Complaining to our photographer (vent and advice, please)

blabla89

FI and I got our engagement pictures back and we're pretty disappointed with them. We don't want a do-over of our engagement session, but we want to talk with the photographer about how to make sure our wedding photos don't turn out the same way because, you know, we don't get a do-over of our wedding day.

Some of the photos we didn't like were outside the photog's control - it poured down rain, my makeup melted and my hair was a hot mess - totally not her fault. But a lot of the shots were taken at weird unflattering angles, or we're posed awkwardly because she didn't direct us at all, or it would have been a good photo but it's blurry or grainy. She sent me the "best" photos from the shoot and it included some where one of us blinked. I understand that happens when you're snapping a bunch of pictures, but it's like she didn't even take the time to review them carefully before sending them over. We really expected better based on her portfolio and some things she told me when I interviewed her. I kind of feel like we got shortchanged. I can see from her facebook that she's been busy lately, and I feel like she didn't take the time to do a good job on the finishing. It also took twice as long as she said it would for us to get the photos.

So anyway, I'm trying to figure out how to tell the photographer that A) we're disappointed with the e-pics and we need to have a talk about how to make sure our wedding pictures turn out better. But I'm not good at handling conflict, and I don't want to be harsh because she's really nice and easy to work with. How would you handle this situation? What should I say to the photographer?

pumpkinsandturkeys

This is definitely a sticky situation.

I would ask for an in-person meeting with her and tell her that you want to go over the plan for the wedding day to ensure that you get the best possible results from your photos. Let her know that based on what you've seen from the engagement shoot, you can tell that you and FI aren't exactly model-types in front of the camera who know exactly what to do, and you feel as though you'll need a lot more direction and encouragement in order to keep from feeling awkward, stiff, or posed.

I would also review her website and any other photos you have access to in advance and pick out the ones you like and refer to them when meeting with her, so that she has a good sense of the style you're after. Review the contract again, too, including all timelines for editing and delivery, and ask again if she usually falls closer to the end of the timeline during her peak seasons, or if you can expect things to be completed earlier than stated in the contract. If it is not explicitly outlined, it should be.

Finally, you may want to consider having one more mini session before the big day, especially if you're nervous. You don't necessarily need to use the photos for anything; but if you tell her that you're jittery and anxious in front of a camera and ask if she can spare an hour or two to work with you both on being more relaxed and  learning to work with her and allowing her to gain a sense of how you two relate and what you like, she may be open to throwing that in for free. After all, she doesn't want mediocre photos floating out there with her name on them, either.

Good luck!

JoanE2012

blabla89 said:

FI and I got our engagement pictures back and we're pretty disappointed with them. We don't want a do-over of our engagement session, but we want to talk with the photographer about how to make sure our wedding photos don't turn out the same way because, you know, we don't get a do-over of our wedding day.

Some of the photos we didn't like were outside the photog's control - it poured down rain, my makeup melted and my hair was a hot mess - totally not her fault. But a lot of the shots were taken at weird unflattering angles, or we're posed awkwardly because she didn't direct us at all, or it would have been a good photo but it's blurry or grainy. She sent me the "best" photos from the shoot and it included some where one of us blinked. I understand that happens when you're snapping a bunch of pictures, but it's like she didn't even take the time to review them carefully before sending them over. We really expected better based on her portfolio and some things she told me when I interviewed her. I kind of feel like we got shortchanged. I can see from her facebook that she's been busy lately, and I feel like she didn't take the time to do a good job on the finishing. It also took twice as long as she said it would for us to get the photos.

So anyway, I'm trying to figure out how to tell the photographer that A) we're disappointed with the e-pics and we need to have a talk about how to make sure our wedding pictures turn out better. But I'm not good at handling conflict, and I don't want to be harsh because she's really nice and easy to work with. How would you handle this situation? What should I say to the photographer?

I would tell her you're unhappy and see if you can have a redo.  If you are seriously considering keeping her for the wedding, you need that, even if you have to pay.  I would not expect a professional photographer to present you with grainy photos or ones with your eyes closed (and not planned that way!).  

Do you have a contract with her to do your wedding photos?  If so, can you afford to lose the deposit and book someone else?  I understand she may be nice, but nice won't matter when you're looking at your wedding album 5, 10, 50 years from now.   

emmyg65

Eh, cut your losses and hire a different photographer for the wedding. No professional photographer worth her salt should be turning over photos that are blurry or where the subject is blinking. 

Ven&Radio

Before you hired this person, did you only see the photos in their portfolio?  Those are always going to be the best of the best.  It's a really good idea to see at least one full set of wedding photos that the photographer recently delivered to another client.  My photographer sent me access to 3 of her recent weddings before I hired her.  It was a great way to gauge the photographer's style and the kind of shots you're likely to receive.  If you haven't seen this from the person you hired, I'd insist on it and if what you see is similar to your engagement shoot, I'd look for a new photographer ASAP.

climbingsingle

emmyg65 said:

Eh, cut your losses and hire a different photographer for the wedding. No professional photographer worth her salt should be turning over photos that are blurry or where the subject is blinking. 

I agree with this.

JCbride2015

ClimbingBrideNY said:

Eh, cut your losses and hire a different photographer for the wedding. No professional photographer worth her salt should be turning over photos that are blurry or where the subject is blinking. 

I agree with this.

Me too.  I could not trust her after this.  I can see if she gave you fewer photos because some of them didn't turn out great, but for her to show you blinking or blurry photos as the "best" just shows carelessness and/or lack of judgment.

blabla89

Thanks ladies. You confirmed what I kind of thought we would need to do...so it's back to the photographer search. I talked to FI (and he asked me what the knotties had to say about it) and we agreed that we would rather throw down the money for a different photographer than have disappointing wedding pictures.

beethery

Just rec'd you a photographer in your messages. Good luck in your search!

ShellD13

I'll also recommend www.thumbtack.com  It is how we found our wedding photographer and we loved her for our e-pics and what we have seen of the wedding pics so far.