Photography Issue

srfr8908 · July 2012

OK, so the nightmare I had earlier this week that my photographer didn't show up on our wedding day may be becoming a reality.

The CD she handed to me with our engagement photos on it is BROKEN and has been TAPED BACK TOGETHER!!! I met her somehwhere and she handed me the CD in an envelope. I KNOW I should have checked it before I left, but I didn't until I got home.

I haven't paid her in full yet and she hasn't called or emailed me back about it yet. (Called her last night, emailed her early this morning.) I want to give her a chance to try and explain, see how she acts, but is any answer/possible mad reaction that "someone" broke the CD and tried to tape it back together and pass it off as OK good enough?

Should FI and I just go ahead and try to find another photographer??

LDubHawksFan · July 2012

Wait until you hear back from her. She might be doing some other work so she couldn't respond yet. I think the CD thing is pretty ridiculous, but she should be able to make another easily and cheap. If she refused, then maybe you start looking.

Lang125 · July 2012

That is horrible. Why wasn't the CD in a case? And she must not be very bright to think taping it back together would do anything.

She should be responding within the same day about this as it is very strange. It would definitely make me question her professionalism and what is going to happen with the wedding pictures.

Did she come recommended - how did the engagement session feel?

Let us know what she says - I am curious to know.

tamrahelmer · July 2012

Oh wow, thats horrible! I don't see that as ever being ok. Hopefully you can get things sorted out and voice to her your concerns about this not happening again, because the wedding day pictures are even more important.

Keep us updated!

CarolineandDean · July 2012

That's pretty scary. I agree with PP to wait and see what she says. Maybe see if you can get in touch with some of their past clients (Facebook would probably be the easiest way to do this if they have a page) and see if you can get some honest opinions, not only about their quality of work, but how they work.

music11 · July 2012

That would make me very nervous. Agree with PPs--check with some previous clients, and find out if they have had problems. But if she can't give you a good excuse, and your pictures--run away!

srfr8908 · July 2012

Heard back from the photographer.

She apologized for the damaged CD and said she had no idea...She said she would never send out anything that was damaged and certainly would never try to tape a CD up since they are a dime a dozen and she knows doing so also can potentially damage a computer. Here's the rest:

"I am not sure what happened between the time it left my hands to the time it was placed in your mail drop but rest assured I only send the finest out with an ultimate stamp of my approval when it comes to quality. I also apologize for the delay in getting the CD to you. I sometimes guesstimate sooner than the actual time depending on other shoots that I am editing. Another flaw I guess of my approval of quality, lol. I make sure the photographs are ready to print on your end so that very little color adjusting is needed at the lab of your choosing. I will gladly send out another CD copy to you guys ASAP.

Please don't view this as a poor reflection on the quality of my workmanship. I am not sure what happened but I will take care of this issue immediately and make sure that you are both pleased with the outcome. "

She must have forgotten the fact that I DID NOT receive it in the mail, but actually picked it up from her. I reminded her of that when I emailed her back, thanking her for getting back to me today on this and that we would like to meet with her to discuss the issue, just to try and make sure this won't happen down the road, especially if she has other people who do some work for her and they might have done it....

I made sure to tell her that we don't question her capability and quality as a photographer, but....geez, this is something I never thought would be an issue.

So with her response.....now what?

tamrahelmer · July 2012

I think she handled it well. Although it does worry my that she said they can get damaged in the mail, while she is the one who hand delivered it to you. Does she simply have a lot of clients and not remember you, or is she trying to place blame somewhere else? Also, I wonder how she wouldn't know that the CD was taped. Does she have someone else handle this part of the photography for her? Something still seems weird, but if she is able to sort it out and you feel comfortable then go ahead with it.

BrittneyRN · July 2012

I know I might be taking it too far, but I might start looking just to see who else is out there. Wedding photography is one of my top priorities for the wedding. The first photographer I hired did a great job at our engagement session, but then had kept saying she sent the cd, when she actually hadn't. She also took forever to respond to me. I found a new photographer. I want someone completely reliable the day of.

futuremrsjdmartin · July 2012

As a wedding photographer I am personally appauled at this. I can't ever imagine giving a client a CD without putting it in a jewel case and making sure it is in perfect condition. There is absolutely no excuse for such behaviour no matter how many clients she has. I would honestly start looking for another photographer as this is not a good first experience. The last thing you want is to find out after your wedding that she messed up your photos. Engagement photos can be redone if there is a problem, wedding photos cannot and if it is important to you, I urge you to make sure you don't want risk any issues. Something all photographers know, we are a dime a dozen and if one doesn't want to give you the quality you need, someone else will surely be willing to. I hope you get this worked out before your date.

srfr8908 · July 2012

I responded to her and let her know that no, I never ended up receiving the one she "sent" in the mail, that is the one I met her somewhere to get. She then responded and said that she didn't realize that at first. But then she went on to say stuff about the CD fomat and that she would make sure the new CD is the correct format, how some clients try using older computers and they can't see their pics because the computer doesn't read the format.......that completely confused me. Anyway, she said she would make a new CD and meet us to hand it to us again and let us actually check it out before we leave.

I think FI and I are going to try to figure out what we are going to do by the way she is when we meet her this week to get the new CD. The sad thing is that I feel BAD about thinking of hiring a new photographer, but photography was our #1 priority for this wedding, and if we don't feel comfortable and confident in her once we meet with her this week, I think we do need to find a new photographer. It is VERY scary.

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