Horrible Photographer

I would leave an honest review and move on.

Also, allow vendors to comment. There are several photographers that can offer good insight too, and they can't advertise.

Ok, thanks for the advice. I opened it to vendors. No the deposit was not that much. Just sucks I got very few usable pics the rest I'll have to try to fix in Photoshop.

Put paging Jay and Rachel (I think!) in your title. They may have some ideas for you!

Saying anything further to the photographer won't get you anything. However, leave clear, honest reviews on WW, The Knot and Yelp so this doesn't happen to anyone else.

So sorry you are going through this - what a bummer.

Yes leave the emotion out of your reviews. Make it factual.

"The photographer appeared sick but didn't say anything to anyone. She stopped directing photos. When we spoke with her about these issues, she gave us a refund less the deposit. When pictures were returned, they had X,Y,Z issues."

Yes it's awful, and it's sad that you don't have more useable photos but you've done everyone here a favor (even if that is cold comfort at this point) If a service is so inexpensive it's not worth pursuing a refund, it's probably not a good choice for a singular day of your life.

Leave a factual, unemotional review. Dig out your contract for her; vendors can dispute reviews here, but if you prove that you worked with us, those reviews will stand (I'm not sure about the knot, honestly.) Yelp, at least to me, is less of a resource because those reviews are not vetted at all. If you choose to go that route too, make sure you put in enough details to make it clear you actually did work with the person.

Possibly some of your guests took some shots that are salvageable?

Your husband is right. If you've already receieved the majority of your money back, the problem has been rectified. Saying anything else won't do anything but allow you to vent. Problem has been solved. Honest review only.

@celia milton, yea it was a risk but we were on a tight budget and her protfolio and additional images she showed us were really nice. My family did get a lot better shots so I'm fine with those. Appreciate the help and advice everyone

I mean, it's unfortunate and you can't unring a bell...but I think if she took that much ownership in the situation and you leave an honest and non-emotional review, consider it a lesson learned. It's an unfortunate part of life people get sick, was it a flu bug sort of sick or she partied the night before sick? This is one sad ending, a lot of the time people think they found this amazing deal on a photographer and it's not so good after I'm sorry this happened, but after the fact, there isn't much else that can be done. Hire a great photographer for a couples shoot and maybe include any local family, as some sort of consolation.

Thanks @bemyguest

Lol @alana g, i think that's all I wanna do at this point is vent. I will just leave a review (non emotional review)

I would get everyone together in their wedding attire and take a few formals just to have nice photos. I also found a photographer on WW with very good reviews and low price so this thread makes me a little worried....

@jay farrell, I think it was the heat. It was about 90 and a lot of ppl got sick that day, including me. Got a couple nurses in my family that helped her and constantly kept checking on her throughout the day.

Oh....well....yea. It's part of a wedding photographer's job to have the endurance and know how to take proper care of themselves, I have done them even hotter and it sucked....but that hot, climate controlled is best. Part of it falls back on hosting. But if she drank water and had a wet towel on her head or neck, not sure why she couldn't truck on for a while unless she had a different medical condition or is very sensitive to the heat.

And this is a good reason not to unplug your wedding...

I'm sorry to hear about your photos but why wasn't this indoors? That's pretty bad if you and "a lot" of your guests were getting sick.

I mean, what else can you do? You can't make those pictures appear. It is what it is. You got most of your money back. Leave an honest review and move forward. I'm sorry that's what you have to remember you wedding day.

@Emily, the ceremony is usually the unplugged part.

I'm sorry that really sux cuz you can't even redo those moments...I'd leave the honest review and post on FB what happened and see if your guest could get you a copy of some they took and hopefully you can get something to blow up and keep... again?so sorry but congratulations on being a Mrs.

'A family member took over her job and at several points in the day had her camera'

Seriously? What professional photographer would allow this?

How much did you pay?