I had a recent experience with 'Photography by Vinod' that was to summarize not very pleasant. I had hired Vinod in June for my 2-day September weeding. Upon first seeing VIndod's website and speaking with Shaila, I was pleased with my decision and had no concerns they would do an excellent job for my wedding. I spoke with her and was again encouraged they would be doing both my wedding and video session. The total package for the two day event was a little high ($7000), but holding wedding memories are priceless.
Unfortunately, we weren't from Atlanta and did not have refferals to with except what we found on their website, shadi magazine, and comments from their website. We were still excited, and my fiancée and I drove the 6 hours to meet and greet him at his in studio photography store and again, very nice and pleasant individuals. We ended up scheduling our wedding e-shoot for the following month (July 17th) and again encouraged we had chosen the right photographer.
We made a decision, several weeks before the day to come a day early and stay in Atlanta since our e-shoot was on a Sunday morning and did not want to look tired and exhausted in our pictures. As you can image, 1.5 months prior to the wedding things are very hectic and chaotic so we were at the peak of our stress level. Well, the Sunday morning the 17th rolls around and we had an appointment at 10AM with Vinod. We were told to me him at his photography studio. This was the beginning of things turning for the worst. When we spoke to Vinod during our first meeting, he mentioned we would take possibly take pictures at a park and we had our hotel near Olympic park in downtown Atlanta. We thought, let's call VInod and see if he wants to me us there vs meeting at his studio first. We started trying to get in touch with Vinod at 8:30am. Unfortunately we weren't able to reach him at his cell, Shaila's cell, or the studio, but did leave messages. We decided, since he's scheduled us for 10AM at his studio, let's just head over there. Whe we arrived at his studio at 10AM, we were surprised to see it closed. We came with our best friends to make the trip with us that weekend, and between the four of us we called well over 35 times until we finally reached Shaila's cell She was surprised to hear my voice and completely blew the meeting and thought was scheduled the following week.
We were stressed and frustrated, but we wanted to make the most of it even though we were starting 2 hours later for our shoot and knowing we drove 6 hrs the day before to make the trip we were to say the least not happy.
Well, when we started our photoshoot, we went to a park for about 3 hours and took a number of pictures. We planned to change into a number of outfits, but spend the entire shoot wearing one set of clothes. We were doing various poses in different setting and did like the varoius background scenaries so we thought these pictures will come out great. After the 3 hour shoot we went back to his studio and took 'formal' pictures with my wife being in a sari and myself in a suit.
As Vinod was uploading the pictures, we asked when will we receive the 'edited' pictures to choose from in order to create our guest signing book. He mentioned he could give us the 'negatives' now and based on that he would 'edit' them and give them back.
We did get the negatives that day and when we drove back home (6 hrs later) and took a look at the pictures, we were in a state of shock!! Having the understanding these were negatives we couldn't even 'choose' the ones for him to edit, because the quality was extremely poor! The pictures had us in akward facial expressions, couldn't make ourselves b/c the pictures were taken in areas that was shadowed.
The very next day, I called Vinod and told him that we were extremely disappointed with the quality and couldn't use any of the pictures. He explained to me these were 'unedited' and I said, even so, no magical editing could do justice to these pictures from what our expectations were. He did offer to make make 'edits' to a sample of pictures (about 6) and uploaded them on Facebook for me to see. I told him that day, even with the edit, we weren't pleased with the quality and value and were going a different route. I mentioned, I understand you took time out of your day to do the e-shoot and would pay for it, but excepted the majority of my initial deposit ($2200) to be returned. He said he needed to speak to his wife and account and would get back to me. Well, 1.5 months before my wedding, I had to start all over to find a new photographer and videographer.
In the end, I did find an excellent team to do my wedding event, but never did receive any of the $2200 deposit I made to Vinod. I tried to reason with him and his wife understanding I made a committment by giving him a deposit (eventhough I never signed a contract), but they never fulfilled their committment of providing quality and confidence a couple seeks when going through one of the most stressful times - planning an Indian wedding. I made call after call, leaving messages, and finally reaching them by blocking my number. Vindod agreed to refund partial deposit of $1000 of the $2200, but again, I have never received any of it. When I explained why I was going with a different photographer, I explained I don't have confidence and felt the quality was very poor. The response I received was, "I was the first to ever complain and they apologized for not remembering the appointment, but defended it by stating, "These things happen." I don't expect at this point to receive any of the initial deposit, but I share my story in hopes nobody goes through what I went through. Wedding planning is a very stressful time and offer a few suggessions,
Plan ahead.
You get what you pay for.
Know the work before committing a dime, b/c once they have it, you won't see ever see it again.
Good luck with your wedding planning!
Unfortunately, I did not have any refererals to go with except what I found on websites and comment feedback from their website.
