Engagement Photos are back...

Starlet514

So I am having my first BRIDEZILLA moment... 

We choose a rather expensive photographer because I loved their work - unique, beautiful, and great use of surroundings to make the photos pop - so I may have had my hopes up a little high... but I am wildly disappointed in them!!! There are like 4 great photos and 20 so/so... and 295 TERRIBLE ones... is this a normal ratio of good to bad????? 

We are emailing the photographers to ask them for a re-do essentially - to work on finding better angles for us because the reason for about 250 terrible ones were this weird up-angle shot they kept doing. If they say no we are considering loosing our $1000 deposit and going with someone else... 

HELP!! How many great pictures should I have expected? Did I set my expectations to high?

[Deleted User]

We haven't had any pictures taken yet, but I've done a few photo shoots for photographers. I don't know how long your shoot was, but if it was about two hours long, then the ratio seems about right. 

That being said, if the photographer kept using an angle that really doesn't work for you, you should definitely let them know. Perhaps rather than losing your $1000 deposit, you should explain to them why you liked them in the first place and that you're very disappointed with your engagement photos. Tell them you'd like a second mini engagement session (i.e. half the time they gave you last time) because you want to make sure you're sticking with them for your wedding pictures. If they're afraid they'll end up losing your business, they'll probably agree to do this.

Good luck!!! 

Starlet514

Thanks! That's what we ended up doing - repeat session will be shorter and I let the photographers pick the location that's convenient for them since they are willing to try again. We talked about angles and the parts I didn't like - so fingers crossed!!!! The pics that were great were GREAT - but seeing so many bad/unflattering ones made me super uneasy for the wedding day!! 

Going into this knowing how many "great" photos to anticipate also helps... and I don't think we will get all the pictures again - some should just never see the light of day!!! hahaha... I don't have the confidence for that again!!! 

JoanE2012

Sorry to hear you didn't have a good experience.  Glad to hear the photographers are working with you to make it right.  I agree with you though....I HATE when photos are taken at a lower angle than where I'm standing.....it's not flattering at all.  I always find that shooting from a slightly higher point is more flattering.  Good luck and let us know how the new photos turn out!

vh2014

Whatever is closest to the camera will appear largest, being a photographer I rarely shot women from below... it makes their hips look big and they HATE that.  Same with the broad side of your arm being closest to the camera... women almost always thing their arms look fat so you don't want that showing either... there are exceptions and maybe the photographer thought you were thin enough and proportioned such that it would look good (and that's a HUGE compliment if that's the case, even if you didn't like them)

Ratio.. 20 out of 295? The photographer actually showed you 295 shots?  We NEVER showed that many.  We took that many sometimes but we typically showed 30-40 and most people chose about half.  Usually people fall in love with 10 or so.  We felt it was our job to narrow down those that looked best and really spend time with post processing on those.  Glad to hear though they are reshooting!  Hopefully they got the vision you have and will do a great job. 

Starlet514

I guess I should pat myself on the back for all my progress with working out!! hahaha... 

I was told we saw them all because we were such a fun couple - they wanted to show us just how fun it was - and everything was pre-edited... I guess we spent like an hour extra from a "usual shoot"... laughing makes the time fly but pictures awkward!!! Next time - I told future hubby he can sit down and do a pre-view of everything without me seeing them all!! lol... he'll be able to narrow things down for me without losing some of the silly ones we do like... 

sgarmand

I'm so glad I just read this. I just got my engagement photos back too and I am beyond disappointed in them. I too, spent a lot on this photographer because I loved her work and was excited to work with her. That being said, the day of our shoot (this past Sunday) we had 20 mph winds during our entire hour long session. By the end of it, my hair had completely gone from curly to nasty stringy straight that frizzed and also managed to look wet in some pictures. I thought a lot of the angles were very unflattering as well (low shots) and you would think when your hair looked that crazy the photographer would tell you to try to fix it a little. 

Anyway, my fiance loves them.. I hate them. I told my photographer I was super unhappy and the only response I got was "I'm sad you don't like them, I'm sorry "

So good luck on the re-shoot! I would love another chance! 

xetoile087

I'm gald i stumbled across this post.. i also feel horribel!! I got my enagement pictures yesterday and i cant stop thinking on how bad they look and how neither one of the pictures are good. I dont know how to tell her that i dont like the pictures. HELP!!

Starlet514

@xetoile087 - just be honest! First figure out what it is you don't like and then see if there something that can be changed to "fix" it. Ask for a "work-shop" to try and correct things so that you will be more confident knowing what to do for the wedding!! Good Luck!!

I ended doing a mini-session last night (it had been rescheduled a few times) and I told the photographer specially to tell me if I was getting squinty eyes and not to be shy about it! (when I smile really big it happens), to position us and/or move us as needed (the first time we had no direction and I ca be kinda awkward), and I asked specifically for no "up-angle" shots... I am really really really hoping it helped!!! I will keep ya'll posted!!! 

leelabear

When picking a photographer, be careful about looking at their work online. Anyone can shoot 2000 photos at a wedding a have a few good ones. Do that for several weddings and then take only the best for the website.

Ask the photographer for access to the full photoshoot/wedding of another couple. Then you can really see what you are getting into.

Yes, a large amount of photos are going to be bad no matter how great the photopgher is. One of you have your eyes closed, look awkward, etc.

You should ask: Did the photograper have a good eye, gave you good direction on how to stand, where to look, etc? Did he have a good understanding about how to use you guys in your surroundings? Did he capture the light?

Starlet514

Ok... new engagement picture are back and I am beyond thrilled!!!! They came out fantastic!!! I am so grateful to the photographer for doing the mini-repeat session for us!! We were given a lot of direction, which we asked for, and it really helped us not be so awkward and have better stances. We also gave the photographer pick of location - so it was a place they were familiar with working and they picked the time of day which gave better lighting.

Overall I am feeling really comfortable now for the wedding!! It was a learning experience and I am glad we were able to do it! Who knew posing for pictures was soooo hard!!

mocarski002

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didnt like a majority of their engagement pictures. I know my photographer is great. It was more candid then I wanted it to be. One thing I recently learned which I will be doing for our wedding is finding photos of poses I want and like and sending them to our photographer so he has an idea of what I want. I wish I did this for our engagement shoot but I didn't know.