Wedding Problem photographer

[rockzilla]

Anyone have any strategies for dealing with a problem photographer who all of a sudden gets "very busy" after the wedding (and after they have your $) and delays and delays in putting together your album?

I feel especially bad, since I recommended this photog to a friend (based on a recommendation from another friend). The photos were beautiful, but now both girls are finding he is not responsive at all (one wedding was in July 2006, the other was in May 2007) It also doesn''t help that he has moved across the country, and while he still offers wedding photography, is turning more of his business into consulting/training other wedding photogs (he has a blog telling them how to get more $ out of brides...which he really should have made more hidden from prospective clients in my opinion!)

My friend really wants her pictures at the very least (promised on the 1 year wedding anniversary). It just seems like there is little to no recourse for this, especially since he is holding the photos "hostage" and already has their $.

I feel guilty and mad - I''ve told them to trash him on message boards/reviews, but only after they have their photos.

 

[musey]

Oh goodness...

This is terrible. I don't know if your friend(s) would be willing to go this far, but perhaps threaten to report him to the BBB? It has been TOO LONG. Personally, I'd want to write negative reviews all over the place about the guy, but then I'd be afraid that my chances of getting the photos would be lessened even more.

Is there anything in their contract(s) about the time frame for completion of the albums, or even the negatives? At this point, I would accept the negatives and make my own album!!

 

[neatfreak]

Your friends could take him to small claims court if he violated the contract.

 

[oobiecoo]

Oh dear... my photographer gave me problems before the wedding.... but he has a LOT of angry brides who he showed up for their weddings but its been a while and they still haven''t recieved their pictures. I''d recommend filing with the BBB first and see if that works. If not, let him know you (your friend, really) will see him in court.

 

[Vote4PedroToo]

I would either take him/her to small claims, or I would pay to have a lawyer write a letter. I think the letter might do the trick.

Lots of photographers are like this. For future brides, I would recommend negotiating with the photographer that there will be a final payment (mabye 25%, I dunno) paid when the prints and album are delivered. So many photographers are really bad on the back end like this because they get their money upfront. It''s easy to be less motivated that way.

 

[bee*]

Date: 5/29/2008 7:20:58 PM
Author: Vote4PedroToo
I would either take him/her to small claims, or I would pay to have a lawyer write a letter. I think the letter might do the trick.


Lots of photographers are like this. For future brides, I would recommend negotiating with the photographer that there will be a final payment (mabye 25%, I dunno) paid when the prints and album are delivered. So many photographers are really bad on the back end like this because they get their money upfront. It''s easy to be less motivated that way.

ditto. A year is way too long for him not to produce their photos. I''d say that a lawyers letter might do the trick.