Chit Chat

Post wedding meltdown

edited January 2014 in Chit Chat
So my photog sent me the link to our wedding album proof last night and I was less than thrilled. 
Being a photog myself is curse - I'm super critical and usually never happy with photos I'm paying for. It sucks when you know you can do it yourself but you can't bc you have to be in the photos, and worse when you feel like you could have done it better.

I've reconciled with the photos themselves and gotten over the few things I was unhappy with, bc overall he did a great job at an excellent price. We have some gorgeous photos. The only thing I'm really bummed about is the family portraits bc he had an equipment malfunction and they are a little wahed out. But it happens, and isn't the end of the world. I hired him bc he is very similar to my style, so I am very happy with his work.

In the meantime I made my own wedding album and had it printed at Picaboo.com - Christmas gifts for the parents. It's not a super fancy book or professional printing, but I'm really happy with my layout design and the photos I included.

I'm not happy with his layout. He is clearly proud of it and said he spent a lot of time on it. I can't tell. Some of the photos I can't even imagine why he choose them. I don't' know what to do. I hate that the layout of the photos in the really nice, leather bound, flush mount, thick page album won't look as nice as cheap one you can print at Target. 

My mom says I'll never be happy with it bc someone else did it and I'm too picky. I know she's right and I wish there was some way I could change that about myself :( It's so hard when it's what you are good at and you are paying someone and expect them to see or do things in the same way or better. I really wanted to love it and be wowed! I really thought he would design a better book than I did and was really surprised when it wasn't. I was very impressed with him sample book, and this one looks nothing like it. It's just a boring run-of-the-mill lay out to me.

Add to that, after getting the album email, DH revealed he watched the wedding video without me. =-O I have been begging him to watch with me for a while now. He thought I watched it already and was waiting on him to watch it to give the videography the final approval. I was so sad bc I had this silly idea we would watch it for the first time together and relive the moment and be all lovey dovey and crap. He felt awful and apologized. I know I'm being over sensitive, but I really wanted to share in the moment together.

Sorry for whining. I needed to get it out so I could feel a little better about it.
:kiss: ~xoxo~ :kiss:

Re: Post wedding meltdown

  • Sorry to hear this. :( I am very critical of pictures myself so I can imagine how you feel. I guess all I can say is keep you chin up and work with what you have. Any chance you can get the pics on a disk and edit them yourself? Or is it just the poses and what not that you are generally not happy with?
  • Sorry to hear this. :( I am very critical of pictures myself so I can imagine how you feel. I guess all I can say is keep you chin up and work with what you have. Any chance you can get the pics on a disk and edit them yourself? Or is it just the poses and what not that you are generally not happy with?
    Oh, I've got the images. That's not the problem. I'm happy with them. I'm not happy with the some of the photos he selected and how he laid them out in the book. The quality of the book is far superior to the book I created, so that's where I'm bummed. I guess the easy way to put it is, I wish I could have the book I designed withe the photos he took, in the expensive high quality book instead of the spread he made. It's totally a style thing and personal preference. 

    I'm just being too picky I guess…
    :kiss: ~xoxo~ :kiss:

  • Aww, I'm sorry. I can understand. I come from a family of professional photographers. 
  • This is one of those things where I get where you are coming from but you need to set the expectations for yourself. What I mean by that is...no one is going to do things your way when it comes to the style and choices made in photography. They may come close but it won't be exact.

    You obviously know that what a person sees behind and in front of the lens is different for everyone. It can even come down to the fact that every person sees color differently. You kind of have to take yourself down a notch and understand that they are still beautiful photos since it sounds like for the most part you really do think that.

    I understand your grievances though and whine away.
  • aefitz29 said:
    This is one of those things where I get where you are coming from but you need to set the expectations for yourself. What I mean by that is...no one is going to do things your way when it comes to the style and choices made in photography. They may come close but it won't be exact.

    You obviously know that what a person sees behind and in front of the lens is different for everyone. It can even come down to the fact that every person sees color differently. You kind of have to take yourself down a notch and understand that they are still beautiful photos since it sounds like for the most part you really do think that.

    I understand your grievances though and whine away.
    Yeah, I know you are right. BUT I really appreciate the bold :) I always feel better when I can talk about it. Once I get it out I can start to move on. The video issue sort of negated the ability to talk it out with DH, so I came to you ladies for it ;)
    :kiss: ~xoxo~ :kiss:

  • I hear ya then. I agree girl....LET IT ALL OUT. That's what we are here for.
  • Can you email your photographer some suggestions for how to change the album? Like, can you please swap out this photo with this other one? Or whatever it is you dislike.

    Sorry you're in this pickle. It's so hard when you have to hire someone who does what you do!
  • I second @emmyg65...  Ask him to swap out some of the photos that you don't like for ones you do.  That should help some and if there is a page that is just horrid have him change the page around.

    Is there any way you can compensate him for his time on the book but not order it and get a refund?  If you are that happy it would be a shame to order a product that you are that unhappy about.


    photo composite_14153800476219.jpg
  • I'm sorry but I do completely understand. I'm picky about pictures too. I'm having a hell of a time finding a photographer because of it.
  • I do plan to ask for some swaps on photos, @emmyg65 and I'm sure he'll be happy to do it.

    I now I'm being a drama lama over the page layouts, but it's helping me process it. If I'm all woe as me it actually forces me to be more realistic - especially with all your help! I fully realize how pathetic this coping tactic is :-p

    I'm getting closer to just accepting the ;about and being happy with the photos, bc they are good images with a few swaps. I just was hoping for a WOW reaction…I think I'm more disappoint in myself that I didn't let myself be happier with it.

    The album was part of the package. I would have hired him without the album, so I wouldn't feel right asking for a credit instead. But thanks for the suggestion @aprilh81. He's a great photog and as you know I would recommend him to our other local brides. I'm just too dang picky!
    :kiss: ~xoxo~ :kiss:

  • I do plan to ask for some swaps on photos, @emmyg65 and I'm sure he'll be happy to do it.

    I now I'm being a drama lama over the page layouts, but it's helping me process it. If I'm all woe as me it actually forces me to be more realistic - especially with all your help! I fully realize how pathetic this coping tactic is :-p

    I'm getting closer to just accepting the ;about and being happy with the photos, bc they are good images with a few swaps. I just was hoping for a WOW reaction…I think I'm more disappoint in myself that I didn't let myself be happier with it.

    The album was part of the package. I would have hired him without the album, so I wouldn't feel right asking for a credit instead. But thanks for the suggestion @aprilh81. He's a great photog and as you know I would recommend him to our other local brides. I'm just too dang picky!
    If it helps any I had a mini-meltdown over my first hair trial...  They just couldn't replicate the look I wanted.  It was all I could do to not show my disappointment...  We all decided we would move to plan b.  I'm okay with this because I would rather my hair look nice in a "plan b" design than a hot mess trying for my dream look.

    Our feelings are ours and we can't change them, we can only change how we REACT to them.  So as long as you didn't throw a hissy fit and berate the photographer you are fine.  Vent away.
    photo composite_14153800476219.jpg
  • erinlin25erinlin25 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Third Anniversary First Answer
    edited January 2014
    did he not give you a layout design for an approval?  I thought that was common but maybe not.  My photographer had me pick so many pictures and then we met to make the final selections for the book. We went through his favorites and our favorites to narrow it down.  They then did the layout and emailed it to me for me to say Yes I like it, or can we change this or that.  I actually made 2 small changes and then they printed the book.  It was a long process, but we were 100% happy with the final product.  I am super picky/critical of pictures I am in too so I would be uneasy if I did not get to see them before hand so I can only imagine how an actual photographer would feel too! 

    EDIT: reread that you got the proof...so can't you request some changes if you do not like something? 
    image

    Anniversary
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards