Hired a Professional - Now need some help with the results

[kdeerhake]

I'm in a family of 6 and it's not very often that everyone in together. So in September we took the opportunity to have a photograph we had taken 10 years ago duplicated. I was short on time and to what I thought, I hired a great photographer. They had a studio on a busy street and also specialized in framing and photography. I liked what was on their site and liked it when I spoke with them.

I expressed some concerns on how the picture 10 years ago was out of focus and how the main object in the picture was crooked.

Either way we were not happy with the exposure issues, composition issues (items in background that could have easily been avoided) and the biggest one is focus. There is not one picture in the batch where focus is spot on. I politely explained that we were not happy with some of the images and asked that they possibly send me the raw files since it was part of the agreement that the we own the images after the shoot. Instead they sent me another CD in the mail with some of the images adjusted very slightly.

The biggest problem is the one image we needed to duplicate from 10 years ago is overexposed and out of focus. I sent him another email explaining that we still are not satisfied and asked him to just send me the raw files since I'm pretty confident the exposure can be fixed, but they are unwilling to give me the raw files.

I have pictures that I can post, but didn't know if it was against policy to post images shot from another photographer. If not, I'll post some from the batch to see if maybe I'm the one with a bad eye.

 

[Robin Usagani]

asking photographer for the RAW is a NO NO IMO unless he/she is your friend. He could very well use only JPEG. Just post it somewhere and give us the link.

 

[Big Mike]

RAW files are not magical. If the JPEG images are out of focus, the RAW files won't give you in-focus images either.

Ask for a refund/re-shoot.

 

[e.rose]

So you had this picture 10 years ago and NOW you want it fixed?

Or the photographer you hired to "duplicate" that picture sucked and you want the files?

Either way... I HIGHLY doubt... unless their an idiot... that your contract says that you "own the pictures" afterwards. They probably gave you a PRINT RELEASE, that allows you to print them when you want, but that's *not* the same thing as giving you copyright ownership.

They don't have to give you the RAW files. And they probably won't.

 

[e.rose]

RAW files are not magical. If the JPEG images are out of focus, the RAW files won't give you in-focus images either.

Ask for a refund/re-shoot.

Also, this.

 

[kdeerhake]

Sorry for not making that clear. It was recently we hired a photographer to duplicate an image from 10 years ago. Unfortunately we are all over the country, so a re-shoot may not be possible for years, until we are all together again.

I was hoping with the raw files that I could fix the exposure and sharpen the image. Also my mother is really complaining about the objects in the background so I'll edit those out as well.

Let me know your thoughts: Can I them to show up directly?

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[url]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/psifactor/PhotoForum%20Post/P9124746.jpg[/url]

 

[gsgary]

They were not professional photographers, did you find them on Facebook ?

 

[kdeerhake]

They had an actual studio................and work on their site was good. I no longer live in the area and was short on time. I honestly thought I made a good decision. Are you stating that after viewing the images?

 

[e.rose]

So ask for a refund. RAW files aren't going to fix those. If they're out of focus, they're out of focus... no amount of sharpening will help.

What does your contract say about refunding?

 

[DiskoJoe]

ya, you got skrewed. sorry yo. How much did you spend on this shoot?

what is the photogs website? i want to see what they advertise on there.

i would ask for a refund only and not a reshoot. dont give them a chance to do this to you again.

 

[480sparky]

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Technically, yes, but it's a TPF violation to post photos here you don't own the copyrights to.

There's a LOT of crooked horizons, but that's super-duper easy to fix.

 

[e.rose]

ya, you got skrewed. sorry yo. How much did you spend on this shoot?

what is the photogs website? i want to see what they advertise on there.

Yeah, me too! haha

 

[Big Mike]

They were not professional photographers, did you find them on Facebook ?

hey had a studio on a busy street and also specialized in framing and photography. I liked what was on their site and liked it when I spoke with them.

The exposures could be better but they're not horrible. Shooting it direct sunlight is hard to do. What it your idea or theirs to shoot/pose on that boat?
It's hard to judge the sharpness with web-sized images. They don't necessarily look tack sharp, but they don't look that blurry either.

 

[kdeerhake]

Yeah I'm cool with fixing the crooked horizon with a jpeg, but I really wanted the raws to try to help out the exposure issues.

$150 for one hour.

Johnson Photography Custom photography and framing specialists. We offer custom portrait sessions at very reasonable and affordable pricing. Explore photography without Boundaries. Custom picture and art framing in the Sandusky Ohio area is also avai
Now that I'm re-looking at their website I do see some photos that I do not like. Also not to knock other brands, but I'm used to seeing Nikon or Canons. He was shooting with an Olympus?

 

[Robin Usagani]

The sun is just at a horrible spot without additional lighting. He should have put light on the right hand side. Unfortunately you cant change the orientation of the subject to make it work without additional lighting.

The other photos are Meh.... Bad placement of the sun for no flash photo.