Illinois-Chicago

Photographer Warning

I have had by far thee worst experience with a photographer living in the chicagoland area. Around about late November I contacted an ad over a craigslist for a wedding photographer offering his services for $250. Now at first I thought it was a scam but when I looked at the photographers website and info I became really excited. After reaching  the photographer directly I decided to meet up with him one day. He was a very busy man. While the hubby and I were working part-time and attending school full-time I did manage sometime for him. We tried over Christmas break to meet up with this man and he was also busy during that time as well. So we decided after the New Year that we would set aside time to sit down and go over our wedding with the photographer. Now by Feb I had already signed contract saved on my computer but unfortunately his schedule did not allow us to meet again to finalize everything. My wedding began to approach so I decided to send the photographer a copy of the contract signed with out his deposit so that we could start moving this right along. We kept communicating up 90 days before my wedding. I did not hear from the young photographer until exactly sixty days before my wedding da. He stated that he would not be able to do my wedding. There was no reason in the e-mail or phone call explaining this.

Mind you ladies this man wanted us originally to send him the original contract signed with the deposit.

All I can say is please be careful when using these vendors that post ads on these website. PM me if you want the photographers name ladies.

Re: Photographer Warning

  • edited December 2011
    Did you not meet with the photographer before signing a contract?  I hope so!  Was he "busy" at that time too?  $250????? I wouldn't even look twice because I would think it's a scam.  
  • hz80408hz80408 member
    5000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I am sorry this happened to you!  But I have to say, I agree with pp
  • aimers1525aimers1525 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I'm confused, when was your wedding? The situation you described sounds pretty awful, but I would never sign a contract w/out meeting with a vendor, not to mention rely on someone I hadn't heard a peep out of until 60 days before my wedding.
  • edited December 2011
    Alot of legit, very good photographers post on Craig's list too, its good marketing to get their names out there any way possible.. but regardless of how you find a vendor, you need to research, meet them, and read your contracts carefully..

    Also agree with PPs
    nikiplanning.weebly.com
  • edited December 2011
    Anyone charging $250 to do photos of a wedding has red flags all over it.
  • sharonda1981sharonda1981 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Craigs list has never been legit, so many horror stories, even with job postings. Stay away from Craigs list that site needs to be shut down.
  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_photographer-warning?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:72Discussion:d363ed7b-72d1-4213-95c3-010b006d3426Post:a95e836b-b848-4cf7-ac75-4348c874c4da">Re: Photographer Warning</a>:
    [QUOTE]Craigs list has never been legit, so many horror stories, even with job postings. Stay away from Craigs list that site needs to be shut down.
    Posted by sharonda1981[/QUOTE]

    This is actually incorrect.  I have never had a bad experience with craigslist.  Some people get unlucky which is unfortunate.
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  • edited December 2011
    I did not actually meet the photographer in person so that is why I sent him a copy of the signed contract through the mail. I did hear from the photographer periodically from phone calls and e-mails. During that time the previous reception location we were suppose to use owner decided to quit the restaurant industry. Maybe  that could have been some of the reasons why? I am hoping. I have now successful found a better reception hall that will accomdate our last minute wedding planning needs and a photographer. I did find the photographer over craigslist list again. However this photographer was willing to meet at a local Starbucks and we discussed our wedding plans. This photographer is allowing us to pay in installments which we love because we are on a wedding budget and we would like to have a photographer that will work for his money.
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