- Bunnyang
- 6 years ago
- Wedding: July 2012
I just don’t know what to do. I am disappointed with my wedding photos.
We hired our photographer after countless hours of research, even though a friend of mine had her at her weddingand really liked her, I still wanted to make sure she was the right choice. This photographer has a beautiful profile and has been featured in magazines and won awards.
Here are my issues:
Professionalism:
E-photos were late. Before our wedding we specifically asked that there would be no props or costumes in the photo booth except a chalk/whiteboard, as we wanted the booth to simply capture our guests since we had any coming in from Australia. This was ignored or forgotten. Our DVD package came late, and when we received the DVD photos were missing, including an entire folder. It has now been over two weeks since I requested the outstanding files, but we have not received them. The contract specified thank you cards but we did not receive any. Also, my dad said that the photographer was rude to him on the wedding day! On the day I asked for portraits taken by a willow tree I loved but the photographer said it was “boring”so we went elsewhere; We asked for a sunset photo and the photog said she’d come and get us but that never happened. The head photographer acted like she didn’t really want to be there and all I’ve been seeing from her is posts on Facebook about how tired she is because of too many weddings and she can’t wait until they are over.
Content of Photos:
When we finally saw our wedding photos we didn’t see the standard of photos in the portfolio/blog, especially in terms of portraits. They looked lazy and uninspired. We talked in our meeting with the photographer about our at-home, garden wedding, and how we wanted soft, warm, rustic portraits. I even wrote points down and gave a list of wedding photos taken by this photographer that I liked as a guide.
I was REALLY excited to get my wedding portraits taken. But on the day my husband and I were stressed about the lack of direction/feedback and we kept asking questions but didn’t get any response. I was worried when I saw the teaser (eyes closed, weirdly sharp and unflattering). When we got the DVD we found we didn’t even include a lot of portraits and most of the ones we got looked quite modern, stark, which was the opposite what we had talked about. The photos just looked cold, awkwardly posed and flat. I didn’t know I had so many freckles, blemishes and circles – they weren’t so apparent in life! My family actually laughed when they saw some and said I looked like I’d been punched! Not what a bride wants to hear!
There were NO bridal portraits of me alone in my dress or of my face! There were some lovely ones taken of my bridesmaids though (???). There were several things missing including a simple portrait of my husband and I, a photo of my mom and I (we got one but eyes are closed), and several more. All of the candid photos at the reception are really unflattering and unfocused and there isn’t one good photo of the bridal table.
I really hate to be like this, as I am usually really kind and easy to work with. But we spent a huge chunk of our entire budget on our wedding photos, and it was a lot of money for us (we’re both teachers!). For the rate we shouldn’t have these sorts of issues, especially with digital photography. What do you think?
Now here is the problem I’m having now: what should I do? Is there any point in telling the photographer that I’m unhappy? I don’t know what solution there could be; the wedding day is over. It’s more about the great photos we were promised than the money.
I would SO much appreciate any advice!