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um.. are you sure it is him and his work? I'm sorry you don't like they way you turned out in his pictures, but for a photographer, he has to work with what he has.
I know what your saying but it wasn't only just me, that i feel didn't turn out right it was all the pics he didn't let me give him a list of must haves and we don't have enough bridal party shots the group shots look ameturish (sp?) and all the pics that family and friends shot around him look way better. While i'm not expecting the camera to be a miracle worker, and make me look better than i do, i also didn't expect it to turn into a trick camera and make me look worse. The pictures are dark, he posed us in such a way that we look awkward oh the list goes on
Aww, I'm so sorry you aren't happy with them. I'm sure they are beautiful..... Have you seen all of them. Did you give him a list originally of pics you def wanted ie: the shoe pic. The lines and pimples can be photoshopped out....... I would tell him what makes you unhappy with the pics and see what he can do with them.
I would ask for editing too! There are a ton of tiny inperfections that can be very welld elt with using photoshop or another editing software. I would not write off all of the pictures just yet, I know it can be upsetting that they aren't great but look it as a jumping off point for the final pics. Also think about your friends and family who got great pics and ask about gettins some of those pics put into the album or getting primst made of the shots that you were happy with.
Oh, I"m really sorry to hear that :( Hopefully your photog can edit some of the images to improve the quality. HOnestly I don't know how much editing my photog even did to my images, I saw some of them in his viewfinder on my wedding day and they looked exactly like the ones he released to me.
I mostly feel bad for a friend of mine who also hired him for her wedding next spring, on my recommendation. And his deposits are not refundable, she agreed with me and is upset for both of us, but on a brighter side my friends and family all took wonderful pictures and are emailing them to me so i can have great shots of the wedding. My book will include their work more than his.
Are the pictures you're unhappy with post-edit? What did your package/contract specify you'd get?
I'm sorry you're not happy with your pictures so far. I have to say though you should manage your expectations for the edits, things like taking out empty place settings are very difficult, time consuming and could just end up looking worse than leaving them in. I wouldn't think that is something most photographers would consider as part of their editing, they would mostly do colour corrections and some cropping, maybe a few touch ups like in your close ups to fix blemishes etc.
They are post edit they are already on his site for purchase by guests and we did contract for picture editing, photoshopping and airbrushing if needed. My husband is going to call him and ask for more editing, ie: removing tables with food out of shots, brightening some of the pics doing some in black and white, and blurring some of the stuff he took in the background, like the toilet in a mirror shot.
Do you have any examples? Maybe it's not as bad as you think.
It's also very hard for a photographer to suddenly change their style. Did you ask to see his examples of a whole wedding portfolio (i.e. not just the best ones he decided to post online)?
If you think it's just the editing that's bad, perhaps you can ask for the original images and edit them yourself. I like to use Picnik on Flickr because they literally have a "one click" setting for different post-edit effects.
@Lisa1783 i don't have any examples yet, and my friends and family keep telling me it's not as bad as i think, but it looks nothing like the books he brought to the house. I know i have to back up about the style he just isn't very edgy and my tastes have changed since i origanlly booked him. But my contract does include a disk with all my images so thank you for the suggestions i just may edit and crop them myself.
Another suggestion would be to see if family or friends took any pictures or videos. Some of our family got awesome shots that our photographer missed or wasn't at the right angle for (especially during the ceremony).
well, my friend does say that you're more critical of the pictures when you first see them since all you see is the faults. I can't really comments yet since I haven't gotten my pro pics yet. Maybe after a few days they won't be as bad as you originally thought they were.
Can we see some of these pictures? We are our won worst critic.. maybe the pictures arent really as bad as you think. Share the pics and get some more opinions on it
I'm really sorry :(
One thing I can suggest in for your first anniversary, do a session with a good photographer. Portrait session fees are a lot less expensive than an entire wedding package, obviously, so you might be able to hire a really high end one. Put your wedding dress back on and enjoy the day. Or, if you can afford it now, do it now.
We did this. Not because we were unhappy with our photos. We just felt like it :)
Also, if the quality of work is that different from his books, I would highly suggest you review your contract and see if it has a "quality of work will reflect previous work" or whatever. I'm not sure off the top of my head how it's worded, but it's a pretty standard on photog contracts. If it's in there, I would argue that the quality greatly differed, and ask for some money back.
I would also recommend that once you have some photos, post some online so we can all see them and offer more suggestions. You said that your pics are in a gallery? Are you comfortable posting a link to the gallery?
ETA: For future brides reading this, always hire a photog that blogs recent work at least somewhat regularly. Really. It sounds overly picky, but it really shows which photogs are serious about their photos and which aren't. It also proves that the quality of work is consistent and/or improving over time, and that the photog just didn't get lucky with a few shots, stick them in a portfolio and call themselves a photographer. Always ask to see recent work.
I'm really sorry you're hating your pictures.
Here's my two cents based on my experience. When I got my pictures back and looked through them for the first time, my heart sank. We got about 1200 shots back and I thought they were HORRIBLE. A lot of them were blurry, our eyes were closed, stupid looks on our faces, weird angles, etc. My photographer posed my husband's family for their formals in front of the loading dock of our venue. Seriously, we were at a golf course and he picked the loading dock to take formals? I put the pictures away for a few weeks, and then got them out to sort through for an album. And you know what? By the time I was done, I had about 130 pictures that I LOVED. Sure, there were a lot of ugly ones, but there were enough good ones that it totally made up for the awful ones.
Maybe you could try sorting through your photos to see if there are enough to do something with? I also loved the idea of doing a portrait session. I don't know if you can get your money back or anything, but I don't think you're out of line to ask your photographer to do some more editing, especially if that was part of your contract.
Good luck!!
So, I am confused...was your wedding on October 2nd like your signature says? That seems like a mighty quick turn around for professional pictures to me. I got married on September 5th and per my contract am patiently waiting 8 weeks for my photographer to edit all of the pictures that she took. Maybe you can ask him about editing and if he can remove some of the blemishes on your face etc... That type of stuff is easily fixed in photoshop.
I could not imagine getting well edited photos in less than 2 weeks. Unless you had a VERY short wedding or a photographer who has been working on your photos almost 24/7 since your wedding day. That's not meant to be rude, its just MUCH too fast to expect quality work. I average about a month to edit a wedding, others can take up to 2 (or even 3) months & to most photographers that is average. I don't hold myself as "the standard" & others can edit faster than me, I'm sure. I just think your photog rushed thru the edits, which may be why you don't like them. I wouldn't say to them they rushed thru them, however I would ask that they do more editing (you said you paid for special edits) & you don't mind waiting a few weeks or month to get them back.
Careful about editing their work, unless you have specific permissions from them, you can not edit their work at all. You must get that in writing!
@jaylii9 yes my wedding was october 2 and i too thought it was fast turnaround.
@lindseyrose, i put it away for awhile and decided to make the best of it and started to pick some pics for my book anyway. and i did find that there were a lot i did like so i guess i'm putting it away for awhile and see if they grow on me.
@Serabell, i take it from your post that you are a photographer, can you suggest appropriate wording to ask for more edits as to not be offensive and get the best quality from him.
thank you everyone for your suggestions i appreciate them
I can understand some of the issues with things like editing--but if you want him to do things like crop tables out of photos and blur a toilet and stuff, you're asking for a LOT of work. Not every photo is going to be awesome. And if you were getting ready in a room with a toilet, what did you expect? Be realistic in what you're asking him to do--because you probably aren't going to get every single thing you want. Be really specific.
That's awfullll. I hope you are able to get everything figured out!
A good photographer wouldn't have taken photos where there was a distracting background. It is easier to move people or reframe your shot than to spend hours of photoshop time.
I am very sorry that you aren't pleased with what you paid $$ for.
Very happy to hear that your guests got some great shots for you.
Hugs!
Some of my favourite pictures were ones that the guests had taken. That doesnt mean it is acceptable to receive professional pictures that are not adequate. All you can do now is try and make due with what you have. STart gathering photos from guests and editing them - I bet you will find a lot you love and you will be able to make a really awesome wedding book yourself!
I totally feel your pain - this is one of my biggest fears when I get my pics back (another 6 weeks....).
I hated my engagement pics at first. I looked like a huge blog in all of them. She didn't get the specific shots I wanted - she tried, but they turned out blurry or just ugly. However, the more I looked at them, the more I fell in love with them. As someone said above, when you first look at your pics all you really see are the faults. That's totally how it was for me. All I could see were my double chins, thighs, FH's lack of facial hair (he should always have a goatee lol!). However, after looking at the pics a LOT, now I see our personalities in them. I can see how we were feeling that day, how happy and in love we look... and that's what's most important. It's all I see now. Just give them time. 
I am a photographer (on the side) :).
I did post something along these lines before (a bee with a video edit problem, so I'm stealing my old "quote" here): Say some of the positive things first (like what you liked), then into what you didn't like & then at the end, thank him for being there. When an email starts out negative, it kinda sets the tone. This way, you're opening up postive, going into what needs to be addressed & ending it in a happy tone. At work, if a customer complains first, I think "oh no", but when a customer opens up "this is good. but, I have a problem with this. oh & thanks", it just reads better.
I'd say something along the lines of:
1. Thank him. Say what you liked that he already did, such as getting the pics to you very quickly & it was great to work with him & for helping make your wedding such an awesome event (or something like that, event sounds like not the right word to me, but it could work). Key here: Be nice!
2. Say what you would like (request, don't demand). Are your pics edited like the photos on his website? If not, say you were under the impression it would be more like the images he has on his website & that you love the pics he has on there. Say you were expecting more editing effects like on the website (then give examples of the effects you liked) & ask if he could re-edit your pictures more like that.
You said 'we did contract for picture editing, photoshopping and airbrushing if needed.' You could say something like "I love how detailed/sharp everything is, however it does really bring out lines & pimples on me (& DH, if he needs edits too). Can you airbrush those out for me please?".
3. Acknowledge what he already did & thank him again. Tell him that you understand he must have spent time on the pics & thank him for getting you the pics so fast. Say you understand & don't mind that you will have to wait the (amount of time specified on his website, if that's not listed, I'd something like next month or something).
It may just be his angles. Some photogs like to shoot upward, it can give the appearance of being taller. It can look "artsy". However, it can be unflattering to a lot of people (esp short or curvy girls). I'm short & the upward angle makes me look really wierd. Some upward ones look nice, but most just don't work out for me.
Could you PM me his website or a link to the pics? I won't share it with anyone.
Hope it helps! I also hope you haven't already talked to him cause I rambled on a lot in this message & its a lot to read thru something that won't apply :P. Actually, if you did talk to him, how did it go?
You can always have the photos edited by someone (if they agree- you'll need permission for your photographer though is he maintains copyright).As for taking things out of the photos- that's a little unrealistic. To remove food n' such things takes a level of precision- why was the food not cleared? It's really not his fault waitstaff wasn't doing their job.
2 weeks is a quick turn around time- I would ask he edit flaws off your skin and I'm sure there are some great photos. *hugs*
Talk to the bee named "photoguy" about having things removed from a picture... he is the master at that!
*hugs* that is so disappointing. My uncle is a "photographer" and he did our E-pics. . . and they were AWFUL! Like what you're describing, dark (no flash?) with horrible poses (he didn't give us any direction) and I looked awful (I lost 35 pounds right before those pics were taken, I should have been excited to see any angle of myself!!!) Lucky for me I have time to book a photographer for the wedding. Unfortunately I have to let my uncle down. :( My aunt already told me they'd be disappointed if I didn't ask them to do it. *gulp*
I think you're well within your rights to ask him to edit the photos, especially if your contract stated that you were receiving "finished product" or edited photos. :(
I'm happy that your family took awesome pics for you though! So much more personal. <3
Why is he taking formals at the reception? I am confused. Reception photos are supposed to be candid...in the moment photos. Put them away for a few weeks and look at them when things have cooled down. To ensure amazing photos of me and the hubbs we are doing portrait session 4 weeks before the big day, that waywe can relax and have fun with our day of photos...this may not work for everyone, but it does for this type A control freak!
Update: I took my pictures to another photographer, i do hold the copyrights to the pics. The other Photographer, said that the pictures where shot with the "wrong speed" f somethng for you photobuffs out there. that he used a flash when flashes where not needed, therefore the garish pics of my makeup and lines blemishes etc., that he shot in an upward angle that you don't shoot thin girls in because it's just not flattering, and i'm a plus size soo.... the edits with the bathroom, plates, dishes etc she said should be easy to photoshop and doesnt understand why he didn't, the pictures where off focus even the ones i did like, he photoshop a group pic and there where no shadows people in an awkward angle and it looks as if someone took a bite out of my sil arm, and the list goes on. She offered to edit some for me, and so did a wonderful bee. So I hope i can salvage something. thank you all for your advice and time i really appreciate.
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I just recieved my pictures and am soooo dissapointed in the quality of the pictures that i cried. I've been so excited since the wedding and this idiot just ruined by excitement. The photographer took weird angles that made me look bigggger than i already am, and he used such a high powered camera so close to my face he got lines and pimples that u can't normally see with the naked eye. All of my friends have pics on their cell phones and regular digital cameras where i look amazing and this bufoon made me look like a clown in a big white dress. Then all the family group shots he didn't edit the tables with the empty plates and cups out so what i got for the price of photography where amatuer pictures. when he showed us his work and his website the pictures where nice, nice enough for me to hire him. He didn't get a good shot of our first kiss, i wanted pictures of my shoes like most brides on the bee have and he has a picture of me with wads of dress in my arms looking weird. Ughhhh i guess i'm just venting as usual when i post. Because i don't believe i have many options. My husband is calling him tonight and asking him to edit the pics some more. My amazing wedding will not have any really good shots