Photographer communication

Does your contract have a turnaround time?

If she said 4 weeks and you still don’t have them, I’d be hesitant about trusting her to get you your wedding photos with any greater sense of urgency. Reach out to her and ask about the status of your photos and maybe politely mention your concerns to her and see how you feel after that conversation.

I would say something in the regards of hey we are waiting on our engagement photos to send our final payment

View Quoted Comment She has 8-10 weeks for the wedding photos. But no mention of engagement photo turnaround.

At this point if she won't respond to your emails you need to call her.

I would call or email her and just straight-up but professionally say that you haven't received the pictures and you haven't received a good turnaround in regards to communication and this is Raising red flags in regards to going forward to have her for your wedding day. I would maybe ask her to give you a call at the earliest convenience. If you don't hear back then it sucks you're going to be out of engagement pictures and probably out of a deposit but to me I have seen horror stories on this app About Brides and their wedding pictures either not getting them or not hearing from the photographer or them looking bad so this is not something you want to take lightly I guess. I would find another photographer if this person doesn't do their job.

I just want to empower you a little. Remember that you’re PAYING her for services. The result of those services are photos. You’ve given her ample time to provide you with the goods, and you’ve made attempts at communicating. But if you’re not getting any response nor goods you shouldn’t feel bad for calling her, cancelling your contract, or anything else. You are the client. Please feel empowered to ask for what you deserve. You can do so politely and professionally but set boundaries. Make clear statements like “if I do not receive a response by X date, I will need my payment refunded/need to cancel my contract/file a complaint with authorities.”. She may be busy but it is her responsibility to communicate that to you. Good luck! Hope she responds soon and gives you some confidence in your purchase.

Don't give her any more money until you have the photos AND a serious talk with her because she's already shown she's unreliable. Personally I'd get another photographer.

If shes giving you problems now id be very hesitant to have her do your wedding as well because you dont know when you would get those!

Well, she doesn't sound reliable at all and these are your engagements photos. Imagine her creating this delay with your WEDDING pictures! I'd refuse working with her if possible or maybe hire the second photographer just in case so that you could be sure you will get the pictures from your big day. Do you know her phone number so that you could call her? Maybe there are people who know her and who can contact her? It is possible that something had happened to her but I think she's just being irresponsible.

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This! OP, I suggest you to re-read this one more time, It is wisely put. You are the client, she does the work for you. Not vice versa.

I agree, I would get my photos and find another photographer!

View Quoted Comment Thank you for this. I’ve been giving her a ton of benefit of the doubt. But you’re right at the end of the day I’m the customer paying her to do a service that she is so far not following through on. Wedding photos are too important to me to have someone so unreliable.

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I'm a photographer and I agree 100% with this! Good communication is needed if you want to be a good vendor - it's part of great customer service. She should have specified a time frame in the contract for engagement photos as well (if it's different than the time frame for wedding photos). You are completely in the right by reaching out to her and being very firm in asking for an update and/or letting her know you'll be filing a complaint (if you choose to) if you don't hear from her or receive the photos by X date.

Because of how important communication is to me, I'd be hesitant moving forward with her as the wedding photographer if she doesn't provide you with an immediate response, and the engagement photos (beautiful ones, at that) ASAP.

I see you posted this a couple of days ago... Have you reached out to her? Heard from her yet?

View Quoted Comment Thanks for the insight, helps to hear from a photographer. I texted her after sending this in the forum and got no answer. So today my FH called her, she didn’t answer and her voicemail box is full. I’m seriously SO frustrated at this point.

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So frustrating :-( I would send an email - to have it in writing - specifying if you don't hear from her/receive photos by X date, you will file a claim in court, because the date/time frame in the contract has passed and she has note provided the services she promised to do under the contracted terms. If you are also leaning towards cancelling her for the wedding, include that in there too. Then get moving on a small claims court (for claims under $5,000). Small claims court is not a fun process, is very slow, and often doesn't give the outcome a person would necessarily hope for. But perhaps the first step of that process (a letter being sent - send it both certified and regular, or even choose to have a sheriff deliver) would lead her to respond/provide the photos, before it gets taken further. So sorry you're dealing with this :-( Keep us updated.