Post # 32
Member
621 posts
Busy bee
@SneakyBee: As a professional photographer who often does boudoir shoots, your experience is horrifying to me and completely inappropriate. I would be naming and shaming this photographer to help future clients avoid this kind of experience because it can be SO psychologically difficult to deal with. It’s hard to step out of your comfort zone and be made to feel the way you felt. One of the indicators that you were not working with experienced professionals who care about their job is the price – $200 for a boudoir shoot that includes hair and make-up is obscenely cheap. The hair and makeup artists I work with are ~$200 just themselves. I really, really, really despise these photographers who set up shop pretending to be professionals but in reality are charging so low that we all know they are not running a legitimate, tax-paying business, and treat their clients horribly because they don’t care about the craft or their reputation.
I know this is probably the furthest thing from your mind, but I would encourage you to re-do a boudoir shoot with a real professional who will make your experience incredible, because the images you get from this shoot are only going to be a reminder of how bad the photographer made you feel. When I shoot boudoir clients I go out of my way to make them feel comfortable – we have fruit and chocolate and champagne, music, I have clients invite close girlfriends who will help them feel relaxed, etc. You should not have been treated the way you were treated, and I hope you can get to a place where you can trust a true professional to give you a really great experience.
Post # 34
Member
32 posts
Newbee
@lolita39 @ImaStarr I tried texting her and asking a bit about how her shoot went, and she mentioned she did have to do it in front of the other girls, but that it didn’t bother her too much or as much as she thought it would. When I first just asked how it went, she said “It was good I can’t complain”.
@MsquareM: You would’ve thought she would have noticed, right!? I mean, even if she’s that out of touch with reading other people, I flat out said I’m not comfortable, I’m scared, and I’m nervous.
@Soon2bmarried123: I didn’t want to hurt my friends feelings and figured it might get better. But obviously it didn’t, the whole experience just kept getting worse and worse.
@mariematt: Honestly, I’m figuring I’m going to hate the photos because of that exact reason.
So a couple of things. Writing the review. I’ve considered it, but I’m really afraid that it will come back at me because my friend’s sister is friends with the photographer. Which is also awkward because my friend’s sister is doing my hair for my wedding, so I’m don’t want to ruffle feathers. I do feel like I should give the photographer a chance to respond, so I’ve considered contacting her before posting any sort of review.
What I’ve kind of learned about the situation is the photographer does have actual reviews on sites like weddingwire and over 2000 likes on her Facebook, but she is CLEARLY still a new photographer as her weddings cost $1500 (she is NOT my wedding photographer). I’ve learned she’s pretty young, she’s in her early/mid 20s, so I’m not about to say this in a judging way, but more of I was an actual witness to this, but she is clearly still of the high school drama mindset. Which makes me even more nervous to approach her or post a review. It’s like she is putting herself in a profession that requires a lot of professionalism, especially when taking such private photos are boudoir photos, but I don’t think she’s mature enough to handle the professional side of the job. Ugh!!
And thank you ladies for all of your posts. I obviously didn’t want to vent to Fiance about the situation, so I’m so thankful to have all of you bees <3
Post # 35
Member
9680 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I would have walked out when I realized there was no heat, when the photog showed me someone else’s photos, and when I realized other people would be watching me. Regardless of who paid, I wouldn’t want to give someone like that photog any business.
OP, I hope the photos turn out. It won’t fix the situation, but at least you’ll get something out of it. Hopefully she doesn’t decide to show other people the pictures. That’s so terrible and I’d never feel comfortable giving someone like that my photos.
Post # 36
Member
262 posts
Helper bee
I agree wholeheartedly with mariematt. You were not treated professionally because they were not professionals. I’m sorry you had to go through this, those fauxtographers give professional photographers a bad name.
I’ve never gotten a bodoir session done, nor have I taken photos of a bodoir session, but I can’t imagine feeling comfortable with other ladies looking at me. Not even if I looked like Adriana Lima.
Post # 37
Member
1643 posts
Bumble bee
@SneakyBee: ohh this is horrible 🙁 I bet your Bridesmaid or Best Man feels really guilty. What a terrible experience. It shouldn’t be like that. be sure to send feedback
Post # 38
Member
1192 posts
Bumble bee
I can’t imagine. This sounds absolutely awful. If you’re worried about upsetting the friend doing your hair, can you wait until after the wedding to write a review? This is definitely something that needs to be made public so that a) the photographer can see what’s right and what’s not and b) so potential future customers can be warned. Better late than never.
