Am I being unreasonable? *update in comments* AW PIP (Finally!!)

RosieC18

This is a situation where I really can't tell if I'm being bitchy or letting someone get away with something I should be legitimately upset about. We got married mid-June and the deal with the photog was we'd get our link to her website 8-10 weeks later. We checked in between week 8-10 to let her know our address had changed, but didn't hear from her. We checked again around week 11 to ask for a progress update. She told us that earlier in the summer she had suffered a work-related injury and would get them to us "soon." Obviously, we don't have a lot of details on how serious or of she had to stop working entirely for a while, but she also never warned us that she could be late. We're at almost 14 weeks out at this point. She's a friend of a friend, not someone we knew but not a random stranger either. I do have a lot of sympathy for her injury and recognize that summer is the busy season but she was the one who gave that estimate in the first place. I'm thinking of asking that she expand the small printing credit we got as part of our package, if she doesn't offer something. I have a history of not standing up when vendors/services stiff me, so I don't really trust my gut on what's reasonable. I'm not mad or upset, and I don't want to like, punish her, but I wonder if we should ask for something to make up for the fact that she's a month later than the contract states. She's already been paid in full. Thoughts?

*Update - Pictures finally arrived in the mail today!!*

raissyrais

Did you sign a contract with the photographer? What does it say concerning timelines and deadlines etc?

spip2014

Wow, tough spot! Seeing that she is a friend of a friend, ask that friend what the deal is. See if he/she knows anything about the injury or the status of this person. Maybe they could tell you the severity of it OR even if that person has been flaky. Depending on the relationship, they might even be able to drop a hint. 

I think that you waiting a month after the original date you were promised is a reasonable time to wait. Those are your wedding photos! Of course you're eager to get them back, and I'm sure she will understand that. 

In my opinion, if she is not responsive, I'd also send another email stating that since you're not receiving the services as promised, you might be forced to contact the bank/credit card company you used to make all of your photographer payments. Obviously it is not something you'd want to do, but contracts are in place for a reason and it's great that she showed up to take the photos, but where are they? You're out a lot of money - wedding photos are not cheap. 

Super frustrating! Curious how it will all work out for you!

RebeccaFlower

Since she has the upper hand (full payment and your pictures) I would be nervous to come on too strong, since after all, you just want your pictures. I would print emails and document all contact, just in case. 

I agree with PP that you should look at your contract. 

photokitty

spip2014 said:

Wow, tough spot! Seeing that she is a friend of a friend, ask that friend what the deal is. See if he/she knows anything about the injury or the status of this person. Maybe they could tell you the severity of it OR even if that person has been flaky. Depending on the relationship, they might even be able to drop a hint. 

I think that you waiting a month after the original date you were promised is a reasonable time to wait. Those are your wedding photos! Of course you're eager to get them back, and I'm sure she will understand that. 

In my opinion, if she is not responsive, I'd also send another email stating that since you're not receiving the services as promised, you might be forced to contact the bank/credit card company you used to make all of your photographer payments. Obviously it is not something you'd want to do, but contracts are in place for a reason and it's great that she showed up to take the photos, but where are they? You're out a lot of money - wedding photos are not cheap. 

Super frustrating! Curious how it will all work out for you!

I would not do this for at least another month - don't involve the friend, don't make threats. 

She currently has your over a barrel. If she doesn't deliver the photos, assuming she had you sign a standard contract, then all she'd be responsible for is refunding your money. You don't want the money, you want the photos.

Be polite and understanding, but push for a firm delivery date. Say you want to use them for gifts or something - give a reason you need them. Do not issue any threats at this point.

I feel your pain, I really do and it sucks they you are still waiting. Check your contract so you know what your options are. But I would continue to nice and polite and hopes that you get the images.

GL!

RosieC18

It gave the deadlines, but I don't think it said anything about consequences of they were missed. I'd have to look again when I get home.

JaxInBlue

I'm torn here. I agree with PPs that you are definitely now at a point were exercising other options might be necessarily, but I agree with photokitty that the end goal needs to be getting your photos. I'd write back to her with a firm date in mind (give her two or three weeks). Only if she says she cannot make the new date, at which point she'd be at almost twice her delivery date, do I think I'd get out the contract or begin to pursue more antagonistic options such as involving third-party friends or businesses. You might also think about what types of compromise you might offer to get your photos sooner. For example, for a reduction in your package fee, would you accept unedited images or fewer images?

RosieC18

So I just checked the contract - it says the website will be made available no later than 75 days after the wedding. We're on day 96. 

To be honest, I hadn't even thought about getting more aggressive about asking after the photos, I was just trying to figure out if we'd be justified in wanting something in the way of compensation for how late they are. However, after reading all this I'm starting to feel a bit more assertive. Thanks very much for the advice and perspective!

RebeccaFlower

RosieC18 said:

So I just checked the contract - it says the website will be made available no later than 75 days after the wedding. We're on day 96. 

To be honest, I hadn't even thought about getting more aggressive about asking after the photos, I was just trying to figure out if we'd be justified in wanting something in the way of compensation for how late they are. However, after reading all this I'm starting to feel a bit more assertive. Thanks very much for the advice and perspective!

Yes, I think you should ask for some sort of compensation. Free prints would be nice. Good for you! Like I said, document everything. I get shit happens, but lack of communication is huge here. 

RosieC18

I know this is old, but I wanted to give an update. After another (unanswered) email, we finally got our photos over the weekend! They came 17 weeks after the wedding, but to make it up to us the photographer doubled our printing credit and is offering 25% off any prints from friends/family if they order in the next 10 days.

We're very happy with the quality of the pictures and are mostly just relieved they came back okay. Thanks for your advice and validation!

falsara

Yay!!!!!  SO glad you got them an that she threw in that discount.  Are you going to AW some of them for us?

RosieC18

Yes! but not until I have the electronic copy in my hands (right now I just have the link to the water-marked version her website.

RosieC18

Sorry if I went a little overboard with all the pics. I'm just so happy to finally have them!

lovemyrunner

Oooo!  They're beautiful!  Tell me all about your flowers, please.  I'm thinking of using blue hydrangeas too.  And what did you use for the bouts?

Sugargirl1019

So pretty! I love the straps on your dress

RosieC18

Thanks guys! 

We pretty much went all hydrangeas all the time. My bridesmaids' dresses were navy, so we gave them white hydrangeas and blue for me. You can kind of see in the cake-cutting photo, we did a very plain cake decorated with more blue hydrangea and it featured prominently in our paper - one of the places we splurged was hiring a friend-of-a-friend to design artwork that we used on invites as well as table assignments & labels. To be honest, I don't really remember the details of what was used in the centerpieces. We wanted them to be pretty but low-key, so as you can see, mostly green and low. The bouts were green hypericum berries. 

It was important to me to have straps on my wedding gown. I don't do strapless in regular life, and I wanted to be comfortable on the day, so we ordered an extra length of lace and had the seamstress make them. I was very happy with how they turned out!