worst nightmare at a wedding?

Thanks for your replies. I've just stopped blubbing now thanks to DDP's pep talk at the end! I will NOT take this lying down!! :)

I can't believe I have just been spoken to like that. I also can't believe he was trying to make out that I was in the wrong because I didn't make any phone calls but emailed instead. I'm just thankful that I have everything in writing. It's a shame that I didn't record that phone call!

I wish I could have stood my ground more but I was so worried he was going to say that he wouldn't send any at all that I found myself saying 'that's OK' when he was apologising for flipping out.

I won't contact him again now until I get those images. Then, when they come (if they come I should say) then I'll take it further.
 
Oh have just seen the last few responses...

How can I prove what was written and requested if I send a letter? Am I not better off sticking to emails? I thought they were accepted as proof in this type of situation?
 
A post office receipt doesn't prove what was actually in the envelope to begin with though... For all I know he could say that I sent a blank piece of paper via recorded delivery no?

I think I'll leave it now until next Friday. If nothing arrives by then, I'll email (and will also send a print out of the email via recorded delivery) to query where the disk is.

The thing is that he hasn't even seen the email I sent yday so when he reads it tonight he might get all angry again and decide not to send it after all.

I've just tried to call CAB but the London office is closed.
 
This is what I emailed:


After reading the emails I see I also have 5 x 8x10 photos included in the package. I also think it's hilarious that in the same email confirmation it says 'you have booked the package with * and the extra photographer, this will ensure that nothing is missed from the day.'

Upon reflection, I am so upset about the whole situation and the fact that we have no pictures of the ceremony or the morning (not to mention breech of contract) that I would like to forget about the albums, canvases and prints and be sent a full refund along with the CD's of all high res edited images and copyright as a gesture of goodwill. I feel this is the very least you can do for ruining our wedding day. (I'm sure you must have adequate insurance to cover this.)

Can you please confirm and arrange the refund to the following account within in the next 3 days.

I think he'll read the 'you ruined our wedding day' part and flip out again. But it's true, he did ruin our wedding day. What kind of person makes the bride cry 3 times on her wedding day and questions if she has written confirmation an hour before she's due to walk down the aisle?!

The resaon I booked a wedding photographer was to have the 'wedding' photographed. Not the party afterwards. He was trying to make out that it was no big deal. Is he kidding, I have no photo of my hubbys face watching me walk down the aisle. The video man didn't even capture it, which I was banking on so at least he could have pulle doff a still.

Gutted.
 
hailinguk said:
OMG just had the most awful coversation ever. I'm still shaking.

He called me back and as soon as I said I wanted a refund he went crazy and started shouting at me really aggressively saying 'I've ruined the wedding day have I? I've ruined your wedding day. I've ruined your whole damn day.' Over and over again at which point I burst into tears. Not to mention the fact he also said 'I'm sick of you hassling me.'

Then said he didn't want to talk about it or to me anymore and that we'll have to take it to court. Then he switched suddenly and calmed down and apologised for flipping out and said he's just really stressed because he's at another wedding and that the pictures are amazing and the albums are such good quality. He then went on to say that he feels so bad about it so much that he doesn't even want to do weddings anymore and that he's going to fire the person I dealt with.

I'm in a complete state of shock. I'm so worried he will just turn around and not send me any at all that I had no choice but to agree to him sending the CDs of the images out and taking it from there.

I found myself apologising at one point? WTF?

Fingers crossed I get a CD with some photos next week.
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What a way to deal with a dissatisfied client, I suspect this is going to end in a courtroom.
If he really was at a wedding I wonder what they made of his call, that would really impress me if he was my tog. If he got all wound up he might screw things up at that wedding too.
 
Ahhh maybe that's why he got so stressed out. He literally lost it. He was rambling and shouting and repeating himself over and over so I'm sure some guests muct have heard him. But then he suddenly switched and apologised. It was like I was talking to jekyll and hyde.
 
Man I need a glass of wine!!
 
hailinguk said:
Thanks for your replies. I've just stopped blubbing now thanks to DDP's pep talk at the end! I will NOT take this lying down!! :)
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:lol:

Only other thing I'd say at this stage is that if he phones you and is stroppy/rude or whatever again, consider saying something like "I've been advised not to discuss this matter over the phone with you, please confirm in writing".

If he's in a better mood and is phoning re getting the disk to you, well that's a different kettle of fish.

Have a glass of wine and try and enjoy your weekend - this'll get sorted out eventually :)
 
hailinguk said:
Man I need a glass of wine!!
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Have one and try to chill for at least this weekend.

As advised by other people on the forum it may be best to get that CD/ DVD from him first and then take it further. Did any guests get shots of the ceremony?
 
Thanks DDP.

I'm going to call the CAB on Monday and see what they advise.

Will keep you all updated.
 
Hi Julie,

There are a few shots I've been sent by friends and family but not very good ones / good enough quality to put in an album.

I'm going to call round all the guests now and see if they have any photos I haven't seen yet just in case.

There must be at least 1 photo of his 'first look' somewhere although I watched the ceremony video and I can't see anyone on the opp side to him taking any pics :(

x
 
Radiohead said:
Here's what I'd do:

Lay out in email exactly what you expect him to do. A full refund may not, legally, be deemed to be reasonable as we are talking about non-performance of only part of the contract here. Send the same in letter form, recorded delivery.

In that specify a reasonable time limit for a response, say 14 days. State that no reply to your satisfaction will mean you issue proceedings in the Small Claims track.

And then do it. Give him exactly 14 days and issue.
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I know it may not seem fair but you need to give 28 days. What a court sees as reasonable effort to resolve without going to court is well defined, and it does say 1 month, so 28 days pretty much gives that. Send special delivery, not recorded. The other bits are spot on though.

Can't believe the bloke though he's ruined your day and now you have to go through this carp

Hugh
 
I'm going to wait until he sends the cd of the pics then I'll take it from there.
 
How do I link to this thread?

Love to know how this pans out. The photog sounds like a nutter, and if he was yelling like that at someones wedding then hes gonna have two refunds on his hands.

Good luck?
 
Hmmmm they weren't where I thought they were going to be....

It's going to bug me now!!
 
Mostly very good advice here, but if you can afford the initial outlay, go and see a solicitor and let him/her write the letters that need to be written to the photographer, this makes things more official, and lets him know you mean business, i'm fairly sure the outlay would be put in his costs when you win your claim against him, on another note could you possibly put a link to his website (assuming he has one) or PM it to me, as it's always good to know about people who trade in this manner, so you can steer people away should the need arise.
 
hailinguk said:
Ahhh maybe that's why he got so stressed out. He literally lost it. He was rambling and shouting and repeating himself over and over so I'm sure some guests muct have heard him. But then he suddenly switched and apologised. It was like I was talking to jekyll and hyde.
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Maybe he has a split personality, or maybe he doesn't? ;)
 
FetchMeMyTools said:
I cant show the pics just in case, but if you look hard enough you will be ale to find one or two. But not telling you how !!!
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Well you wasn't kidding she is a stunner :D
 
FetchMeMyTools said:
I cant show the pics just in case, but if you look hard enough you will be ale to find one or two. But not telling you how !!!
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found!
and yes i agree, very nice :D
 
ok fetch my tools where is it, not in your gallery or any thread you started - and I cba to hunt for every post :D
 
TG. said:
Don't be a defeatist :D it took me about 3 minute's to find her.
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lol, 3 -4 mins for me too
thought it would be easier :P

well she is a hotty, the bride doesn't seem too bothered but the woman in the green dress is having a whale of a time...
 
LOL at the belly dancer. She is nice, but looks like he's dancing the Marcarena :eek:

My worst nightmare was not knowing the subtleties of setting flash to FP mode and getting my fancy bokeh shots all over exposed when flash synced to 1/250 :(
 
Hi H,

My thoughts towards him are less then polite. I really think you should send him a recorded delivery letter, giving him 28 days to refund your money, with a DVD of all pictures from the day for a price agreed. Bear in mind he broke your contract by not turning up. If he fails to refund then issue small claims proceeding agaisnt him. Thats not easy for me to say about a photographer.

Just looking through his emails I had a couple of comments.

This idea of pulling ceremony shots of the video, sounds like pants to me, it'll never be high enough quality for an album. Just to give you an example of what I mean the videographers I worked with earlier in the month have just asked if they can use one of my images for the DVD cover.

I don't really understand why he doesn't have all the images from your day yet, my workflow means that if I shoot with somebody else whoever is processing has the images by the end of the day. I know I'm not the only tog who does this

My albums always have more than 4 shots of the ceremony in

Hugh
 
hailinguk said:
He said the 2nd tog that came out is on holiday until the 1st sep so he doesn't have his pictures yet...

I know I am being nice in my emails, that's only because I was so worried he wouldn't send them after his flip out on the phone.

****snip****

All I want is a CD of images so if he were to refund £450, how does that sound fair that I'm paying £1175 when the above package is just £950?
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Hi,

I'm really suprised by that working practice with regards to the second. I always have the 2nd tog's photos on a portable hard drive by the time we're back from the venue, I know others who shoot with seconds have the same or DVD's back very quickly indeed.

I can understand why you are being nice after his flip out, but I really would consider being a little less nice now, at the end of the day he breeched your agreement in a really big way. He should, IMO, be refundung everything, and giving you the few images he took

Hugh
 
I will wait and see what he comes back with in regards to what he is going to refund. Then if we are still not happy I'll have to take it to a small claims court.

When I spoke to him, he kept saying 'we took over 1000 pictures' but in reality, he's taken lots of the same shot, loads are so totally random I don't know why he included them on the disk. Out the 850 he sent me so far, there 40 half decent ones. The group shots are not even lined up. There's pics where we've walked around and my veil and tiara is off centre and he hasn't noticed. There's very few of the little touches, none of the favour table, ceremony flowers etc although they could be on the ones still to come.

I also don't see how he originally offered £125 refund 'because the albums are so expensive' and now it's a case of '£450 is the cost price of the albums so that's what we would refund'...
 
hailinguk said:
I will wait and see what he comes back with in regards to what he is going to refund. Then if we are still not happy I'll have to take it to a small claims court.

When I spoke to him, he kept saying 'we took over 1000 pictures' but in reality, he's taken lots of the same shot, loads are so totally random I don't know why he included them on the disk. Out the 850 he sent me so far, there 40 half decent ones. The group shots are not even lined up. There's pics where we've walked around and my veil and tiara is off centre and he hasn't noticed. There's very few of the little touches, none of the favour table, ceremony flowers etc although they could be on the ones still to come.

I also don't see how he originally offered £125 refund 'because the albums are so expensive' and now it's a case of '£450 is the cost price of the albums so that's what we would refund'...
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Good luck... nearly cried just thinking how it makes you feel. I was gutted cos our BM didn't get our guests to sign the book....not really much to be gutted about. Its a memory I chuckle over now.
 
boyfalldown said:
Hi H,

My thoughts towards him are less then polite. I really think you should send him a recorded delivery letter, giving him 28 days to refund your money, with a DVD of all pictures from the day for a price agreed. Bear in mind he broke your contract by not turning up. If he fails to refund then issue small claims proceeding agaisnt him. Thats not easy for me to say about a photographer.

Just looking through his emails I had a couple of comments.

This idea of pulling ceremony shots of the video, sounds like pants to me, it'll never be high enough quality for an album. Just to give you an example of what I mean the videographers I worked with earlier in the month have just asked if they can use one of my images for the DVD cover.

I don't really understand why he doesn't have all the images from your day yet, my workflow means that if I shoot with somebody else whoever is processing has the images by the end of the day. I know I'm not the only tog who does this

My albums always have more than 4 shots of the ceremony in

Hugh
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Yeah I have to argree, I'm also slightly puzzled why he hasn't got all the images, we almost always use more than one tog, but we always have all the images with in a few days at worst (usually sooner) I'm wondering if this is some sort of scam to avoid giving all the images? (my humble apoligies to the tog if I'm wrong) Maybe now claim there was a problem or something, I hope I'm wrong.
 
personally, i think you would have done better claiming for a full reshoot at his cost as he missed the important parts and refunding £1600 isnt going to get them back(im sure the costs involved will amount to more than £1600). as boyfall down suggested, get the letter out in registered post so you are one month closer to a claim in the courts if required.
 
hailinguk i think you are handling this just right so far.
ulimately you want some pics and an album out of this rather and a bit of a refund.
And it looks like you might get just that.
 
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