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Wedding Photography and Videography Forum

NEVER USE JUSTINE MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY! In the Phoenix Area

NEVER use Justine Miller Photography!!!  She is a HUGE waist of money and has caused A LOT of stress!!!  Read the information below.

I paid $1800 for 3 hours.  I had to beg my husband to pay this much for anything.  This was the most expensive part of our wedding, including the drive across the country.  I was contacted by her 5 months before to schedule a meeting which never happened.  She cancelled the meeting.  I contacted her to see if  I could pay $400 the week after the wedding because I got paid then.  She told me no.  So then I decided to scrimp on other things to pay for the photographer. 

Well the week before I emailed with a suggestion of poises with certain people and a time frame when to take the photos.  (I have done Event Planning, so I knew what I was doing)  I told her this was just a guideline and since she was the "PROFESSIONAL" I would love some ideas she had.  I never got any confirmation from her.  That should have been my first red flag, but I didn't want to give up hope. 

It came down to the night before my wedding at 11:30 PM and I didn't know if I was even going to have a photographer.  I never met the lady, I didn't know what she looked like or where she was going to meet me.  I texted her at 11:30 PM to meet me in the bridal suite.  I got a text at 1:30 PM the day of my wedding while I was en route to the wedding.  My sisters and I we devising a plan to take photos if she did not show up.  My sister is a professional photographer and since she was in the wedding party, she wasn't taking photos.  I really wish she had.

While we pulled up to the historic 1800s white chapel at a pioneer museum in Arizona, I see a strange lady in black.  I was so upset, and excited.  The lady introduced herself.  Then that was it.  She never asked me which angle she was going to take photos of the ceremony or anything.  She took photos of the one person I DID NOT what photographed.  She never took a photo of my aging grandmother, my mother, my nephews or nieces.  She took photos of the church.  SERIOUSLY???  I love the church, but my family is more important that the stupid church. 

So after the whole ceremony, I was excited to get the wedding party, family and friends photographed.  The lady pulled out my suggestions and that was her guide as to what photos to take.

So after we took all the family photos, we went to the history buildings; Victorian house (fully furnished with period pieces), blacksmiths shop and other buildings.  I was so excited about this, because I knew they would be totally different wedding pictures.

After we were done taking photos, the lady told me that because our wedding was in the end of wedding season, it was going to take a week or two to get the photos online and CD sent to me.  So, I let 2 1/2 weeks go by just to give a little buffer, I did not get any response for 5 more days.  And when I finally got an email back she was so unprofessional.  She told me that she was on vacation with her family and reiterated that my wedding was at the end of the wedding season so it was going to be a while until she could get to my photos.  This ticked me off especially when I paid her $600 an HOUR for the photos.  So I wait another 2 weeks and email her again about the photos.  Another 2 days later she responds telling me that she was on vacation AGAIN???  I know that family time is important, but seriously, you made me pay you ALL the money BEFORE the wedding.  SO she said that she would work on it.

 A month later I get an email with the link to view a couple of photos.  When I actually got to see the 4 photos, 2 were pretty and 2 were horrible.   Then another 3 weeks and I got to view all 100 photos online.  That is when I saw all the photos.  Let me just say that she missed ALL the moments.  Out of the 100 photos, there were probably 10 good photos.  To add insult to injury, a friend took photos alongside her and his photos looked a million times better without being touched up. 

So every time I see a photo or mention of the wedding I get angry.

My Love, My Dreams, all come true with a kiss and a promise!

Re: NEVER USE JUSTINE MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY! In the Phoenix Area

  • I'm so sorry about your experience! Unfortunately I think this happens a lot when couples hire a photographer who shoots more portraits (controlled situations) than weddings. It sounds like you really wanted a photographer who took a more photojournalistic approach and that's not the photographer you hired. Taking a look at her work she is very capable of producing nice images so I doubt they were "horrible" but they probably weren't the style you really wanted.
  • :-( I'm sorry this happend! Post this on your local board too. Karma will get her one day you'll see.
  • edited January 2012
    I have to respond to this, it is only fair that ther are two sides of the story.

    Let me say this, First, I am so sad to hear your feelings Tricia, and I wish that you had taken the time to contact me privately to express your concern and feelings.  I had never heard of any of your concerns or dissapointment, until another bride of mine informed me of this post. 

    Second,we must be truthful Tricia.  You did nto pay $1800,  you paid less. I worked with you on your budget. There are 177 images, not just 100.  You saw a preview of approx 10 images 2 weeks after your wedding, not 4 images and not 6 weeks after your wedding as you state above.  There are 15 images of various family members and children before you arrived to the chapel.   You were an hour late to your own wedding. I did respond to every e-mail you sent me, I texted YOU the day of your wedding because you were late and I was waiting where you told me to and NO ONE was there. ( this wasted time I could have been photographing)  When I finally got ahold of you you told me to go straight to the church and not meet in the bridal suite. If I had been at the church the whole time, I could have taken photos of your family, but I was told to wait for you in a suite where no one was. when I got to the church hardly anyone was there.  they had left and gone to the lobby where there was AC, since the church was about a 20 minute walk from the enrance of this museum, in the 105 degree summer heat, and there was no AC, people were not too interested to show up and wait in a hot church for a bride no one knew was even showing up. So who was I to take photos of for you if no one was there?  I took photos of the poeple who were there in the moments I was there before you and your entire bridal party arrived.    When you did arrive, you had a horrible sunburn and tan lines from tubing the day before your wedding, and asked me if I could fix that.. which I did my best in your photos.  We had NO time to talk before hand because we had to rush straight into your wedding.  I was never told who anyone was, who not to take photos of, I just focused on you, your bridal party and your husband.    I do not talk about angles because I do not sit in one place the entire wedding, I walked around.  I got every key moment, entering, vows, kiss, rings,  signing certificate, bridal party during the wedding, laughing etc.. there is nothing missing in your "key moments".  You did not hire me to cover your reception.
    After your wedding, I worked from your shot list you gave me, as I wanted to make sure to get all the family groupings you desired.  I have my own list I do use, however, when brides give me one, I use theirs as I dont want to miss anything important to them.  I did not miss ONE image on your shot list. it was nearly 105 degrees the day of your wedding, between 1-3 pm in the middle of Arizona summer heat , the worst light possible for photos,and you wanted all your photos outside in no airconditioning, the children were cranky and I did my best to get them, but it was a general concensus of everyone that day that the children were tired, hot and not cooperating.  So we did not force them.
      When I worked with you and your husband, many of the locations you desired were closed and we could not get into.  Inside this Victorian house, we were not allowed to touch anything, there were barracades and ropes blocking all areas and it was SMALL tight poorly light space.  I got fantactic shots of you guys with what was given to me.  I did take you to areas I wanted to shoot that had better lighting and were more approriate for the time of day.

    As for your other claims.  I told you I would like to meet via phone, skype, etc.. you never set up a meeting and I NEVER cancelled any such meeting.  I never have cancelled any meeting on any bride. When we were done I told you that you were the end of wedding season and I would be gone all of June for family vacation, and I would edit upon my return. Your exact words were " no rush, I know this takes time, my sister is a photographer too."
    I do not accept money the day of the wedding, or after the wedding. That is in my contract and yet you paid the final balance due the day of your wedding.  In the contract, you breached our agreement by not paying 14 days in advance and according to the contract, I could have not shown.  If I had not responded to any of your e-mails and you were so unsure I was going to show, how would you have known that 1.) I would not accept payment after the fact, and 2.) that I agreed for you to bring it to the wedding the day of? I obvisouly did respond to your e-mails and you knew I was going to be there. Your preview was up 2 weeks after your wedding not 4-6 weeks as you indicate in your posts. Your final edits were done after I came back from my vacation in June that I had informed you about before we left your wedding.

    As for the quality of your photos and all I have ever been told is this following feedback :
    From the blog
    "
    Tricia - Thank you! The photos look wonderful! I sent the link around my office and I have been getting a lot of positive remarks! I can't wait to see the rest! Thanks, Tricia
    April - Ahhhh...I love them!! You totally captured Tricia and Michael's personalities. Amazing images!! They are going to treasure thes forever."

    and an e-mail from your sister:
    "
    where did you find us? :
    You shot my sister Tricia\'s wedding

    Tell us about your event :
    Hi Justine. I just saw the gallery of Tricia and Michael\'s wedding. You are AMAZING!! I can\'t tell you how happy I am with them.  I was so worried about having another photographer shoot the wedding, but you ROCKED theses images. I just wanted to tell you what a superstar photographer that you are!! Thanks again.

    April Bernd (Tricia\'s sister and bridesmaid)"

    So you can see where my confusion lays:   I am blown away that one would blatantly lie about the service I gave.  To be unhappy with photos is one thing, I understand that not everyone will love their photos.  There are many reasons for this, but most of the time is just a difference of taste or body image issues.  I do my best to give the best I can every time I go to work.  I know the day is probably a blur and you don't remember everything that happened during that day, but once you arrived, I had 2 hours with you to get to know you, shoot a ceremony, family shots, and bridal portraits. I did my absolute best and I am sorry that you felt unhappy with your photos.  I really wish you had spoken to me privately first, and that if you did decide to write something publically, you had been 100% truthful about the facts of the day. 
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