Photographer gone wrong

How is paying $2300 saving money? I am sorry that you have spent that kind of money and you didn't get what you envisioned. I would probably send an email, telling her that you appreciate her services that she has provided you with for the engagement session. However, (without giving a reason), at this time you have decided to hire another photographer for the wedding itself. Thank her again and thats it.

Will you be able to get any money back if you already paid a deposit for her services for the wedding?

She only charges $1200 for just herself. We wanted another photographer, had to pay extra for an engagement session, and have to pay for her hotel room since it is out of town. We also didn't know that you had to pay a $125 photography fee to take pictures at the place we used for engagements so it all adds up to about $2300.

We've only put about $550 down, but we won't be getting anything back, i'm pretty sure.

I agree with Miss S. That is a significant chunk of change for photography no matter where you're located, so the 'family and friends' discount; I'm seriously hoping that 2300.00 was for the whole wedding plus this shoot..... and 600 photos is kinda like a 'press and pray" style of photography rather than thoughtfully composing the shots.

First, find out your financial liability; I can tell you that if I booked someone without them meeting me or Skyping me and they were unhappy when they did, the last thing I'd want is to continue. It would be bad for everyone.

I can tell you that if the engagement shoot was disappointing, the wedding will probably be mores. Weddings present a lot of fast moving targets, and if they couldn't capture you in a leisurely shoot alone, I'd have real doubts about the wedding itself.

Yeah, you will probably have to chalk up the $550. But in the end you can pick a photographer you like. Imagine if you keep her, paid that kind of money and didn't get any pictures that your like…. Write up a nice, short and to the point email that you are canceling her services for the wedding. I assume you guys have a written agreement. Take a look what it says about the deposit but most likely that is lost. Welcome to the world of wedding planning, where we all make these mistakes of wasting money

Just saw your message above. No one charges 550.00 for an engagement shoot. Have a calm conversation, tell her that your styles don't mesh. Look at your contract for cancellation fees and honestly? A family 'friend' who is charging that much to take inferior pix should buck up and refund your deposit.

We didn't get any discount for being friends with her….which was kind of disappointing in itself. We are for sure going to part ways, just unsure on how it will happen or how to do it.

$2300 is no where near saving money - you can find many professional photographers for lower or comparable prices. For someone doing you a favor that's certainly a large amount they are charging you. Someone doing this as a side business I don't consider a professional --- and those prices are ridiculous.

I agree that 30 good images isn't good enough - not for the price of that package. My engagement package was $350 with another photographer and we got over a 100 images. Most of the time when people say they are trying to save money and are using a family friend with a side business they are paying around $500 for everything.

My photographer, who is a professional, well respected, and multiple features in magazine isn't even charging me $2300. Is there a reason your parents want you to use this person other than saving money because that clearly isn't the real reason?

I agree. $2300 is a TON of money for the quality we received. I've looked at other photographers works from friends weddings and they were charged $100 more for outstanding work and other great features to their packages.

Out of 30 pictures, two were of our feet, and others were basically a shot duplicated, with just a hence of a difference. They also weren't great angles and you can see in one where she tried to blend my arm to make it look skinnier, but it just looks like a blurry random color floating around.

I think they thought we would be saving money and would receive some sort of discount, but never did.

My photographer is a professional, with amazing reviews, references and examples of her work. We are paying her $2,650 for two photographers and rights to all images. No engagement shoot, but after seeing her work, I believe I'm getting a bargain. Sorry to hear this. I would send a thoughtful email. I hate confrontation. I would also request, in said email, that for $550 you receive rights to all of your e-pics. Otherwise, respectfully request that she accept less money for the photos you received.

Oh no!!! I would honestly have my parents contact if my parents hired her as a family friend.. As a bride you have enough to deal with and may need to look for someone else. That is high for a family friend... We are paying $2,800 for a team of two and that comes with the bridal session and all day long of the wedding day. All pictures are ours and we get a photo book of their favs... I hate this for you girl!

You know what? If your parents suggested this, then they should absolutely know how it turned out and the photographer should take that into account. Using a friend because it might be less expensive, which is not out of the question, needs to translate into that friend doing market level work.

My parents already know how unhappy me and my fiancé are about this. My mom said she would do the "firing" process with me. I've already starting searching for a new photographer now that we have about 10 months to find one, re-take engagements and put another deposit down.

Just nervous because her and her family are invited to the wedding and nothing sucks more than saying "Hey, we are firing you, but you're still invited to the wedding"

That is alot of money, I would defiantly try and make a deal or get your money back. That's why they say its not a good idea to hire friends without much experience because its a risk.

Am sorry. I agree with the ladies. $2,300 is not cheap.

Wow, there really isn't a nice way to "fire" anybody, and do not be surprised if they decline your wedding invitation. If she's not giving you a break, than there is no reason to keep her, especially since you are not happy with her work or style. Be honest, tell her everything that you are unhappy about, it will help her grow as a photographer. If she is a professional than she will understand, or she can take it personally and never speak to you or your parents again. It's a consequence that you should be ready for.

$2300.00 isn't unreasonable for a wedding photography package with engagement photos.....but it should be someone you are happy with if you are spending that. From what I am reading, she sounds like a fairly inexperienced shooter. Here is why. Average engagement session is 300 dollars BTW.

Who the F that knows what they're doing shoots 600 photos for an engagement session? That's sloppy. I don't always shoot that many at the wedding itself. Celia's right, it;s spray and pray. Also, not sure why she'd show you all of them. If you get 20-30 great images from an engagement session, you're good. But if it takes 600 to do that, I wouldn't feel comfortable with her as the wedding photographer.

She's blowing smoke up someone's ass here. How carefully did you and your parents study her work? I would definitely talk to your parents and go to her unified and ask about her issuing a partial refund and booking someone else for the wedding since you weren't satisfied with the results of the engagement shoot. Part of the engagement session is to build a connection with the photographer, not to make you go WTF did we hire her, these suck.

Here is an example....I went back and looked. I worked with this couple for 90 minutes or so, at a couple different close by spots, and at a venue. I shot a total of 163 images, and selected 28 to go in the retouch queue, here are highlights from it. I could not imagine doing 600 shots. http://www.jayfarrellphotography.com/east-nashville-engagement-photos/

I completely agree with Jay here - she has NO idea what she's doing and should not be shooting a wedding yet.

If you'd like, I'd be happy to look over the contract for you to see what you can do to get out and how much you can get back. (No charge) Send me an email to ********************@*****.***.

Talk soon!

600 imagines and only one is decent? what did they look like? wow.

Yeah, that is super awkward. Good luck! I wouldn't of even hired her in the first place if she didn't give me the "friend price!" That's the whole point of hiring your friends is for the discount.