Photographer Closed Her Business?

Sharpschruter22

Here we go...

We are having a destination wedding 6 hours away and have a contract with paid deposit with a photographer who closed her studio a month after we signed the contract. She said she will honor all of the weddings she has scheduled.

I emailed her to ask a question. One week later I emailed again and yet another the third week of no reply. She finally got back to me the third time, but didn't answer my question. This goes on for 2 more months. I'm going crazy because it is like pulling teeth to get her to reply to an email or phone call. It's not like I'm asking a million questions, she just never answered my original question and won't get back to me.

I am fed up and do not want her to be our photographer because she clearly no longer cares about her business seeing as it no longer exists and she is busy with opening her new business a printing shop.

We can't afford a new photographer without the large deposit we paid our current one. I'm concerned that if we cancel and ask for our deposit back, that she won't give it back. Then we will be stuck with her and have to deal with that awkwardness. I am seriously stressed out about this. I shouldn't have to pull a vendors teeth for them to reply to me and can only imagine the nightmare this will be the closer it gets to our May 2013 wedding.

Help?

artbyallie

I was on your side until I saw when your wedding is. What kind of questions do you have that need to be answered nowNOWnow when you have eight and a half months to go? She probably just doesn't see them as all that urgent given the huge amount of time until your wedding. You are not her priority and will not be until much closer to your date.

Gustafson28

I disagree allie. I do think that the wedding is a fair amount of time away but if I have already paid a vendor and they were ignoring me I'd would be ticked off too. Do you still have a contact number for the photographer? Maybe call her up and gently explain your frustrations. See how that goes before you jump ship. You said it yourself, she is really busy right now and probably stressed from having her business go under. If the call doesn't provide any hope I would then see what other arrangements can be made. Hope it works out for you!

JoanE2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_photographer-closed-her-business?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:c600c580-512a-49d8-aeb1-3605834e5d14Post:7e5a8b1e-6bd2-4dc8-9247-327843c08b93">Re: Photographer Closed Her Business?</a>:
[QUOTE]I disagree allie. I do think that the wedding is a fair amount of time away but if I have already paid a vendor and they were ignoring me I'd would be ticked off too. Do you still have a contact number for the photographer? Maybe call her up and gently explain your frustrations. See how that goes before you jump ship. You said it yourself, she is really busy right now and probably stressed from having her business go under. If the call doesn't provide any hope I would then see what other arrangements can be made. Hope it works out for you!
Posted by Gustafson28[/QUOTE]

I agree.  I also think you often get faster response from people in general when you pick up the phone and call them rather than rely on email.  I'd call and see what the deal is.  Who knows, maybe she would be happy to give your deposit back so she can focus more on her new business.

OliveOilsMom

Is there any clause in the contract about what happens if the business closes?  Is there anything in her contract that makes it seem like she broke it and you are entitled to your deposit back.

If you really want to look for a new photographer, I would call her and say "I know that my wedding is still 8 months away, but it took you 2 months and x amount of emails to contact me back when I had a question for you.  My question still has not been answered.  I feel like your new business is your main priority, which it should be.  But you have also made promises to me that I feel you haven't kept.  I think it would be in both our best interests that we walk away and I feel that I am rightfully due my deposit money back due to sections x, y, and z in the contract."

pomundson0

That's a crappy situation  Is her new shop open?  The only way to talk to her may be to stop by and have a chat face to face to express your concerns.  Was there a contract signed stating anything about a refund of the deposit if you cancelled so many days (months?) in advance? Your answer should be there.  If in the contract it says you can get your deposit back, and she refuses, you can go the legal route. 

We booked ours back in January, and any time I sent her an email, she got RIGHT back to me. To me it shouldn't matter how far out, if a paying customer has questions for a vendor, they should be answered promptly.  As a customer, that's what I'd expect, and as a photographer, that's what I'd be expected to do.  Wishing you lots of luck!

shanliann

I'm sorry but it doesn't matter how close or far away your wedding is, you've pair her money and shes agreed to provide sevices and now is not being there for you, the bride. Wrong. just wrong. I went through a similar situation with a photographer we hired and then had to fire after seeing the quality of our engagment pics. i contacted the better business bureau. They work as "mediators" between both parties, and maybe the photographer will get better at responses when she is responding to the BBB instrad of you. don't go forward with her as your photographer, she clearly isn't interested in it, her heart isn't in it, and that will show in the quality she provides. 

Sharpschruter22

Thank you for your kind replies. In my opinion, if I have paid a vendor to perform a service on my wedding day, even if it is two years from now they should not ignore me. I have called her before and she never returned my call. I called twice today and she finally picked up the phone. We had a discussion and she agreed to give the deposit back. I think she was glad to not have to travel 8 hours away for a weekend when she is nurturing her new business. Our discussion was calm, polite, and I am SO relieved that I can now find someone else. I appreciate your time in giving your respectful opinion. :