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why starting out photographers make me skeptical, nervous and angry

Sweet LorraineSweet Lorraine member
First Comment
in Wedding Photography and Videography Forum
sorry this is long
I had a great photographer but after planning and a postponement there were some other things I wanted that were rather costly.
So I checked my contract and found I could cancel and possibly get a partial refund.
I spoke to my photog and was up front with them about why I wanted to cancel.
They were much more understanding than I expected and said if he could re-book he would refund my money. Well they did re-book and I got a refund.
Then I hired someone who had done a few weddings and looked like they could do a good job.
On the wedding day we stood around waiting for them to decide what to do next or ask me what I wanted. I thought they would know what to do.
The pictures? Well most are to dark or light, or the color is off, or it's blurred or just plain bad.
I have cried about this so many times and it's taken me a year to try and do something.
I have looked for people that can fix them and many say they can't or are very expensive.
My original photographer advertises on their site that they fix bad wedding photos but I couldn't bring myself to face him. So my mother in-law took the disk of photos in to him to see what he could do. He did not say to her that he knew me in the photos. We really only met twice but had spoken over the phone many times.
His prices are more reasonable but still twice what I paid the second photographer. He did fix a photo and gave my MIL a low res copy. It's beautiful. But, he will not do the work until he can speak directly with the bride and groom. He says he must have their approval of the changes because working working through a 3rd party causes problems.
It's so embarrassing.
Unless I can find a better alternative I'll probably do it but I just want people to know that you should do all you can to have an experienced photographer on your wedding day.
There is so much more to it than taking pictures and you don't get a do-over.
It's easy to talk a good game so ask to see many many photos and albums.
Those $795 - $995 deals are not deals at all.
Thank for letting me vent/cry a little.
If someone has a better idea I am all ears.
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Re: why starting out photographers make me skeptical, nervous and angry

  • atomicphotoatomicphoto member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_photos-video_why-starting-out-photographers-make-me-skeptical-nervous-and-angry?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:30Discussion:9534ae0b-6ad4-4755-9901-380bb3c45de3Post:8daa071a-b730-4c1d-8f1f-99bfbfb39709">Re: why starting out photographers make me skeptical, nervous and angry</a>:
    [QUOTE]cmcca, vendors are not allowed to post on the boards.
    Posted by LucyHC[/QUOTE]

    <div>Actually, vendors are not allowed to "self promote/advertise"... posting answers or advise just like any other knottie is allowed. </div>
    Report Reply
  • MrsKathyCMrsKathyC
    1000 Comments First Anniversary
    edited June 2012
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_photos-video_why-starting-out-photographers-make-me-skeptical-nervous-and-angry?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:30Discussion:9534ae0b-6ad4-4755-9901-380bb3c45de3Post:d82d67bb-0e59-44c9-a09a-1aaac49e12ad">why starting out photographers make me skeptical, nervous and angry</a>:
    [QUOTE]sorry this is long I had a great photographer but after planning and a postponement there were some other things I wanted that were rather costly. So I checked my contract and found I could cancel and possibly get a partial refund. I spoke to my photog and was up front with them about why I wanted to cancel. They were much more understanding than I expected and said if he could re-book he would refund my money. Well they did re-book and I got a refund. Then I hired someone who had done a few weddings and looked like they could do a good job.<strong><u> On the wedding day we stood around waiting for them to decide what to do next or ask me what I wanted. I thought they would know what to do.</u></strong> The pictures? Well most are to dark or light, or the color is off, or it's blurred or just plain bad. I have cried about this so many times and it's taken me a year to try and do something. I have looked for people that can fix them and many say they can't or are very expensive. My original photographer advertises on their site that they fix bad wedding photos but I couldn't bring myself to face him. So my mother in-law took the disk of photos in to him to see what he could do. He did not say to her that he knew me in the photos. We really only met twice but had spoken over the phone many times. His prices are more reasonable but still twice what I paid the second photographer. He did fix a photo and gave my MIL a low res copy. It's beautiful. But, he will not do the work until he can speak directly with the bride and groom. He says he must have their approval of the changes because working working through a 3rd party causes problems. It's so embarrassing. Unless I can find a better alternative I'll probably do it but I just want people to know that you should do all you can to have an experienced photographer on your wedding day. There is so much more to it than taking pictures and you don't get a do-over. It's easy to talk a good game so ask to see many many photos and albums. Those $795 - $995 deals are not deals at all. Thank for letting me vent/cry a little. If someone has a better idea I am all ears.
    Posted by Sweet Lorraine[/QUOTE]

    I feel your pain. I too went with a photographer that was just starting out. I had seen pictures of her previous work and they were good. But on our wedding day she put out no effort at all!  No posing, no suggestions, no nothing!  I think that is what is still bothering me 9 months later, that she put the effort into her other weddings but not ours!!!!
    Anniversary
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  • USER876USER876
    1000 Comments
    I am surprised the subject of copyright has not surfaced.  ANY professional or ANY real professional will not touch those images without a full copyright release which  I am 99.99999999999999999% sure you don't have.  You cannot modify your photographers images unless you have explicit permission and another professional would be stupid to do this.  This is probably why your original photographer wants to speak with you to see if such a copyright release (not to be confused with a print release) is in your posession.
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  • Sweet LorraineSweet Lorraine member
    First Comment
    Actually, before my MIL went in she did call and he did say that he would have to have a release giving him permission to fix the photos. In fact he insisted that the release be for him and nobody else to work on the photos and have permission to charge for the work with no royalty paid to the actual photographer. I had no idea all of this could be so complicated.


    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_photos-video_why-starting-out-photographers-make-me-skeptical-nervous-and-angry?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:30Discussion:9534ae0b-6ad4-4755-9901-380bb3c45de3Post:7d2eb3d2-23c6-4727-ab6d-e8a478df1493">Re: why starting out photographers make me skeptical, nervous and angry</a>:
    [QUOTE]I am surprised the subject of copyright has not surfaced.  ANY professional or ANY real professional will not touch those images without a full copyright release which  I am 99.99999999999999999% sure you don't have.  You cannot modify your photographers images unless you have explicit permission and another professional would be stupid to do this.  This is probably why your original photographer wants to speak with you to see if such a copyright release (not to be confused with a print release) is in your posession.
    Posted by USER876[/QUOTE]
    Report Reply
  • planingweddinggirlplaningweddinggirl
    10 Comments
    Oh nooooooo how heart breaking! I'm sorry to hear that you have to go through all this. Hopefully you'll be able to get those pictures fixed!
    Report Reply
  • abbitha7abbitha7 member
    100 Comments
    edited June 2012
    Yes, please be careful. Also be wary of new photogs charging a lot for wedding photos. If they are just starting/have done no weddings, they should not be attempting to charge thousands of dollars for photos.
    Report Reply
  • OlivierDOlivierD member
    First Comment
    Well the problem is not "just starting" or not, the problem is quality of photos. Its a heartbreaking story but any bride MUST look at the pictures, not only the price. Set a price range and look at the photographers portfolio, how they handle things, because what you care is the end result, the photos themselves. 
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