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Illinois-Chicago
Karatography **edited**review
Returning viewers: You will notice this is a much-condensed review. I made the decision - on my own - to remove a lot of the personal information because someone has taken advantage of my honest review. A few of you pointed out (THANK YOU) that someone has been copying my review, adding rude and insensitive language, and posting it on other wedding sites.
I only used the Knot in my planning process and I will not post on any other sites.
I apologize for the delay in posting since our September wedding, but I wanted to make sure we had everything from Kara before posting. As I said in my vendor reviews, I was a "lurker" for the planning process, but got most of my vendors from reviews such as this - so I want to help others.
This is very hard because we did get MANY great pictures. Kara of Karatography has great talent and that is very apparent in her work. However with any business, especially with weddings, it is also about customer service and attitude. We were very, VERY disappointed with the amount of time that Kara spent on her cell phone at the reception. I know a lot of great shots were missed because of this.
When I let Kara know that we were disappointed with certain aspects of the day - especially the "tweets" that she posted about our wedding/from our wedding - she did compensate us with $500 in products and the products are great quality.
I only used the Knot in my planning process and I will not post on any other sites.
I apologize for the delay in posting since our September wedding, but I wanted to make sure we had everything from Kara before posting. As I said in my vendor reviews, I was a "lurker" for the planning process, but got most of my vendors from reviews such as this - so I want to help others.
This is very hard because we did get MANY great pictures. Kara of Karatography has great talent and that is very apparent in her work. However with any business, especially with weddings, it is also about customer service and attitude. We were very, VERY disappointed with the amount of time that Kara spent on her cell phone at the reception. I know a lot of great shots were missed because of this.
When I let Kara know that we were disappointed with certain aspects of the day - especially the "tweets" that she posted about our wedding/from our wedding - she did compensate us with $500 in products and the products are great quality.
Though I am very happy with the price we paid for Kara's services and the pictures we got, I cannot recommend her to friends.
However, I must add that I have been in contact with Kara regarding the false reviews and she has responded professionally. I wish her much luck in her business and have no hard feelings about our experience.
It is a shame that someone has taken advantage of the great services the Knot message boards have to offer. Please note that even if you see my screen name or wedding date on another site - it is not me. Thank you, and happy planning to all!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Karatography **edited**review
For me, it's all about Customer service, as you said. The final product could be great, but if the customer service sucks, it doesn't fair well for me.
Finally...we are Mr. & Mrs.!!! WooHoo!!!
Planning Bio
Married Bio (Work In Progress)
Office-- I private messaged you....
I wish in situations like this vendors were allowed to respond to grievances against them. Because there always are two sides to the story. When the issue first came up in September I flat out asked Kara what it was all about it, because I value communication and wanted to make sure she was still the vendor of choice.
I am glad you got great pictures from the wedding, and sad that Kara was a disappointment
Anna- btw, super cute pic of you and your FI in the fav's blog post.
Jen- I think you used Kara also- did you ever write a review for her?
I'm really not trying to stir up anything here- I think everyone has a right to their opinion- but did people really ask you why she was sitting down? It's just that I never really notice the photographer at a wedding, so just curious.
[QUOTE]I wish in situations like this vendors were allowed to respond to grievances against them.
Posted by SoonToBeB[/QUOTE]
As part of the new vendor relations rules (like how you're allowed to write negative reviews) vendors are allowed to respond to reviews written by them.
Kara did say that she doesn't take a lot of reception/dancing photos because people get drunk and she doesn't think her clients want to remember that -- I think that's the best part!!
For those of you still using her - I think the fact that I had this experience and you can address it - probably helps. Mine was not the only wedding she twittered from, but I haven't checked lately. Maybe she has realized it is a poor reflection on her, and she stopped.
I noticed after my original post on here that she did take most of her "tweets" down... I honestly think she didn't realize she was doing anything wrong. I know thats shocking, but I don't think she meant it as a slap in the face....but that's sure how we (me and my guests) took it!
No one said anything that night - that I know of. A few friends took pictures of her on her phone. In the end we are happy - we got our pictures and everyone remembers our reception! Just sad because we chose to forego our post session, and we can't recommend her to others.
I really am not going to even comment on you taking screenshots of your photographer's twitter. Nope, I'm not going to even go there...
[QUOTE]you can't even recommend ONE of your vendors? I don't think that says anything about your vendors if you know what I'm saying. Nothing like letting things bother you on your wedding day. I hate to sound like I'm sticking up for that photographer but it sounds like you got a little tempermental over a few emails on a phone and let it ruin your weding day. I really am not going to even comment on you taking screenshots of your photographer's twitter. Nope, I'm not going to even go there...
Posted by mbuhpathi[/QUOTE]
I'm sorry, I rarely post here any more but just stumbled upon this tonight and I had to comment.
I don't see how the OP's disappointment with all of her vendors (a bit excessive, yes) makes the photographer's unprofessional behavior any more acceptable. I don't think she's getting temperamental over "a few e-mails" but more about the fact that her vendor was more interested in social networking than capturing photos, as she was paid to do, and also because of the fact that her photographer was twittering about her and her guests in a public online forum instead of capturing her event, which she was being paid to do.
And regarding the screen shots, if you were about to call someone out for unprofessionalism and had reason to think they might delete the post, why <em>wouldn't </em>you capture a screen shot? Otherwise the vendor could just say, "No, I never wrote that you crazy Bridezilla, you must be so stressed out from your wedding that you dreamt that." It just seems like a smart way to protect yourself to me.
2 cents from an old married hag, but what do I know? <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" />
I completely agree with Twink. I don't know this bride personally so maybe she is overreacting with other vendors, but this case with Kara seems pretty clear. You get married once - do you really want your photographer missing out on some priceless moments because she is spending the majority of the night on twitter and her cell? Obviously she doesn't need to be glued to the camera the entire night but it does seem pretty excessive to me.
If you see my posts from September - we LOVED every other vendor we had. I don't know how to link to them...
I'm sorry that got read wrong but we honestly had WONDERFUL vendors.
I used Kara for my wedding in May (and b-pics in December of 2008) and while my experience was not as extreme, I do wish Kara had been more motivated during our reception. While we, too, were pretty happy with our pictures from Kara, I was so glad that we'd used her to supplement our package with Brian Kinyon.
And, I have to disagree in that I do feel as though a photographers job IS to be glued to their camera. Most wedding photographers in Chicago make $300-400/hr -- for that, you should be doing your job -- capturing a bride's one special wedding day.
Linked review below for anyone interested.
To the original poster:
Yes, I agree with you that it was very wrong of Kara to be slacking off at the reception plus not meeting her obligations to give you pictures on time. I would be upset too. The biggest issue I would have is her missinng important parts whether it ws from using her phone or not.
I too agree with Twink; very well said!
Again, I'm so sorry this happened.
Finally...we are Mr. & Mrs.!!! WooHoo!!!
Planning Bio
Married Bio (Work In Progress)
[QUOTE]Office, why did you put on wedding wire that she changed her name because of your bad review? This name/logo change was in the works for months.
Posted by jessNlane52804[/QUOTE]
<strong>Before now, I never posted on weddingwire, only on the Knot</strong>. I just saw the review on there and I am appalled.
I now joined weddingwire ONLY to flag that post as inappropriate.
For those of you that did see it, it took my review from here and added rude and insensitive remarks. I feel like I gave an honest review on the knot, and do not feel the need to post anywhere else.
I have let Kara know that the weddingwire post was not me.
Thanks!
I was mistaken, the post I saw was on project wedding.
http://www.projectwedding.com/vendor/show/karatography-aka-kara-schultz
Just want to make sure that you're able to know all of the imposters.
We went with a different photographer and I couldn't be happier with her. I'm so glad we did after reading this.
two years!
after two losses, now happily expecting baby #1 09.16.12
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