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Expert September 2019

Free engagement photos not actually free

DuttonSandersWedding, on June 5, 2018 at 1:16 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 16

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Hey guys,
So back in January my fiance and I won a free Engagement photo shoot at a bridal show from a rather expensive (in my opinion) photographer and we were psyched to be able to get photos from him for free. Fast forward to May and we get the photos taken and its all lovely and fine. Well today I just set up the appointment to go over and look at the edited photos. I thought, and I must have been wrong about this that because we won the free engagement session that the photos on a disc would be included in that. Apparently I was wrong becuae he just sent me an email with his product pricing and to just get the pics on a disc (because I only want to use them for facebook and our STDs) he wants $599!! Am I the only one who would have thought that the photos on a disc would be included in that free giveaway? I'm not askimg for one of those nice ass photo books for free or anything.
I'm just extremely irritated by this and I feel like I wasted not only my time but his as well becaue I never planned on buying anything from him. I dont know what to do now. The appointment is on Saturday.

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16 Comments

Latest activity by Mrs. Araj, on June 6, 2018 at 9:05 AM

Champion November 2016
LB · on June 5, 2018 at 1:21 PM
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Was there wording in the prize that said what was included? Maybe you just glazed over it.
I think this comes down to nothing in life is free. These "giveaways" are really just ways for vendors to drum up business.
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Beginner August 2018
Corinn · on June 5, 2018 at 1:22 PM
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That's very deceptive, but not super shocking. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this situation! I would let him know your concerns, and if he won't budge on price, thank him and find someone else to take another set of pictures. I have a photographer friend who did ours for $150!
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Devoted September 2016
MrsBlah · on June 5, 2018 at 1:26 PM
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Did he email you any pictures at all?
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Expert September 2019
DuttonSandersWedding · on June 5, 2018 at 1:28 PM
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The paper work doesn't mention anything about the photos so its my fault I guess for not realising sooner. The photographer we hired has a free 30 min session for engagement photos in our package but i told him we wouldnt need it because we had won the free ones from this other guy. I just don't want to have to take the time to schedule another shoot. It was hard enough finding a time that worked for me and my fiance since we work different schedules.
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Expert September 2019
DuttonSandersWedding · on June 5, 2018 at 1:28 PM
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No I haven't seen any proofs yet.
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VIP January 2019
NVV2B · on June 5, 2018 at 1:47 PM
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That is incredibly deceptive, but I am not surprised. Bridal show "giveaways" and "prizes" are usually scams.
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Expert April 2019
lilchameleon · on June 5, 2018 at 1:47 PM
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I’m kind of shocked photos still come on a disc. I haven’t heard of that in almost a decade. I would expect maybe a couple free 5x7’s from a free session, but no, I would not expect all the digitals.
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Super May 2019
c · on June 5, 2018 at 1:52 PM
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If the giveaway said "free engagement photo session," I wouldn't except pictures to be included for free. If it said "free engagement photo session package," then yes I'd absolutely expect a little something something in the way of pictures.
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July 1993
WED18 · on June 5, 2018 at 1:59 PM
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It's deceptive but that's how all of those "free" things you "win" at shows are. You received the photo session for free, as in the photo shoot but not actually any photos. I'm sorry you wasted your time with them.
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Legend July 2019
MrsD · on June 5, 2018 at 2:08 PM
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Unfortunately, I've heard this is common for pictures that are "won" for engagement or boudoir shoots. It's really not in the photographers best interest to do anything for free, so they probably assume people will pay for the photos since they already took them! I'm sorry!
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Super October 2018
MrsJackson · on June 5, 2018 at 2:13 PM
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I have a very good photographer that had an actual free engagement session. If you are in the southeast texas area, let me know.
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Super November 2018
Kiwibride · on June 5, 2018 at 2:22 PM
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This is pretty standard for this sort of thing. They give away a free shoot and then hope to make some money back if you like the pictures. I'd just buy a couple of your favourites if they're priced reasonably so you have what you need
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Expert September 2019
DuttonSandersWedding · on June 5, 2018 at 3:22 PM
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If not a disc then like a flash drive or something. And yeah all of the pics is probably getting greedy but I expected at least something even if it was only a handful because honestly that's all I need is like 5 good ones ya know.
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Dedicated November 2014
Mandy · on June 5, 2018 at 3:32 PM
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When you go look at the photos I'd be VERY clear that you have no intention of paying $599 for the full set of digital photos, but since you don't want to see either of your time wasted you'd be happy to buy some individual photos, even unedited photos, that he can just email you. See what he says. Hopefully you can get a photo for $20, or 5 for $100 or something like that.
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Beginner September 2018
Kay · on June 5, 2018 at 3:38 PM
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I wouldn't waste either of your time. Just be honest, and say "Unfortunately I will be canceling our appointment. I was under the impression that this session would include prints as well as the shoot. We already have a photographer that is willing to include XY and Z in our already paid for package." and move on.
I know someone above mentioned they wouldn't have assumed prints would come with this shoot -- I disagree. I would expect that he would be giving you at least a handful of the pictures. What else do you want your pictures taken for ? What did you even "win", if not?
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Expert August 2018
Mrs. Araj · on June 6, 2018 at 9:05 AM
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I actually had the same thing happen. I won a "free" engagement photo session at a bridal show and was so excited to get it all set up and get pictures taken. We weren't planning on taking engagement pictures, but since these were free we decided why not. Well my FH actually picked up on the deception. When we were talking to the photographer to set up the photo shoot he had me ask how many pictures it included. That's when she told us that the pictures would range from $199-$1400 depending on how many pictures we wanted. So 1 picture was $199!!!!! I immediately told her no way and we didn't have our pictures taken. If I were you, I would cancel the meeting with the photographer and have the 30 min session with your wedding photographer. Yes is will be a pain to schedule another shoot, but in the end it is better to get comfortable with your photographer before the wedding anyway.
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