Am I being too critical of our engagement photos?

Here are what I think are the key issues.

-You're self conscious about your hair. Not really the issue of the photographer

-Technical skills of the photographer are mediocre.

-The photos you posted, there's no magical connection between the two of you. It seems with a little direction, body language and posture could have made a difference. Not your fault there.

-The photographer overdelivered. You don't need 102 engagement photos, I think the ones you didn't like watered down the ones you did.

-Your expectations seem a bit unrealistic about what should be retouched. It's not a magic wand, you have to select sample points from the background and blend it in to fix the fly aways. I can see maybe doing that as a courtesy with a few of them, but 102? Cray cray to expect that. I think there the photographer should have had better quality control.

-Not all photographers, especially newer have Photoshop skills. I think a lot of them can't take the fact that no matter how much you learn about it, you don't know a damn thing. I've used it for 15 years, I have the skills I need. But no one ever masters that program. If they say they do, they're lying, so no gold star is too much for the eggshell ego.

-Pick a few, ask about the fly aways and basic adjustments, see how you feel then.

I like the ones where the sun is setting but if I enlarge the pics on my phone, I notice your hair is really frizzy. If you decide to retake epics get your hair professionally done.

I'm completely with @JoRocka. I assisted a photographer in college and watching the editing process is hours and hours and hours of tedious work. Editing *that* much hair flyaways would be a bit ridiculous to expect.

Our photographer actually turned the camera to show us shots when my hair started to get sweaty for my engagement shoot. When I basically told her that looked horrible she helped me twist and pin my hair into a low bun.

Also, I'd suggest asking for more direction with the posing. I don't want to hurt your feelings or be mean but you guys don't look like you are in love or crazy about each other (Celia posted great pix of what those pictures look like).

Hands in pockets and slouching, it says disconnect. I don't direct my couples once we are underway, I just give them some things to be mindful of and then I say little. Fly on the wall on their special day out. But those few tips going in do help.

Jay. Generally I think you give spectacular advice but I'd have to disagree here a wee bit. My husband loves me more than so nnay things. Chronic sloucher.

And so uncomfortable under the len's. My photographers advice was 'if you don't know what to do with your hands... Pockets'

So I don't necessarily agree that that's a hard and fast rule or always the case. It's just a different feel entirely.

I think this is a big part of it "I think the ones you didn't like watered down the ones you did".

I went back through ALL the photos and there are some good ones. I think having so many and having some that probably shouldn't be in there took away from the fact that there are a few really good photos!

I deleted out all the ones I wasn't happy with - I'm going to focus on the ones I am happy with. I'm working on designing our Save the Date now!

@JoRocka, I definitely get what you're saying. Also, you may look beautiful with no makeup or a certain style of makeup that doesn't always translate well in photos. Same with what I meant to say, perhaps not as effectively as I hoped. I know when I was with my last girlfriend, we could be out and about and we were not watching posture or hand placement, etc. But in photos, those details make a difference. I just think in this case with the photos posted, they lacked direction and there's a way to do it without directing throughout, even with those camera shy.

There ye go! This is why I believe in less is more when delivering, and cosmetic retouch is at my discretion. It may not hurt to ask the photographer to fix hair in a couple of your favs, or get permission to source it out, of course high resolution files.

I like the pics, but if you did pay a lot I can see why you would expect flawless pics. I don't blame you, but the pics are not bad! If you were this disappointed then I do think you should go w a different photographer. It sucks to lose $500 but I can almost guarantee that you won't be happy w the pics.

I agree with PPs that your hair isn't photographers problem, but in my unprofessional opinion the sun shouldn't be behind you in pictures. It will wash out and do what it's doing to your hair.

I'm not crazy about the first three but the next three are nice. I would probably go with a different photographer if it didn't mean losing so much money.

Backlit is a style, one I use a bit too. Either that or strong shadows on the face unless you have high powered strobes with you.

I have the same issues with my engagement pics! Our were in the middle of the summer (huge mistake). The heat and humidity was off the chain. You can see fly aways in a few pics, thankfully not many.

Thank god im a winter bride, no insane humidity!!

For mine she sent us around 100 unedited proofs and we picked which ones we wanted edited. Before editing i hated the way they looked but the edited photos look amazing.

Hearing this discussion makes me glad I don't share unfinished proofs.

I don't think they're bad, but I see what you're saying. I think they're just okay - like a friend with a professional camera could have taken them. They don't seem "professionally" posed or edited to me. If you and FH are both OK with forfeiting the deposit, I'd find a photographer to better suit your wants/needs!

Also, girl I feel you in the flyaways. This was one thing that also annoyed me in my e-pics #frizzyhairproblems

First let me start off by saying you are really pretty. The pictures to me are not that bad! I do believe if you don't like these photos that much I would get my money back or take the deposit as a lost. find someone else because you don't won't to feel this same way when it comes to your wedding photos. Overall I believe the pictures are great and I wouldn't change photographers but of course your choice!

From the point of view of someone who uses Photoshop often, I can tell you it isn't easy to Photoshop flyaways out. However, I think your photographer could have showed you the photo so you could critique and maybe try to fix your hair for the other photos. If you decide to re-do them, have some argan oil and hairspray on hand to weigh down the flyaways. But honestly, I don't think they're that big of a deal.

The question becomes does your stray hairs always fly away like that? If it does why are you trying to change who you are? Are you going to expect him to tame your untamable hair always? You're over thinking. There is nothing wrong with these pictures

I really don’t think they’re bad. I see tons of flyaways in people’s pictures all the time. That’s life with hair.