Post # 1
Member
6 posts
Newbee
Hi. Wasnt sure what to do and looking for some advice. I won a free engagement photo shoot at a Bridal expo and we scheduled a date, took the pictures around the end of July and was told I would recieve them in 3-4 weeks. I waited til the 2nd week of Sept to ask about them (figured they were busy with wedding season) they thanked me for being patient and said by the end of next week. I did not recieve anything. Beginning of Oct I emailed them and have called twice with no response at all. I get I won the pictures and did not pay anything but having no response is very unprofessional. What should I do? Is there anything legally I can do? Please help 🙁
Post # 2
Member
691 posts
Busy bee
Try contacting the bridal expo – they should be partially responsible. I would exaggerate about you being concerned about this photographer and your pictures being used illegally and that you would hold the expo partially responsible. Scare them enough and they will contact the photographer who im sure will send you your pictures immediately.
Post # 3
Member
111 posts
Blushing bee
Do they have a location? I would go there in person and speak to someone directly. But also do what @withluv said and call whomever will speak to you to get them to send over your photos. I would also print and save all communication between the bridal expo and now if you have to go the legal route.
Post # 4
Member
11376 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
aasheppard : I’d say you want to order big prints through them, so when they’re ready please let you know. This would be money for them, which might motivate them. You can always decide not to order later.
It’s pretty crappy of them to do this. They offered free pictures, so it’s not like you took advantage. Good luck.
Post # 5
Member
3821 posts
Honey bee
Tell the bridal expo you’re scared the pictures are being used illegally? Huh? That makes no sense and just sounds silly.
Anyway, where I live if you didn’t pay anything then you don’t have an enforceable contract so there wouldn’t be much to do legally. It’s still very unprofessional and wrong though and I’d still contact the bridal expo to complain, and keep calling the photographer and turn up in person if you can. Tell them you will leave a bad review and then do it if you don’t get your pictures.
Post # 6
Member
3353 posts
Sugar bee
legally, you likely can’t do anything (i say likely because there are some states with very strict rules regarding contests and making good on contest prizes – but even so, it’s so not worth your time to go this route). best you can do is contact them again, and if they don’t respond with your pics, then blast soical media with an (honest) review of your situation. either that will prompt them to apologize and get you your pics asap, or else you’ll have warned future couples.
did you ever sign ANYTHING at all before the shoot? i ask because you likely signed a model release that allows the photographer to use your pics for marketing, etc. if not, and they then use pics of you to promote their business – you might have a case for unpaid use of your likeness for their business
Post # 7
Member
6 posts
Newbee
withluv : i know these photographers have been in a couple diff. Expos and ive even seen some of their work in bridal magazines up here in northern cali.
lizzy3400 : they do have a location. Its is roughly 2hrs away from where we live. We even traveled to their location for the pictures because I felt bad letting them drive to us since they were free
BalletParker : I put in an email something to the effect of “just hoping to see the engagement pictures beforehand cause we were hoping to book with you’
nonablu : you are right, if nothing comes of this I will start going on all outlets and leaving reviews.
catskillsinjune : we never signed any type of contract. I keep checking their IG and website but dont see any pictures. Im waiting to go on social media, I dont want to piss them off but at this point how long do they expect me to sit quiet?!
Thanks for all the advice though. This has really helped.
Post # 8
Member
3353 posts
Sugar bee
aasheppard : but i don’t mean just a contract – i mean ANYTHING? for instance, did you have to fill something out at the expo when you entered the contest? there was probably some sort of small print on that.
Post # 9
Member
6 posts
Newbee
catskillsinjune : the only thing we filled out was a raffle card. With name, email, etc. They then emailed us to inform us we had won. Set up the date and did the pictures. When we did the pictures they told us that IF we booked with them they take $500 off whatever package we would choose. I informed them then we would like to see the pictures and a list of packages and pricing. Which they said okay and thanked us and we were all on our way
Post # 10
Member
94 posts
Worker bee
Have you tried messaging them via Facebook? i find some vendors are very responsive on social media.
If not, I’d contact Bridal expo and see if they have any leverage or contact info. It might help to let them mediate.
Unfortunately, without having any contract or guarantees, I’d say you can’t do anything legally but I would not hesitate to leave honest reviews on Facebook, Google, Wedding Wire, The Knot, Etc.
Post # 11
Member
9388 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
tbh, for something that was free.. I’d be thankful I hadn’t paid them a cent, assume I will never see the photos, and book engagement photos with a company of my choice. If they ever send the photos, great, otherwise, meh.
I probably wouldn’t post a review–I know that personally if I read someone’s review saying “I won free photos in a raffle and they never sent me the prints” I wouldn’t discount it 100%.. but I wouldn’t put much weight on it if all the other reviews are positive.
If you want to pursue the photos–go for it, not saying there’s a great reason not to. I just personally wouldn’t make the effort.
Post # 12
Member
393 posts
Helper bee
Play it smart and don’t spend too much time and energy on something that was free. But yes contactin gthe Bridal Expo, writing a letter and writing on facebook or whatever saying you won, you are waiting and that this isn’t very professional and that you are considering writing reviewes. They have reputation to worry about. And yes saying you might be ordering photos won’t hurt but use your energy and time wisely.
Post # 14
Member
6 posts
Newbee
Just an update.. Had to get in touch with directors of the wedding show and they had to get into contact with the photographers. We FINALLY got the pictures!