Wedding Argh...flaky photog...

[goldenstar]

Three weeks ago our photog promised to send us digital images of our engagement pics because I wanted to put them on our wedding website. She said it would be done the next day, but three weeks later I still don''t have them. I called and left a message this Weds. Her assistant (also her husband) called me back and said that the pics were emailed "yesterday" and that it might have gone into my spam file. I check and delete my spam daily so I know this was not the case. I politely asked him to send them again and he said he would do it tomorrow. Tomorrow was yesterday.

I don''t want to be rude or a pest, but I''m really in need of these pics. The photog is a lovely and talented woman, albeit flaky. I''m starting to get impatient because this is not the first time she''s been nonresponsive. I really want to maintain a good relationship with her because she''s booked for our wedding and it would be awkward if there were tension of any sort.

I realize that its wedding season and she''s probably very busy. But she does have support staff and I made my first request for the pics over a month ago (three weeks ago was my second or third request). I don''t think its reasonable that I''m still waiting for them.

How long should I wait before I contact her again? Maybe I''m being too nice, but I don''t want to be "that bride" that calls everyday and demands things. Maybe I should wait until midweek next week to give her a chance to send them out?

I just don''t like when people say they''re going to do something and don''t follow through. If they weren''t going to send them the next day, they really shouldn''t have made the promise.

(That was quite a vent for such a minor issue, but my patience is hanging by a thread at this point. Its been stewing for a while.)

 

[Sabine]

I agree that this is unacceptable, and I would keep contacting them every day (although still politely) until you get the pics.

 

[oobiecoo]

This is how things started out with my photographer before getting VERY VERY bad. I''m not saying she''ll do the same thing that my photographer did to me, but its possible. If she''s flaky now, what about at the wedding? Or after the wedding? I think you need to meet with her and discuss this OR call and ask when is a good time for you to come by a pick up a disc with the pictures. That way they can''t give you the runaround about them being emailed already. So sorry you''re going through this! There seem to be so many dishonest or flaky photogs out there!

 

[buttercup80]

Date: 6/27/2008 9:11:06 PM
Author:goldenstar
I just don''t like when people say they''re going to do something and don''t follow through. If they weren''t going to send them the next day, they really shouldn''t have made the promise.

I''m going through a few similar situations and I feel the exact - I don''t mind waiting for something if you tell me what''s going on, but don''t tell me one thing and do another!

 

[surfgirl]

GS, if it's like this for your engagement photos, do you think it will be different for your wedding photos? For comparison, my photog sent me a selection of about 5 of the best photos within 72 hours after our wedding because she knew that upon arrival back home I would need to choose one for our wedding announcements which had to go out within two weeks because I was going out of the country for over a month. She got us the photos, which were waiting for us before we got home. She hit every deadline except the book, which we changed a few things on and weren't in a hurry over anyway.

If you've not paid her yet, I'd get another photog, there's plenty out there! Do you really want someone who's non responsive to be in charge of your wedding photos?

 

[goldenstar]

Surfgirl,

We''ve already paid her for the e-pics and $1,500 as a deposit for the wedding. I don''t expect things to change for the wedding. As flaky as she is, I do trust her. I don''t doubt that she''s going to deliver. She has a good reputation otherwise and a lot of connections so I highly doubt she''s going to completely drop the ball. She has been around for a while and has too much to lose.

Her slowness does grate on my nerves sometimes but overall her shortcomings are minor. I''m willing to accept that because I''m super picky and her style has been the only one that I''ve liked. I know I deserve better service but her work product is worth the hassle to me. If I truly did have a strict timeline you can bet I would be calling her every day.

With that said...

I received the pictures! Finally. I''ll post a few in a separate thread. Thanks everyone for listening to me vent.

 

[goldenstar]

hmmm...now that I think about it I guess I can''t really complain because I''m sorta choosing to work with her despite her shortcomings (although with the deposit and everything I''m stuck anyway). I just have to be less of a pushover with her. I think that would help a lot.

 

[bee*]

I was thinking the same as surfgirl but if you''ve already paid her a good bit, then I''d stay with her. It would really annoy me if it took that long to get them sent to me though.