the others said, kinkos or walgreens can do that for you. Kinkos is really great about that! Ive been in there a couple times myself and I worked for Fedex... so they would do a great job.

Answer 10

Scan your photos on to your computer. Go to www.snapfish.com
They can print your photos, make albums, calenders, quilts, shirts, invitations, Xmas card, etc. Plus, once they are on your computer, you can make your own disk.

Ask your family if they have any digital photos of the wedding. Have them send them to you. I bet there will be a ton of pictures your photographer didn't capture anyway.

Good Luck

Answer 11

Pay this photographer, then scan these pics, save to doccuments and save on disk. You can take these to any Kinko's or you can print them yourself.

Once saved, you have only to reopen this file to send.