Small Rant

[pixmedic]

im just gonna throw this out there...
im willing to bet that if your assistant got a lawyer to draft an official letter asking for a refund (partial or full, whatever)
or things will progress to the lawsuit phase, she would get a refund pretty quick.
it might be worth a few hundy's for an attorney to type up something official to get her $1500 back.

again...i am absolutely advocating a consult from an actual attorney before making any demands of the photographer.

 

[sscarmack]

And also, maybe the photographer has picked up on that your assistant and husband can easily be shoved around as they have "no fight in them". So I agree with Pix here.

You can't take advantage of someone who doesn't let you.

 

[Gary A.]

Coming in here late, but a pro should know how to deal with all lighting situations they encounter. A real pro would have visited the church prior to the event and spoken to the pastor about the lighting and the do's and don'ts. A real pro would had admitted that they failed and refunded all the money. Unfortunately, many newly weds skimp on the photographer and look for bargains (ala Uncle Bob), not realizing that the photos are an extremely important element. Sure you have a three tiered cake ... but is will be destroyed within hours ... and a dress to die for ... but in a year or so you'll never fit in it again ... the smiles and toasts will fade and be forgotten, but the photographs will last a lifetime.

It is so sad that many people's greed is of greater value than their honor.

I know you probably have already given a wedding present, (even though I think you have a year before you're officially in default), otherwise I suggest to pony up for an attorney. I sorta like Designer's idea and maybe you get other wedding guests to chip in for an attorney.

$1500 is a lot of money for kids just starting out.

 

[tirediron]

Respectfully, there is no other side as the contract is spelled out. The photographer did not perform all the actions spelled out in the contract. Here is a link to the contract, it is real close to this if not the same as I recall.

Contract for Wedding Photography Services

That's pretty generic; all it calls for him to do is show up and take pictures. I doubt that there's a substantial or relevant portion that isn't at least partially fulfilled under law. In addition to a letter from a solicitor, I would also inquire with the appropriate local office to see if he's licensed to conduct business in that area.

I would NOT be so quick or positive about a successful resolution in small claims court. Your assistant will have to demonstrate that her images are markedly different than those she was shown.

No real 'pro' would blame the venue; as Gary points out, any pro worth his salt will have done a venue recce ahead of time, talked to the Rector/Officiant about dos and don'ts and asked for tips. Any chance we could get a link to the photographer's website?

 

[jcdeboever]

Respectfully, there is no other side as the contract is spelled out. The photographer did not perform all the actions spelled out in the contract. Here is a link to the contract, it is real close to this if not the same as I recall.

Contract for Wedding Photography Services

That's pretty generic; all it calls for him to do is show up and take pictures. I doubt that there's a substantial or relevant portion that isn't at least partially fulfilled under law. In addition to a letter from a solicitor, I would also inquire with the appropriate local office to see if he's licensed to conduct business in that area.

I would NOT be so quick or positive about a successful resolution in small claims court. Your assistant will have to demonstrate that her images are markedly different than those she was shown.

No real 'pro' would blame the venue; as Gary points out, any pro worth his salt will have done a venue recce ahead of time, talked to the Rector/Officiant about dos and don'ts and asked for tips. Any chance we could get a link to the photographer's website?

I'll check with her.

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[jcdeboever]

Respectfully, there is no other side as the contract is spelled out. The photographer did not perform all the actions spelled out in the contract. Here is a link to the contract, it is real close to this if not the same as I recall.

Contract for Wedding Photography Services

That's pretty generic; all it calls for him to do is show up and take pictures. I doubt that there's a substantial or relevant portion that isn't at least partially fulfilled under law. In addition to a letter from a solicitor, I would also inquire with the appropriate local office to see if he's licensed to conduct business in that area.

I would NOT be so quick or positive about a successful resolution in small claims court. Your assistant will have to demonstrate that her images are markedly different than those she was shown.

No real 'pro' would blame the venue; as Gary points out, any pro worth his salt will have done a venue recce ahead of time, talked to the Rector/Officiant about dos and don'ts and asked for tips. Any chance we could get a link to the photographer's website?

Studio 34 Photography by Chrissie Batt

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I don't do Facebook, maybe y'all can see

 

[JacaRanda]

Is it still not clear that accepting money for something does not make one a Pro?

 

[tirediron]

Studio 34 Photography by Chrissie Batt

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I don't do Facebook, maybe y'all can see

Another graduate of YUP* by the looks of it. This is the REAL problem caused by the 'cell-phone selfie' generation. Most people haven't seen enough real professional photography to recognize it any more. This person is someone who's just enough better than the average bear to be seen as 'good' by Joe & Jane Q. Public, but this page is full of lighting issues, off-level images, and such that 20, 30 years ago, people would have seen it as amateur-ish. Now it's 'good enough'. Sad, really.


*YouTube University of Photography

 

[jcdeboever]

Studio 34 Photography by Chrissie Batt

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
I don't do Facebook, maybe y'all can see

Another graduate of YUP* by the looks of it. This is the REAL problem caused by the 'cell-phone selfie' generation. Most people haven't seen enough real professional photography to recognize it any more. This person is someone who's just enough better than the average bear to be seen as 'good' by Joe & Jane Q. Public, but this page is full of lighting issues, off-level images, and such that 20, 30 years ago, people would have seen it as amateur-ish. Now it's 'good enough'. Sad, really.


*YouTube University of Photography

I agree. Seriously, you guys know how bad I am but I could have done a better job than her. I would never attempt to one for money because I assisted on one this summer and the Pro had 8 lights and three helpers. It was a lot of work and took a great deal of skill which I don't possess yet. I moved things, got things, and took some video at the tables. I didn't learn a lot because I busy listening to his direction and he kept me busy with the little things.

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[Designer]

I agree with tirediron. Too bad about your assistant, though, and not meaning to criticize her, but I didn't see anything that would make me want to hire this photographer.

 

[sscarmack]

^^Exactly, and its not like 1,500 is cheap by any stretches. Certainly not expensive, but its still a chunk of change.

 

[pixmedic]

before things start to spiral, as they often do whenever a fauxtographer's web page is presented...
let me make the plea for people not to get too uncivilized about the horrible fauxtography that jcdeboever linked to.
I did note on the FB page that this person just acquired a studio, and said "A stop that started as me purchasing a light ended up with me purchasing an entire studio. 99.9 percent of which i had no idea how to use. I had to learn a new camera, new computer system, studio lighting, photoshop, how to frame an image, and many other countless things."...

ill just leave it at that.

 

[robbins.photo]

before things start to spiral, as they often do whenever a fauxtographer's web page is presented...
let me make the plea for people not to get too uncivilized about the horrible fauxtography that jcdeboever linked to.
I did note on the FB page that this person just acquired a studio, and said "A stop that started as me purchasing a light ended up with me purchasing an entire studio. 99.9 percent of which i had no idea how to use. I had to learn a new camera, new computer system, studio lighting, photoshop, how to frame an image, and many other countless things."...

ill just leave it at that.

Ok, so they can go with the lawyer, or we can go with plan B.

We'll need 3 ninja costumes, a can of black spray paint, a stun gun, some superglue and a large coconut.

I'll just leave it at that.

 

[DarkShadow]

Everybody got to eat but this is very sad. You really do have to check the portfolio and reputation.When my wife and I got married I herd by word and mouth about a great wedding photographer but when I went and checked him out not only could we not afford him he was booked solid.I seen his portfolio and work was crazy good and his reputation from people that could afford him was nothing but fantastic.

 

[tirediron]

before things start to spiral, as they often do whenever a fauxtographer's web page is presented...
let me make the plea for people not to get too uncivilized about the horrible fauxtography that jcdeboever linked to.
I did note on the FB page that this person just acquired a studio, and said "A stop that started as me purchasing a light ended up with me purchasing an entire studio. 99.9 percent of which i had no idea how to use. I had to learn a new camera, new computer system, studio lighting, photoshop, how to frame an image, and many other countless things."...

ill just leave it at that.

Ok, so they can go with the lawyer, or we can go with plan B.

We'll need 3 ninja costumes, a can of black spray paint, a stun gun, some superglue and a large coconut.

I'll just leave it at that.

Don't forget the badger, we need the badger.