Photographer won't give us our wedding pics

I would follow up again politely. She could just be behind, not "holding your photos" hostage. I wouldn't rush her too much though as I'd rather have the vendor take time through all the edits and do a good job and receive them late, than have rush-edited photos forever. Give her a bad review when you do receive them if the delay was unexcusable and she was still not friendly.

IMO, there's so many vendors with 5 star reviews these days. It's almost like every vendor I encounter. Hard to judge.

I agree with @jenny I'm having same issue with my dress I could only imagine my wedding pics not being able to see even a few would drive me crazy. Be polite till you have no other option

Ok, so you see one five star review and you booked her? What kind of track record does she have? 8 weeks contract terms isn't bad. Mine states 30 days, they usually get them in 3 weeks. Sneak peaks....well, not all have time for that. This is my busiest time of year, I do my postproduction in house, I don't have time to do separate exports just because of impatience. The end product will be worth it....but clearly this is a case where she violated the contract terms. What was your response to her last put off? You should call her, not email. Insist on an answer. If no success, within 3 days of leaving a message, send certified mail with a letter of intent, to receive your wedding photos as this ____ was the date promised in the contract. Include a copy.

I'd contact her again, politely reminding her of the contacted delivery date and the later date she promised the last time you spoke.

I wouldn't be upset about the sneak peek. I'm not sure how other photographers handle it, but my photographer included in her contract that she would provide a sneak peek. I get that it's frustrating knowing other photographers do it, but I wouldn't waste time wishing I'd had it knowing the photographer had never promised it.

Sneak peaks are the least of your worries, focus on getting the goods you paid for. Furthermore, don't agree to her put off in writing, that can negate the contract terms if you do. What ETA she tells you, don't address it in a response. Once you receive everything, leave honest factual reviews.

Thank you for your responses. She had about 25 five star reviews on the knot. Let me also add, that her email back to me on June 8th, she stated, "they turned out so beautiful!!" Then why have t we seen a single pic??! i feel that if she would have said she was behind, but still gave us a few pics, then I'd be ok to wait a little longer

Never *say* you're ok to wait longer, even if there's no choice in the matter. I am guessing she is processing them in Lightroom and probably has other collections going, which is no excuse for not finishing on time....but separate exports are not convenient to do and doing all that only puts you further behind. You're certainly within your right to give a call. (it puts her on the spot to give a precise answer when she wasn't expecting it, and it shows you mean business.)

I'd be annoyed... and calling her or emailing her until I got a satisfactory answer.

UPDATE: Still NO pics!!!

I emailed her this past Friday afternoon 6/23, and was polite yet stern and basically saying I read over the contract and what is the delay. She responded, "thank you for getting in contact with me!" (Wtf? Yeah since you never got in contact with me...), said she had "personal issues" which made her be behind with getting pictures edited. I would have been understanding, but we've received NOOOO pics! Not one! She also said once again "they're beautiful!" She said they "should be" done by Sunday afternoon (today). Can you guess it? Nothing

She does not know, but my father is a high powered litigation attorney that will sue her if she doesn't get us our pics, however, I don't want to involve him so soon, I just want my pictures!

I think either a) she overbooked during the wedding season and is behind, or

b) lost our pics and doesn't even have them and is buying time.

I am SOOO unhappy with her service and I think it's so rude and unacceptable to make your clients reach out to you over and over , and yet still not delivering. UGH! Any more advice? Sorry for a downer post lol

How frustrating! At least you know a good lawyer should you need one, hope it doesn't come to that though. Good luck!

I would have called once after the contract term was over, emailed once and then id sue her. I dont play. Lol i say, call your dad. Even sending off a letter will get get pissing herself. Trust me, im an expert at this lol

I always check every wedding website, plus yelp, Google, and facebook reviews before even inquiring about their services. That's how I've found all my vendors. I noticed a lot of vendors will have top reviews on WW and TK, but you'll see much lower reviews on non-wedding websites

I'm in CA, and although she wasn't the most expensive photographer, she was slightly above average for the cost in this area (not that it really matters, because they should deliver regardless). My husband is a doctor who's father is also an attorney, she's messing with the wrong people and I've been nothing but kind to her! I just don't understand, but even though I'm frustrated, I don't want to be mean if she has "personal issues." I just want my wedding pictures that we paid for!!!

She wasn't professional at the wedding either as far as signing the marriage license (interrupted us during dinner to take us away to do it), pics of the rings (took them off our fingers at dinner and ran away with them for pics), while getting ready, taking pics of bridesmaids and my wedding dress and having them holding champagne over my dress... Just a nightmare

Jennifer, that sounds awful. How does she have great reviews when she was terrible at the wedding too?

I hope everything works out. I am scared to get a photographer like that. I am going through a dilemma with my supposedly photographer right now too. I can't wait to give her a review. I am just waiting for my dispute from the bank.

I would call her, right now.

Keep a paper trail. Call. Highlight the 8 weeks in the contract. And start voicing your opinion to her

Yeah start calling and ask if something came up.

Any update OP?

I understand your frustration, I would be too, just be as factual and emotionless as possible and leave a paper trail with everything!

Okay OP one thing I have to say is you need to stop saying things like 'my husband's a doctor who's father is also an attorney, she's messing with the wrong people' because that comes off as very threatening. I'd hide that comment (and if you do I'll hide this one) or even hide this whole thread and start a new one.

Right now, leave reviews. Be very factual and frank, and leave emotion out of it. Have your contract and any other communication ready to back it up, because vendors can dispute reviews. But if you have your proof the reviews will stand.

Good luck, and I'm terribly sorry for this. Definitely not a great experience.