I need to express my frustration ABOUT MY PRO PHOTOS

Again, thank you HiH. That is, actually why I gave him the list. Yes, there are some very obvious ones and no, I didn't expect all 95 to be taken. I did hope it would all get done but I knew something would be left out. He is a great photographer and he really was capable of getting all 95. I know I didn't have to include the dances on my list but I did because he isn't a regular professional wedding photographer. I wanted to help him to know what was "typical" as well as what I wanted.

And as I have said, I didn't hire a regular professional photographer because we couldn't. If we had the money, we would have. I do wish we could have but we couldn't. And everyone's money situation is different, I know MOST people are paying for their weddings themselves but I'm sure you make more than us. We HAD to keep our budget under $3,000 and we were able to do that because we literally couldn't go over. We got most things for free, like the venue and the videographer because we couldn't afford a regular venue or videographer. So, yes, I do blame money. I wasn't going to start a fund for my wedding nor was I going to take out a loan. We had what was available and that was it. I knew my wedding would be "cheap" but I expected to get more from the photographer than I did. And if anyone actually read through the list you would be able to see that, as HiH said, it's very standard. I based my list off of what I found on photographer sites. I gave him 95 shots of photos that most people would want. No, not all of them are necessary but many of them are.

I'm kinda curious to know what the other 300+ photos were of if he got so little of your list. Like surely he got the first dance etc. That's basic stuff right there! You must have some good photos out of that 300+.

That's a pretty long list, and hey newlywed, don't get petty and from me to you, its too early to be SO cranky!

H and his groomsmen didn't have a group too. So much could go wrong on your biggest/most important day but hey, what's the biggest deal?? You married your better half and both of you are alive and well!

This case is dismissed :\

ETA: not to be insensitive, but you could redo your wedding on your anniversary. Maybe also teach other people to wait and save up for a WEDDING sucks but that's like buying a house *sorry*

Exactly @From Mi to Mo, I think you are perfectly justified in giving that list. When I was starting out in photography I researched my own lists like this, if a bride/groom gave me that list in advance I would have been thrilled! Someone who hasn't done wedding photography wouldn't know it's standard to have a dress hanging on the hanger. Your list was definitely not outrageous, your photographer should have been paying more attention.

When my FH and I started photography we actually bought this $300 tutorial video series on wedding photography that was put together by a well recognized photo company. One of the things it said is to make sure the bride provides a list of formals and then bring that list and read it off as you're doing pictures. It sounds like your photographer didn't even bother to look at the list which is very upsetting and unprofessional. They should have been reading it out because a bride and groom will not remember all the combos that day. It really shouldn't have been hard to say "Okay bride with aunt" *click* "Okay now bride with uncle" *click click*.

If I were you, I would bring it up with your photographer and tell them how disappointed you were that you went through and got less than half of what you asked for. Ask for either some sort of reimbursement or if it's possible I would even consider going and getting some of the important shots again for free. But I'm guessing you can't get your bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc all together again and then to have to get hair and makeup, it just would cost a lot and wouldn't be the same. So I would say something to your photographer. I really don't think he delivered a professional quality in his product.

@Nicola...Yes, there are some good ones. 1-14 are ceremony.reception decoration (he did take those before the ceremony); 15-21 are of guests sitting before the ceremony 22; is my husbands interview with the videographer; 23-27 pictures of me and the girls before we went out to the ceremony; 30-96 and 344-349 are of the ceremony; 97-214 are pictures after the ceremony (which was almost 120 minutes because we ended the ceremony early); 215-217 are signing the license; 218-226 are BP entrance into the reception; 227-231 are our first dance; 232-237 are me and my uncle dancing; 238-270 are pictures of us with guests at each table (because food was late); 271-278 are toasts; 279-282 are mother/son dance; 283-292 are cake and cake cutting; 293-309 is dancing and more decor; 310-318 are later and bouquet tosses; 319-326 are dancing and random stuff. 327-343 are just my husband and I and us "leaving" the reception.

Yes, there are a lot and I'm happy about it and he did take some I wouldn't have thought about but he still could have taken more than I wanted :/ And yes, it's all over and I have "no reason or right to complain because it's my fault" but I'm not you so yes, I'm upset.

@HiH, We are thinking about just doing some of the ones he missed. A friend did my hair for a low price and I've talked to most of the BP and they're down to doing it. Some of the ones (like 1-14) I am taking myself anyway. But the ones with my family I can't redo because my aunt and uncle live in Idaho and I'm 18 hours away...and we can't take pictures of him and his grandma because she lives in Mexico and this was the first time she has been here in years :/

How many hours did you have your photographer for? For an 8 hour wedding, my FH and I take maybe about 2500 photos between the two of us, we capture literally every little thing we can and take multiple shots to make sure we get the best expressions etc. In the end we deliver about 1000 pictures. However, I'm the second shooter so my FH probably took about 700 of those. So by that logic, you could have gotten about 700 photos for 8 hours. If it was like 5 hours of photography maybe more like 500 pictures. In any case, I think there was plenty of room to get those extra pictures you asked for.

Also, don't blame yourself, it is not your fault. You went with what you could afford, you tried to help as much as possible so you could get the product you wanted, and that's as much as you could have done. Sure you could have lowered your expectations or waited longer to get married to save up for a better photographer but that's unrealistic and shouldn't be necessary.

I'm just really sorry for this, I feel so sad when I hear these kinds of stories, makes me wish I could have been there to save the day! With our photography we believe you shouldn't have to pay a huge amount to get good photos. This is why it isn't our primary job, we wouldn't want to live off of just photography income but we care enough to make our client feel like we're full time. Budget couples should get good photos too.

I haven't even started to think of pictures I want. The main reason is because I trust my photographers to get the important shots- like getting ready for example. That is usually a picture of your dress, the Bms dresses, you finishing up make up and hair, you getting into your dress. So, when and if I make a list it will probably be very short and pictures that are silly and not normally shot. I would never give a list of photos that long. Like you said you get what you pay for, so if photos were really that important to you why not have chosen a later date to save up to make sure you can afford to hire the pro photographer? I don't mean to sound rude, but your list was very intense. The silly/goofy pics I mean yes, they sound fun, but I wouldn't be upset if I hired a photographer that wasn't experienced because it would be a huge risk I was taking. You blame money? You should blame planning your wedding to soon. I think perhaps your photographer was so busy just trying to capture the pictures he did to look at your list. If even yourself forgot what was on the list the day of because you had a lot going on and you say they were extremely important, just think about the photographer? IMO if I were in your situation I would have took it upon myself to remember the list (since you say the were VERY IMPORTANT) or even have a copy with your or your MOH to remind yourself to ask your photographer if he was capturing them- even that would seem like a little pushy though on top of your list. I am sorry you didn't get your pictures, but I honestly think you should have waited to plan your wedding if pictures were really important to you because we all know good photographers don't come cheap. Or maybe even cut down your guest list? I wouldn't blame money or your photographer. I would simply blame planning to soon. Some people save/plan for a couple years before planning just to make sure they get everything they want.

Yeah portraits should have been done but seriously, if a bride gave me this as her 'shots list' it would be a huge red flag and I'd be kind of put off. And an hour isn't that long for one person to be running around trying to coral guests and family members.

Also, have you asked if he got those shots bc it could be that the photos didn't turn out as people had eyes shut or weird expressions, etc.

The wedding started at 2 and he was there almost 2 hours early, he left after the end (about 7pm). He gave me everything he had taken (literally all of them...they are unedited which I don't mind because my MOH is a photographer and she has photo editing equipment) he only took the amount he gave me. There were no photos he kept (I got all the dark ones and the ones with people who had blinked, as well).

Also, 50-100 photos per hour for a wedding is standard so I don't think he necessarily delivered too few however most photogs I know deliver 75-100 per hour on average.

If 50-100 is "standard" and I got less than 400 for my entire day (over 6 hours) then sure...but I was till expecting more

Sorry Mi to Mo - i totally get not being able to afford to spend a lot on your wedding and i dont blame you for using a novice. I would expect a pro- photographer to get the shots on your list, but considering you said this guy had not shot a full wedding and that you had to give him a list with basic shots ( he should have been capable of putting a lot of those things on his own personal list to take without you telling him) you should have had lower expectations. Honestly weddings are hectic and overwhelming and i am impressed that he even got the number of shots that he did.

be happy with what you got, and if you really feel like it give him constructive criticism because he would probably want to know what he needs to improve on. At this point there is nothing you can do about the missing shots. guaranteed he took way more and the photos are the best ones and you wouldn't want the ones that he edited out anyway (that's my thoughts on why you got less than what the PRO averagely deliver). as you said you get what you pay, he was not a pro. you knew that, you should not have expected him to deliver pro - photographer results, that's just not fair to him nor you.

I have 12 pictures on my list. What's the need for soooooo many pictures? I need one good one for a frame. And some to fill a book. This blows my mind!

I hired a truly shitty photographer for my own wedding, my photos were terrible, and it was my fault. Totally.

You hire a pro, you pay for a pro and trust them to know what to shoot. If you don't, can't and don't, you can't really whine about it after the fact.

And stop calling him a PRO, because he obviously is not, and your post title makes it sound like you hired someone great and he screwed up. You didn't.

Can I just pop in to say that I hate when people invalidate others with "Well at the end of the day you got married, so that's all that matters"?

Don't get me wrong, I still disagree with the OP and HiH because I think that if you know your photog is a novice, you sit down with him and look at the portfolios of other professionals and say "I like this style". I completely agree with my own photographer's advice to only give her the high level and let her sort through the rest. However......I think it's okay to be disappointed and it's annoying when someone says "Well at least you didn't die".

Micro managing with a list like that, candids during the event and a few portraits during cocktail hour, and the rest bride and groom should have covered it. I too question the caliber of pro you hired. If someone gave me a list that extensive I'd have been like whoa nelly. And set a plan, or referred you to a traditional portrait wedding photographer.

I gave my photographer a list of ONE photo I wanted (a re-creation of one of our e-pics) and trusted her to get the rest. Most of her business is wedding photography... it's what she DOES. Why shouldn't I trust her? There are a few things I didn't get, like a photo of just me and the RB and photos of me individually with each BM, but.... meh. I have 800 (mostly) spectacular photos because she's a true professional and I trusted her to do her job.

I'm not gonna jump all over you for the 95 shot list. It is extreme to have a list like that (I'm pretty sure my photographer would have been beyond annoyed if I gave her a list even half that long) but if your photographer asked for it, you were just following instructions. What I don't understand is not hiring a pro when you say that photography is so important to you. If I would have been on a budget, I would have cut anywhere I could and thought creatively to find a way to afford my photographer.

Sorry you're disappointed - but - you can't complain about not getting pro results when you don't hire a pro.

If you can't afford a professional wedding photographer, you can't expect a photo spread that is ready for magazine. Good grief. I didn't have enough money for a 5 course meal, so I didn't expect one! but I deserve one anyways, by your logic?