Free engagement photos not actually free

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.

Did he email you any pictures at all?

That is incredibly deceptive, but I am not surprised. Bridal show "giveaways" and "prizes" are usually scams.

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.

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.

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!

I have a very good photographer that had an actual free engagement session. If you are in the southeast texas area, let me know.

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.

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?

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.