Post # 1
Member
83 posts
Worker bee
Hey Bees,
We took our engagement photos back in November and our photographer sent us our images…which were not what I was expecting. I mentioned it to her, and she sent me a few more images, that were even worse. She’s offered to re-take the photos, but at this point we are 5 months away from our wedding and we wouldn’t be able to use them for save the dates. We didn’t get to send out save the dates since there wasn’t one decent picture, which I am REALLY upset about.
We are super close to our wedding and I’m kind of at a loss. Do we have her retake our photos (which we wouldn’t be able to do anything with) or do we try to fine a different photographer?
The only other thing that I can think of is moving our wedding date back a few months so we could use one of the retake photos (if any turn out) as a save the date.
Any advice?
Here’s a few of the best pics:
Post # 3
Member
81 posts
Worker bee
I wouldn’t go pushing back your wedding date just to have a save the date. Fiance and I didn’t do epics but still sent out save the dates. People dont generally save your save the dates after the wedding anyways, ‘cept for maybe close relatives.
I understand the want to have epics though. So I would retake them just for you. You can put your best shots on display on your gift/cake table. If I had done epics, I was going to make my own guest book online with a photobook. Shutterfly has a template. That way you can still really show off your pics and also have a keepsake.
Post # 4
Member
162 posts
Blushing bee
The first photo is far too dark. The others are slightly better but the poses aren’t great, and the last one in particular shows more of the background and isn’t even focused on you two!
I totally wouldn’t be happy with the photos, but I think it’s a waste of time getting her to re-take them. Firstly because the new photos will probably be just as bad, and secondly because it’ll be incredibly uncomfortable to work with her when you’re a dissatisfied customer who’s making her re-do her work free of charge.
I think at this point your best options are: 1) Forget about it and just give her bad reviews on websites and to everyone you know, 2) Ask for a (at least partial) refund as re-taking the photos isn’t a suitable solution, bearing in mind how close your wedding is and the fact that her new photos probably won’t be any better quality.
Post # 5
Member
15283 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I wouldnt change the date of the wedding, but if you are not happy with her photos and she was going to be your wedding photographer, I would start looking for a new photog asap and do another e-session to get a feel for them. I think the second pic you have there would be a great pic for a save the date.
Post # 6
Member
3482 posts
Sugar bee
Yeah don’t change your wedding date over some photos. I know you’re disappointed that you won’t have save the dates but I think you ought to do your best to let it go.
As for the photographer…well I would try to get some money back if there wasn’t even one usable photo; if those photos are the best of the bunch, I’m not sure a re-shoot with her would be any help. If you still want to have e-pics just for the two of you and your family to enjoy, I’d find another photog.
Post # 7
Member
107 posts
Blushing bee
I would switch photographers ASAP! You don’t want to be unhappy with your wedding pics. Of course your date being June 30th, you might have to switch the date. As a wedding photog, that’s been our most popular date this year. Not sure how easy it will be to find someone not booked!
Post # 9
Member
5653 posts
Bee Keeper
The second photo is actually pretty nice, but I see what you mean. I wouldn’t bother retaking e-pics at this point and I definitely wouldn’t push back my wedding for this! I suggest either just using you favorite picture for the save the dates or do not have a picture on them at all.
Is this photographer also supposed to be doing your wedding? If so, I think you should look in to changing photographers because obviously this one isn’t working for you. You can’t redo your wedding day photos!
Post # 8
Member
701 posts
Busy bee
@Belle81:
Okay I don’t know if this is allowed but I edited your last picture just to see if it is salvageable.
So here’s what I came up with http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr347/kamakaze_kitten/edit2.jpg
Please be warned I’ve never designed invitations before so… Yeah that’s what I came up with. (I didn’t line it in black so you could see where the paper stopped so just highlight the picture to see)
Post # 10
Member
149 posts
Blushing bee
If you deiced to go with a new photographer, I live in the OC and I am using Jodi B Photography and we just got our epics back and they are A-Mazing!
Post # 11
Member
7605 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I agree with the others, find a new photographer ASAP and have new e-photos taken. If you can’t use one of the current pics for your STDs, could you possibly have a family member take one of you and then edit it on your own!?
I wouldn’t move your wedding date. Good luck!
Post # 12
Member
707 posts
Busy bee
I think the last picture is pretty good. Could you ask the photographer to just crop it in closer to you and Fiance and cut out the background? I think cropped, it would be nice enough for an STD.
Post # 13
Member
3212 posts
Sugar bee
Look at it this way – now you know what photographer NOT to have for your wedding! Wouldn’t that have been worse?
Post # 14
Member
83 posts
Worker bee
Thanks everyone for your feedback! I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t crazy, our photographer isn’t sure what my problem is- she thinks the photos are just fine. I’m glad I’m not going insane!
@kayberry thanks for the attempt- but it bugs me that it looks like I have a man-arm they way were are posed 😛 And the chairs in the background drive me nuts, I thought she would have creatively cropped them out or something.
I really don’t think that we’ll be able to find (or afford) a new photographer by June, I guess I’ll have to settle for bad pro pics and ask friends and family to take a ton of pictures at the wedding to make up for it?
Post # 15
Member
319 posts
Helper bee
Why not send out Save the Dates without a picture? We didn’t do them (engagement pictures or save the dates) because we had such a short engagement, but if you want the save the dates, just do a cute design, no picture necessary, right?
ETA: You can totally find another photographer by June!! That’s six months away, people will have cancellations or a weekend that’s not booked, don’t get so discouraged, like I said, I did everything in less than three months, you can surely find a reasonable professional photographer in 6 months.
Don’t waste your money on pro-pics you hate.
Post # 16
Member
630 posts
Busy bee
No no no. STD’s are not that important. Sorry. I didn’t have STD’s. Your pictures aren’t that great, I will say though. If you had someone edit them maybe they could be okay, like a PP did. They’re not TERRIBLE though. We used our Epics for our FB photos and got them printed and framed them up all nice. They’re nice to have. So if you want better ones, maybe you should get them redone.
Hope this makes sense dear!