UPDATED (in comments): Upset with wedding video email draft to videographer... advice?

"It's been difficult to write this email because I'm not sure there if is a way to rectify the situation (since the wedding day is over and gone) but I thought it was important for you to know. We are pretty disappointed in our video. Compared to your previous work, ours does not seem up to the same caliber. I don't know if it was an equipment issue or an editing issue, but everyone has remarked that the quality of our video is not equal to the other work in your portfolio.

The biggest disappointment, however, was the fact that my face during the vows was not recorded at all. I have been completely heartbroken over this for the last few weeks, and I know my husband and dad are especially upset about this mishap. I understand that you had to make a professional decision, but I hope if this ever comes up again in your career, next time you will consider how the bride would feel about missing out on her side of the story, over your stylistic visions. As someone who works in the wedding industry, this needs to be a given for you and I sincerely hope you learn from this experience so no other bride has to miss out on one of the most important days in her life like I have had to.

We hired you in good faith that you would deliver a product up to the standards we saw in your portfolio and we don't feel like we received that. We understand that wedding day mishaps are a given but we feel that this is more than just that. "

Not sure how to end it or what else to add.

What are you hoping to be the end game here? A partial refund? An apology?

Not sure what to ask of him since we can't get the day back. But I feel that he should know for future clients at least. If he could offer a partial refund that would be awesome because we didn't get the product we paid for, but I also don't think that is likely.

Also, the contract specifies that he is not to be held responsible if a view is obstructed and he thus misses a shot... but the view wasn't obstructed. He thought it was but never checked to see if it actually was, and it ended up NOT being obstructed. Not sure how that argument would hold up. Is that anything?

Are you asking him to do anything? The only thing I see missing is a call to action, what do you want this email to accomplish? Do you want him to just know your feelings or do you want some actual compensation? Either way that should be in the last paragraph.

So sorry date twin =( still waiting for my video to come back. Sorry you were so disappointed.

I remember your initial post...so sorry about all this. id be very hurt too!

I think your email sounds good, but id maybe switch your first point to a question at the end. Instead of saying "I'm not sure anything can be done to rectify the situation" say 'what can/will you, as a professional I hired in good faith, do to rectify this situation given that the wedding day has come and gone and cant be redone?"

Don't give them a comment to fall back on that says----nope, nothing can be done. Something can be done. He can refund your money 100%...its not the answer you want. You obviously want your wedding video--but it doesn't seem like he can deliver that. I'm so sorry again..

I remember reading your original post and my heart broke for you as I would be devastated if my face wasn't in any of the shots. I would maybe end it with "What do you suppose is the correct course of action here, seeing as how we were not delivered the product we paid for?"

It is well written and to the point. I would save this document and do google and yelp reviews of the mishap with the video. take all emotion out of it but drive home that the video itself wasn't the quality that was seen in his portfolio.

I understand that you're upset but feel your letter is too much.

APZ advice is spot on. Make him answer how he will rectify this.

In the line "...I know my husband and dad are especially upset about this mishap.", the word "mishap" isn't sounding right to me. Maybe say omission or oversight instead of mishap?

I think the letter is well-written, so take my input with a grain of salt.

Part of my work is copy-editing for both content and grammar, so let me take a swing:

"It's been difficult to write this email because I'm not sure there if is a way to rectify the situation (since the wedding day is over and gone) but I thought it was important for you to know. We are disappointed in your video because compared to your previous work, which we booked you based off of, ours does not seem up to the same caliber. I don't know if it was an equipment or an editing issue, but everyone has remarked that the quality of our video is subpar.

The biggest disappointment, however, is that my face is not shown during our vows; this has greatly upset not only me but my husband and other relatives, as it is the only video recording of our vows. To focus on only one party's face during such an important part of our day has me questioning whether this was an issue of editing or of professionalism. Even if this was made as a stylistic choice during editing, it is questionable that you would so blatantly chose to not have the bride's face in this part of the film.

We hired you in good faith that you would deliver a product up to the standards we saw in your portfolio and we don't feel like we received that. We understand that mishaps are possible in this industry but the lack of quality and the editing choices are highly disappointing and lead us to believe that this was not just a lack of oversight. While there is not much to be done that could rectify this situation, I do hope that this can provide some direction for your interaction and product delivery for your future clients. "

You had a little too much personal feeling in there - some is good, too much is bad. And I wouldn't mention your involvement in the industry; in case he decides that your email is BS, you don't want him to outright know you work in the same industry.

@APZ and @cheval, those suggestions are great and I will incorporate them into the email. I'm waiting for DH to get home to go over it with him and get his thoughts. Thank you all for your input!

Agree 100% with APZ. I also suggest referring to a specific video (or a few of them), on his profile that you liked, by way of comparison.

"The video of APZ and APZ's DH is of superior quality. The images are clear, and you captured their ceremony beautifully. The bride's face, groom's face, and aisle are clearly visible. In contrast, the quality of our video appears grainy, and there is not a single shot of the bride's face."

Or something like that. Elaborate as necessary. Say what you loved about the exemplary video, and state specifically why your video is not that level of quality, when you had every reason to expect that it would be. This will help you illustrate why you're unhappy.

Good luck, OP! I'm sorry this is happening to you.

Just out of my own curiosity, is your face missing from the entire ceremony or just the vows portion?

Can someone who does video editing answer this for me? Is there any way he could possibly zoom from the aisle cam shot to her face and redo the video? It wouldn't be perfect as it'd probably still be the side of her face but it's something. I have no idea if this is possible, by the way. Just asking.

I hope everything works out for you! So sorry you're going thru all of this

@Blair, there are shots of us while we are sitting during the readings where my face is in clear view, and a very short shot of me walking down the aisle. There are zero shots of my face as we were standing at the front of the altar, from that point on most of the video is just DH's face and shots from the aisle. My bangs were on that side of my face so you literally cannot see any part of my face except the tip of my nose and chin.

These are the only views. In the bottom view, you can see someone crouching in the aisle. That is the videographer.

I have no advice and I am sorry this had to happen to you.

I remember your first post and I'm sorry this happened to you. I agree with the suggestion from runawaybride to specifically mention the videos you saw from the videographer that are higher quality as well as APZ's suggestion to specifically ask what will be done to rectify the situation.