Post # 1
Member
926 posts
Busy bee
Bees, I was married in 2012 and am still waiting on my album first draft and wall mounts. I have received all of my photos (so that is not a concern – the photog did an amazing job) and busied myself by making my own photo books for myself and family but I am still *owed* the rest of my photography package.
My question is how aggressively would you pursue it? I didn’t want to annoy my photographer because I didn’t want to become an annoyance that compromised the quality of the output. What should I do?
Post # 3
Hostess
8579 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
2012? or 2013? Because like.. 2012.. I would assume at this point you aren’t getting them..
Post # 4
Member
2411 posts
Buzzing bee
@Cyri:
2012?! I would be contacting the Better Business Bureau as well as a lawyer, or if a lawyer is out of your budget right now, going to small claims court! Holy cow!
Post # 5
Hostess
7561 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Yikes! What’s going on there? Is the photographer still communicating with you about everything?
At this point where it’s 1 year + out I would probably take him to small claims court or file a BBB claim.
Post # 6
Member
926 posts
Busy bee
@jenilynevette: hahaha unfortunately no typo… 2012!
I spoke to him last week and he said I would have the first draft by mid week. After that I followed up and then he asked for the best email address (would he really not know it since he has all my paperwork and I sent him several emails?). He is obviously stalling for time but I still hold hope that it’s coming 🙁
Post # 7
Hostess
8579 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@Cyri: Well, over a year is MORE than enough time for him to fuful his end of the deal. Honestly, it shouldn’t have taken more than 6 months, and that’s being very generous! He his obviously stalling you. I would probably give him a deadline by the end of Feb or something, and go from there.
Post # 9
Member
1815 posts
Buzzing bee
- Wedding: May 2013 - Pavilion overlooking golf course scenery, reception at banquet hall
Does he have a studio you can visit in person? I would request a face-to-face meeting to learn exactly what’s going on. Then drop a bomb like “I don’t want to leave negative reviews on wedding websites, or even possibly pursue legal action, but I just don’t feel like I’ve been given many options now that a year and X months have gone by. I just need more communication to know what’s going on and how to proceed”
Worst case scenario, could you ask for the rest of your money back, and hire another photog to put together an album and wall hangings with his signing off of it? Maybe giving him an option to back out of his obligations because he’s so damn busy would be preferable to him. It’ll probably be pulling teeth to get the money back from him though.
Post # 10
Member
31 posts
Newbee
Whoa. 2012?! I think quality of the output is not even the issue at this point; I would assume some neglect or major screw up on the photog’s part.
Post # 11
Member
622 posts
Busy bee
@Cyri: Can you explain your photographer’s album design process? This may not be the case for you, but I’ve waited 4-6 months for couples to choose their favorite images to include in their albums, and by that time I am already eyeballs-deep in work for other clients and have to put that album on the backburner because it’s not fair to delay everyone else’s images just because one couple waited so long to get on the ball. Again, that may not be the case here but it is a common reason that albums get delayed for years after the wedding.
My recommendation is to send a certified letter that the photographer has to sign for stating the timeline you would like to see and what you will do if that timeline is not met (i.e. go to court). This does not mean I’m telling you to go to court because it would likely be a huge waste of your time and money. Be as generous as you can in the timeline to give him the opportunity to make it right. I might also mention in the letter that you intend to write reviews on _____ number of sites about your experience if he does not deliver by the timeline. That gives him incentive on two fronts (court and negative reviews) to make it right, and if he is really delayed or has something personal going on in his life that is causing this delay he will be appreciative that he has the chance to make it right vs. being pissed and saying screw it and delivering a sub-par product.
Post # 12
Member
7445 posts
Busy Beekeeper
Whoa 2012?! I thought I waited a long time (6 months) for my wedding pictures that were taken for free by a family friend.
Post # 13
Member
926 posts
Busy bee
@mariematt: i think that may be the problem. We made our photo selection a few months later. But then my emails kept getting ignored/lost so it was more than a year later by the time our selections were even acknowledged.
Anyway, a miracle has happened and we have received our first draft finally!! I should be happy but to be honest the design is so underwhelming. The photographer has hired someone else to do the album design (which I had no idea about before I booked him) and the quality of the work is very questionable. At least I’m getting an album, right? 🙁
