How long is too long to wait for Photos?

fionkee

I have been married 2 months now (over 8 weeks).  Our photographer said we would get our wedding photos back in 6-8 weeks.  When I spoke to him a week and a half ago, he said there was one more wedding to edit before he could start ours.

Just curious what the normal timing is to get pictures back from a photographer.  If I am just being anxious (dying to have them!) or if the time is a bit excessive.

Thanks!

maggie1216

As a wedding photographer, when things are typical, I tell my brides 5 weeks. If I know something is going to stretch that (ie. vacations scheduled in that time period, unusually heavy volume of work scheduled, etc.) I tell them that. That said - a few bad days (illness, issues with technology, family issues) can really set a photographer back since there's no one else keeping up on their work. So if they're just a week or so over due, I wouldn't be too worried. (Though being anxious and excited is a given!!) If it gets to be a few/several weeks past the estimated deadline you were given, then I would ask for a new date that you can expect the photos and follow up via email.

hthrlarson9

we got ours in 4

unplainjane

i would say it totally varies. some people get them back in 3 weeks and some a year depending on the agreement. i would say average is 2-3 months. i got back mine in 7 weeks but the photographer originally told me 3. she apologized profusely and the photos were great but she shouldn't have told me 3 weeks if she couldn't commit to it. a friend of mine told them they would get their photos in 2 weeks. it's been 6 weeks and they still haven't received them. i'm not sure why photographers are flakey about delivering photos.

i know your photographer said they had another wedding to edit before yours but can you get them to tell you a time frame? so at least you know when to bug them again. i bugged my photographer at the 6 week mark and she delivered them a week later. i know that if i didn't contact her i would've waited even longer. if the last time you contacted them was a week and a half ago i would say it's safe to send another email in a few days and say hey it's been a couple of weeks since we last spoke. we're really excited to see the photos can you give us an estimate on when we can expect our photos.

photogbride12

Is it in your contract? If not the photographer can take as long as they want really.

2-3 months is standard in the industry. A photographer puts in 30-40 hours of post production work, not to mention they shot a number of weddings and other shoots before and after you. it's not like they're sitting at home for 8 weeks doing nothing. 8 weeks is really nothing when you consider they're probably out shooting 3 days a week, doing things for the business, and occasionally taking a day or two off in a month.