(Closed) My pictures suck

• Miss Chapstick
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: August 2009

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.

• lindseyrose
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: May 2006

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!!

• jaylii9
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: September 2010

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.

• canthugallcats
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: May 2010

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!

• ejs4y8
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: June 2009

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.

• KaitlinHudson
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: December 2010

That’s awfullll. I hope you are able to get everything figured out!

• cr8ingwaves
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: October 2010

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!

• s_h_e_l_b_s
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: May 2010

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!

• twocatcupcake
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: September 2010

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. 

• canthugallcats
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: May 2010

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?

• maureen9004
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: July 2008

 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*

• stefanieastronaut
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: September 2010

Talk to the bee named “photoguy” about having things removed from a picture… he is the master at that!

• Mary Poppins
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: August 2012

*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

• Mrs. AF
• 10 years ago

• Wedding: July 2012

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!