Videographer Past Contract Date

There is nothing that frustrates me more than vendors who don't communicate, especially when behind on a contract.

I would contact them again (email, so it's in writing) and say something like "Hi XXX. We're really looking forward to receiving our wedding video from you so we can re-live our day. Our signed contract with you stated we'd receive the video by XX/XX/XXXX. It's now three months past that and we still haven't received the video. I reached out to you on XX/XX/XXXX and was told I'd received a preview video by XX/XX/XXXX, but I never received that. Please get back to me by XX/XX/XXXX to let me know when I'll be receiving the video. If I don't hear from you by XX/XX/XXXX, I'll have pursue legal action in enforcing our contract by filing a civil complaint at the local courthouse. Thank you for your understanding and help with this matter."

You don't have to phrase it just like that, but being firm and stating set dates/deadlines is helpful. Let them know they've gone past the contract deadline, they've had plenty of time, they didn't fulfill what they said after you contacted in your follow-up, and you'll pursue what you need to do in order to get the video.

^^What Rachel said.

I agree with Rachel! Contracts are put into place for a reason. It's protection for the vendor and protection for the client.

This far past the date, you may want to contact a civil lawyer and explain the situation. You have a legally binding contract that your videographer has violated. Maybe being contacted by a lawyer will light a match under the videographer's derriere.

I'd do the email as PP stated...that's polite yet firm. Hopefully that will get them rolling...3 additional months past contract date with no communication is unacceptable. I'd be sure to leave a review on WW and such after it all gets resolved.

^ (Megan's suggestion) This seems like a good idea, but from my experience with having made a civil complaint to deal with an issue (after I did contact numerous lawyers), I think lawyers often don't take on a case like this because it's not "worth" enough (they wouldn't make much/any money from it). Unless it's tens of thousands of dollars, filling a complaint in small claims court is probably the best approach if the vendor refuses to complete service.

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I've hesitated to go straight to the threat of legal action, but I've been more than understanding and have repeatedly asked them to simply communicate with us about the delays, but they haven't done so.

It's nice to have your perceptive as a professional photographer, Rachel. And many thanks for drafting an email for me to use.

What Rachel said.

You're welcome! I am appalled when I hear stories about photographers/videographers not delivering. That's bad enough... I become OUTRAGED when they don't even COMMUNICATE with their customers! It's unacceptable. They should not be in the customer service industry.

The upside, sadly, is that there were a number of red flags leading up to our wedding day, so at least we aren't completely surprised that this is where we're at with them. :-/

It really is unacceptable to not communicate, especially after taking thousands of dollars upfront for their services. We've been completely willing to give them as much time as they need, but asked that they keep us informed - if you need another week, and that week is up, drop us a text and say you need another week. That's all! I hate that it's creating more stress and work for me too. We all have things going on in our lives, but we still have to fulfill our responsibilities. Not to mention that this was one of the happiest moments of our lives that shouldn't have a dark cloud. I don't mean to be overly dramatic about it, but we're so excited to relive the day through the video that this really dampens what should be nothing but happy.

Thanks again!

Yes, yes, yes! You're not being overly dramatic - I feel (and felt during my wedding planning and also after the wedding) the SAME way.

In fairness I should note that they did give us hundreds of additional photos since they were past the deadline on that as well. It doesn't look like there was very much editing done, but I'm happy to have the photos regardless and they did take that step to rectify the photography portion. But then they put my husband's name as "Steve" instead of "Steven" on our keepsake album. Small detail in the grand scheme of things, but it's important to him - his name isn't Steve, that's a nickname. It feels like another pill to swallow with them, which I don't think is fair considering the amount of money we spent. So disappointing!

Giving you "extra" photos is not making up for not promising what's in their contract. Number of photos is another issue for me... I (and many photographers) don't promise a set number of photos because I think quality is more important than quantity. I give all usable images. If I have great photos from your day, I give them to you. It rubs me the wrong way to know they had usable images that they weren't going to give you, but then decided to give them to you to "make up" for breaking their contract. They should have given you all those (edited) photos in the first place (but that's another topic for another debate since I know many photographers DO put a limit on the number of photos they deliver).

That small detail regarding his name would bother me too (did you have your husband's name listed as "Steven" in the contract/in communication with the videographer, or did you you refer to him as "Steve"? Attention to detail *IS* important when it comes to hiring wedding vendors (it's something I pride myself on with my service). You did spend a lot of money (photo and video are often two of the biggest wedding expenses) and you deserve to get what was promised to you.

I feel bad for you and your husband regarding this situation, and I lose more respect for your videgrapher the more you tell me. Where are you located? I'm just curious. You can share the company name if you'd like (it might serve as a warning to other brides/grooms), but you don't have to. I also just realized you said they gave you extra photos... So this was a video and photo company as one business? All-in-one companies are also not my preference; I feel people should specialize in one thing, rather than trying to be a jack of all trades. However, photo and video often do go hand in hand, but the same person should not be doing both.

I totally agree on the photos! Give all of them to me and I'll edit if needed. :-) It's good to know that the extra photos aren't really a concession for missing the deadline. As an aside, we didn't get any photos of the venue or the detail shots of the reception. There's actually nothing from the cocktail hour or dinner, so I'm curious what else she may have that she didn't share. There were 3 photographers, so I didn't assume that they would all take their dinner break at the same time. Is that typical in your experience - no photos while people eat? I'm pretty sure I've had photos taken at my table at other weddings.

His name isn't listed on the contract, only mine, unfortunately. He ALWAYS introduces himself as Steven though and I don't necessarily think it's an excuse if they heard people call him "Steve" throughout the day. It would have been so easy to ask what we wanted printed on the album, so I kinda see it as another failure in their communication.

I'm located in Pittsburgh, but got married on Jekyll Island in Georgia. We used JKSFilm out of Jacksonville. It's a husband and wife - he's point on the videography and she leads the photography side, both with teams of assistants. We contracted their brother/sister first to do our entertainment (BTW - they were the absolute BEST vendor I've ever worked with, incredibly professional, insanely organized, super proactive and went above and beyond like I've never experienced.) We fell in love with them and loved that they had family that could provide videography/photography. It seemed like it would make our day more fun, friendly and intimate (and the discount for booking both was a plus). Both brothers are veterans, so it was another bonus to support their businesses.

All of their reviews on Wedding Wire and the Knot were very positive, and we liked all of the samples they sent before we booked. https://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/jksfilm-com-jacksonville/369ab5532e2ead87.html

I've debated reaching out to their family members for insight, but didn't want to cross the line. Although they were promoting their businesses together at the time, so I feel like that put's the entertainment company's reputation on the line too. Ugh!!! I'm bummed that we had such a great experience and became friends with the DJs and now this is happening with their family, makes it even more awkward and uncomfortable to deal with.

I guess I'm just afraid that if I threaten legal action, I'll end up getting nothing other than my money back. I don't want the money - I want the footage!!

So I also just did some Facebook snooping, and another couple got married in April 2016 and didn't get their video until November. In late August after my wedding, the wife told me that the husband was sick and they were about two months behind. Naturally, I said to focus on his health and we would wait, no problem. But clearly they were already behind from weddings back in April. She told me in August that they're learning that their delivery dates were too aggressive and they needed to amend their contract going forward - so that leads me to believe that the other couple's contract had a 3-month delivery too. This makes me think they're being dishonest.

I feel like a creep now! haha

Hmm, they do seem to have a lot of reviews, so it sounds like they're just going through a rough patch of providing less than stellar customer service (which is not acceptable or excusable). I wouldn't necessarily reach out to their family/the other business people. That would inter-mingle things too much. I'd keep contact with only the owners/photographers/videographers you worked with. I know you don't want to threaten legal action, no one does, but that's why it's important to be polite and respectful, yet firm and direct. You're still asking them for what they guaranteed you in the contract and you're giving them more time, but you're letting them know if they don't fulfill what they promised you and are legally obligated to fulfill, you will pursue other means to have it legally fulfilled. Obviously you want the product/video, not your money back, and I don't blame you. Have you contacted them again since the last time you reached out and they said they'd get you a preview? If not, do that ASAP!

Oh, and about the cocktail hour/dinner photos... Did you take bridal party or couples photos/video during cocktail hour? If there was only one photographer and you did photos then, there should be photos of that. If you didn't do photos and just hung out with guests during cocktail hour, there should definitely be photos of that. As far as dinner... I think that can vary. I usually eat my meal really quickly and go back to being ready to take photos when the moment strikes. Not having too many photos during the dinner itself might not be too odd since people probably don't want photos of themselves stuffing their faces. However, I take some photos during dinner time as people are talking and laughing and mingling. I would expect *some* photos during dinner, even if not a lot. I can't speak for all vendors as far as how long they sit for dinner, but I don't sit long (if at all); I eat and get back to photographing.

Yeah, they should really have updated their contract, and MUCH sooner! The good news is it sounds like that couple did get their video so you'll likely get yours too... it's just a matter of how late. I'd still recommend reaching out to them. Even if you don't want to mention filing a claim at the courthouse, still be firm with them. Just say how you're really looking forward to getting your footage and you know they've been behind, but you NEED communication from them. If they're not going to get the video to you by their deadline (which obviously they missed), PLEASE keep you updated regularly as far as the progress of completing it. As long as they keep in contact with you and are working on it, you'll be happy. Yada, yada. This is extremely unprofessional of them (and so is giving you unedited photos by the way, no matter why they gave you extra photos). I really hope you get your video soon. Definitely leave a review for them after you get everything, and include all this info in your review for future brides/grooms!