Yikes!

[Christie Photo]

It's no wonder some folks are suspicious of wedding photographers.

http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/...n=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

 

[Overread]

They must hire fit camera men - those cameras are not light things to run with!
The guy (the photographer) - definatly would not want to be in his shoes - but if the work reached the printing labs alread and is just waiting for collection then he must have some serious problems with cash flow! ( I mean it was something like $500 owed to the printing labs and each shoot was several £1000 - so he could easily have taken less profit on one wedding and sorted the rest out)

 

[ksmattfish]

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=3843092

http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/...008/08/08/wedding-photographer-nightmare.aspx

http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=7896748

http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/01/20/open-question-photographer-nightmare/

http://www.kpho.com/iteam/9558098/detail.html

It goes on and on. I can't find the links to the really crazy stories I've read. I can see how it would be easy for a con artist to set themselves up as a wedding photographer, and bilk a few couples out of their money before moving on to some other scam, but what surprises me is that a lot of these fraudsters appear to have been running a legitimate photography business at one time.

I'm very surprised at how few people ask me for references. I guess the references could be faked, but any service I'm spending more than a $1000 on I'm asking for references.

 

[Overread]

I think its a case that many get caught up taking big money for a short amount of appearance work (shooting the day) and then decied that they are on to a nice earner and over subscribe to weddings - the result is a few months down the line they have 1000s/10000s of photos awaiting editing and such (which can take hours per photo) and they just can't get on top of it - they need to keep doing weddings to keep the money comming in - and then slowly dig themselves a very deep pit to fall into.

Others appear to be just plain crooks

 

[Mike_E]

2 years ago?!?

No sympathy here for that!

The guy needs to man up and deliver- and then find some way to refund all but the material costs.

If anyone reading this finds themselves unable to deliver, please don't run from the problem. Running only makes things worse. Talk with your clients and work something out even if it's painful. Painful is better than ruining your career! (or making yourself look like that guy )

 

[Big Mike]

At least that story didn't turn into a 'wedding photographers are evil' tirade.

 

[Bifurcator]

but what surprises me is that a lot of these fraudsters appear to have been running a legitimate photography business at one time.

I don't think they intended fraud is all those cases. Some people are just nit-wits. They drink fluoridated water and line up for flu vaccinations every year and by the time they're in their early 20's they're wondering why they can't think well enough to figure out even the simplest business etiquette. Wedding Photography would be a natural magnet for these types. No education needed, CC buys a camera, no rigorous business lic. requirements, it doesn't seem like you need to think much, no boss to oversee your work, etc.

Just like was evident with David Cohen. His "business went down the drain" and he not only doesn't know exactly why but doesn't have the faculties at his disposal to command a solution. Derrr, I tuat I wuz do'en da rite ting... Derrr. I'll do it, I'll take care ugh dem.. Dohh.. K?

LOL Drink some more fluoride and have another shot buddy...

 

[Joves]

Well if he keeps having to run from people, he will get rid of that extra weight.