I got married on June 2 and everything was great. However my wedding photographer who was paid $3500 lost a role of film from the reception, which included family photos of people that we don't see that often. The photographer seemed to show no remorse and still charged my mom full price, not to mention my poor mother cried because she was so upset about losing the family photos. Is there any way I should handle this or just do nothing until the wedding albums are finished so they at least do a decent job on those?
2007-06-21 16:53:10 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I am a professional wedding photographer as well, and while I agree that this is unfortunate, I do not think you are entitiled to a full refund at all. However, some sort of refund may be in order. More realistically, print credits. I would call the photographer and try to be calm. See what they have to say. Best of luck to you!
2007-06-21 18:01:04 · answer #1 · answered by annie78 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am also a professional photographer here is what I think.
1) $3500.00 is way too much to be charging in the first place, you should have gone with me, you would have gotten the whole day and tons of extras and paid only a fraction of that!
2) You got married June 2 and he is using FILM!!!! Had he been shooting in digital there is no way he could have lost the pictures you wanted. Brides are still choosing film because they think it's "traditional", had you gone with digital you would be getting crisper quality and magnificant pictures. Digital is not bad it's actually good!
3) I can't say that a refund is due you because of the fact that he lost the roll, if he didn't tell you, then you probably would have though they just didn't take the picture. I'm sure he captured them at the ceremony, but since you went with Film you might not have as big of selection as you would with Digital, I know that I take at least 1000 pictures per event no matter how many I specify in the package, I think more is better for some reason.
4) He should be nice and give you something for rudeness and irresponsible actions. Not very proffesional. Provide me with his information, I can dig up some dirt on him.
5) Don't sue the poor guy, most contracts have a clause you can use against him, check it out and call him back.
6) If all else fails, tell him to give you your pictures and to hell with the albums, as for refund for that. Infact the only thing that is NON-REFUNDABLE is the retainer, again, check the contract. I can make you some wonderful albums for cheap. Check my website: http://www.jerahnphotography.com
7) Good luck!
2007-06-22 20:23:58 · answer #2 · answered by Jerahn Photography 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Check your contract. There should have been some sort of satisfaction clause that says what refund you should get. If you didn't make sure you had one then the best you can do is call the photographer and throw fits untill they give you a full or probably a partial refund. Hopefully they will do something or be prepared to deal with small claims court.
I would do this before the albums are finished. After those are done service is complete, payment has been given and they have no reason to deal with you at all. If they are going to do a crappy job on the albums they will do it regardless of if you call. If they are as unscrupulous as they seem they might even try harder to do a decent job so they have an excuse not to give you a refund for the lost roll of film.
If you havn't paid them yet..don't until an agreement is reached. If you paid with a check or credit card try to stop or reverse the payment.
2007-06-21 16:58:07 · answer #3 · answered by pspoptart 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As a professional wedding photographer I have to say ditto to the first two suggestions.
First of all I can't believe a wedding photographer today is still shooting with film.
Second, check your contract and see what he is liable for. I have to be honest, I don't have anything like that in my contract because losing film was never an option. I do cover if we can't be there because of death or serious accident.
Third, check with the PPA (www.ppa.com) and see if he is a member. If he is he should have malpractice insurance with his membership which would cover that.
Fourth, I'm afraid I don't know what else to tell you because I have NEVER known a professional to be that irresponsible and UNprofessional. I believe at least a partial refund is due you. I can't give you a number but I'll discuss with my husband and see what we come up with. I don't know if a full refund is due if he has most of the coverage and the album is done correctly. The family formals are very important but in the scheme of things they are usually not more then two pages in the album. The other 18 or so sides should be the rest of the day.
Good luck.
Just read Annie78's post and agree with her suggestion to print credit. Did you have a bridal session? If not then perhaps a framed wall portrait of you in your gown. Or a parent's album.
I think what is most disturbing to me is that he was without remorse. Trust me, in 20 years of weddings we have never 'lost' film even when we shot in film but once we missed the shot of the bride with her mom and dad. It was a last minute booking, two weeks before the wedding and we just happened to have that Friday available. The parents of the bride never talked, came close, gave no indication that they were still married and our photographer, not having met then before the wedding (the bride couldn't be bothered) assumed they were divorced. Still, he should have asked and the portrait should have been taken regardless of their situation. I groveled like a dog for that family. Serious print credit. One shot in 500 missed but my studio was responsible.
2007-06-21 17:38:22 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Give us the name and address of the photog and we will all start a campaign to get you justice. Something just doesn't sound right here. If he used digital then what he may have lost was his memory card. Ask if that is what happened. Him trying to blame the printer does not sound right when he shot it in digital. i don't think you are getting the whole story. If he can blame the lab then he may think he owes you nothing. But if he actually lost the memory card then he alone is at fault. You need to ask him questions like, "Do you download your images onto your computer? Do you save them to a CD? How could the lab mess up ictures you have uploaded and are still on your computer? If he can't give you straight answers then he is hiding his own liability in the matter and does not want to refund you anything. Sounds like a crook to me.
2016-05-17 07:32:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
$3500 for a wedding photographer? geewhiz, that is outrageous. that photographer needs to compensate you somehow and how can he lose a roll of film. that is very irresponsible
2007-06-22 01:15:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
take him to court for a partial refund
2007-06-25 12:33:21 · answer #7 · answered by cheri h 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sue him! I am so sorry that that happened. She is right , check your contract.
2007-06-21 17:01:00 · answer #8 · answered by ♥Kimchi♥ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sue them for all they are worth...i would be mad too.
2007-06-21 20:27:18 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋