I'm a Mrs. now.....and have a rant.

You may need to threaten this person with bad press. Vendors are very aware of their online presence as that’s what gets them business, so you trashing her online is not something she wants.

It's hard to hold her to anything if there wasn't a date in your contract. Mine says 6 weeks but I've seen other brides have to wait a lot longer than that. The waiting game stinks, but hopefully she will get you your pictures soon.

Does your contract include previews? Ours doesn’t and our turnaround time listed is 6-8 weeks. Most photographers we looked at delivery time was 6-12 weeks. You can ask her for a specific date and then use that going forward as the deadline, but I don’t know if she’ll give you one.

I will say, as someone who has several friends who photograph weddings, even if this is her whole livelihood, one wedding can easily be 20+ hours of sorting/editing depending on how many hours/whether there was a second shooter.

What does your contract say for previews or sneak peeks? Or when the pictures will be done?

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I think this is premature. The contract has no timeline and it's only been 8 weeks, which is not outside the norm. Threats at this point will not help to achieve a desirable outcome.

View Quoted Comment Of course. Only if this continues without production and continued leading on by the photographer.

My contract says 6 - 8 weeks but I've seen some brides that have 8 - 10 weeks so I would hold out a tad bit longer but definitely not past 10 weeks

I'd give it some more time. My photographer told me it would be about 2 weeks (contract said 6+ if I remember correctly) and we got them about 6 weeks. She wasnt the one editing them so that's why it took longer.
I understand you're frustrated but if she's behind and told you so, and theres no time frame in your contract...then unfortunately I dont think harassing her will get it done any quicker..

Do you want beautifully edited pictures or rushed pictures because you are hassling her about them? Editing is no joke and takes a considerable amount of time. I think politely asking a time frame is reasonable but 3 weeks is not very long especially when she already told you she was behind. I know your excited to see them but try and hang on just a little longer!

We used a part timer, and got ours back quickly. But every other photographer we talked to, for early October busy time, said 6-12 weeks, mostly 8-10. Photographers may do 4-5 3 hour small events, and 3 to 5 weddings, in a week. If those take 25-40 hours in a given week to do, including transportation, packing and unpacking gear, they only do processing of pictures in time worked over that. 5 hours some weeks, 20 another. So having outstanding a certain number of weddings, while having a very short turnaround on small jobs, is the usual. And past requests, have been to soon unless you had been given an early peek guarantee time. But this next week, or the two after that, you should get pictures back. She may be filling contracts first for people who insisted on writing specific timelines in the contract. And less specific ones are next in line, just generally filled in industry standard of 3 months or less. Most people would be antsy by now. Most irritating not to get an answer .

Mine took 12 weeks to get back to me but this was with me nagging her there in the last month. I think 12 weeks is the latest I would wait and then start being more threatening. But it has only been a few weeks now so I wouldn't nag her yet.

We haven't seen any of our photos from our wedding on the 14th. The photographer said she would be able to send over a few sneak peaks, but our contract only says the photos will be delivered within 10 weeks. I'm very tempted to ask about sneak peaks, but ultimately will wait. I don't want our photographer to have a negative or annoyed feeling about me/the wedding when she edits the rest of our photos and have them come out subpar, but I may just be paranoid!

I hope you've received at least some photos at this point, but I just wanted to say, unfortunately, if it doesn't specify in your contract, she's not necessarily obligated to get the photos to you in any certain time-frame, annoying as it may be. I have a friend who didn't get her photos for 6 months, which is just crazy! I don't think it's totally uncommon for it to take a photographer a few months to edit all your photos and get them back to you. If she does a good job, it's totally worth it!! You definitely shouldn't have to beg for sneak peaks though, at least a handful would be nice.

It could also depend perhaps on how many pictures she physically took. I know the editing process isn't easy.

When you were doing the contract did she say about how long the photos usually take? two months isn't TOO bad - i'm sure you're very anxious. I would ask her when she will have them ready. if she can't give you a time (especially since its been two months already) then perhaps get more stern with her. I wouldn't post any bad reviews till you actually have your photos. just in case.