I hired a “professional” photographer for my elopement. I told them I wanted a 30 min. Shoot on Saturday/10:30am. They said great but did try to persuade me into an additional 30 minutes (+$125) but I stuck with what I originally wanted. I read/signed the contract & paid in full $300 for 30 mins of photography. The day before as well as 10 hrs. Before the scheduled shoot the photographer reached out to confirm & I did.
One hour before the scheduled time while my fiancé & I were getting ready the photographer reaches out to say they’re canceling & want to reschedule for tomorrow because it’s raining and they don’t want their equipment to get wet- Mind you I fully respect that, but there are key points: -the botanical gardens we we’re meeting at has indoor options available -we booked a hotel to be right next to the gardens because we live an hour away plus traffic is always terrible. -It was not raining, it wasn’t predicted to start raining until after 12-1pm, & in fact didn’t rain at our scheduled shoot time…
But the photographer insisted a different date. I said “well maybe we can make tomorrow evening work” and they said “sorry I’m booked.” I question why they offered tomorrow in the first place & then suggested one last option being 2 weeks from then, when we we’re having our reception to celebrate with loved ones. The photographer agreed to that date at 4pm, But it being done in my city this time which is where they advertise travel amongst without any travel fee.
Once again the days leading up they reach out to confirm & I do-
Then 3 days before they reach out to reschedule again, this time because she didn’t think her babysitter would have plans…
I respectfully told her if I don’t get these pictures taken I’d like a refund, & she said “ok, I’ll look for a babysitter and let you know by Tomorrow! If I can’t, I’ll issue your refund by tomorrow night!”
The next day (day before shoot & wedding reception) she asked if I’m available to do it from 2:30-3pm…. When I scheduled for 4pm. I told her I was unable to do that given everything I had planned & she said she’d issue the refund.
One week later I still didn’t receive any confirmation or refund so I reached out, and they say on their end it says 3-5 business days.
Over a week later I reach out because I still haven’t received anything. They responded saying they canceled and resubmitted it.
I immediately received an email about a PARTIAL REFUND. I ask what that is about and they say- “it’s my policy to secure clients spots, I’m sorry if you feel that’s unfair but that’s my policy”
I still kept it professional and sent the contact asking where it states that, because no where does it state or back up what she’s saying. And that it should be refunded because she couldn’t secure the time for me and uphold her end.
She couldn’t. But instead, said she should have charged me an extra $50 for rescheduling on the original date because of it raining & for travel- for changing the location of the rescheduled date!
When I didn’t even want to reschedule!
So I’m just looking for advice because I’m just pissed this person wasted my time like this and thinks their entitled to keep $150!
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I stopped reading after the second reschedule request to say you had a certain day and time to shoot. You should have walked and demanded money back then. Sure, they would have said the retainer is not refundable, but a small claims court would most likely disagree…
Amazing the first few comments I read relate to weather sealing. Can those commenters let me know which lenses are weather proof please?
Stuff like the XF35mm f2 WR is, though you’ll also need a weather sealed body.
Canon L lenses are weather-sealed. Some older models are not, however.
Many are not including all with barrels that extend. And weather sealed never means weather proof so I’d never risk it, not when my livelihood depends on having them at my disposal at all times
As an actual professional photographer this pisses me off. No client should be treated that way and strung along for some of the most important photos of their lives. The lack of respect is unreal. Contract be damned, if I had to fully cancel I’d refund you fully and help you find another photographer. Sorry that happened to you all.
Can’t believe what happened to you How dare they advertise them selves as pro and charge people for photos they take
This person has a social media account. Probably more than one. It is time for you to tell her that if she does not pay you your full refund, you will start posting this story everywhere.
This is what small claims court is for. You’ll get your money.
Also, name names. Let the world know this photographer is an idiot so other people don’t have the same problems you do. Seriously. This photographer is a poseur and shouldn’t be for hire.
I’m amazed how some photographers work…
The secret to success in this business is repeat business year after year. If they get engaged they get married and then they have babies and they have parents with 50th anniversaries and other life events they want captured. All of these are potential gigs…so why try to screw your customers for any event along the way? Give a paying customer who likes to have photos of all their life events great customer service and they’ll call you for everything!
This photographer is screwing up.
I’d tell her you love photos and you will have lots of events you want professional photography for in the future. And ask her for a referral to someone who can do the gig.
From the start they were giving excuses and should’ve refunded from the start but the best thing is there is a contract you guys signed as I have read but not sure what’s court can do about it because if they can do it to you they may have done it to many others
Not a professional… You hired a stay at home mum that does the odd photography jobs for a bit of cash on hand
Bet it’s not a registered business
That’s unfortunate.
I don’t recommend trying to pinch minutes. The people who pinch minutes are the ones who double or triple book, but then don’t want to say that their earlier gig is running late, or that something better came up, or the people who realize it’s going to be more work than they wanted to do.
So my advice is to not look at it as just 30 minutes, look at it as a day, because that’s how a lot of professional photographers will book it. Their schedule will almost never look like 8am-8:30 gig A, 8:45-10 gig b, 11-12 gig c. That’s a disaster waiting to happen and I don’t know anyone serious about the industry who works like that. The only possible exception is when they’re hired by a venue, and they’re working all day anyways, and the timeslots are for you the client and not for the photographer.
So instead of saying you just need photos from 8-830, book it as photos for that day starting at 8.
??? Irrelevant
I picked from the options offered from the photographer. What does that have to do with me? Thanks anyways
You should have dumped her on the first reschedule.
wow, wanna get marry just to hire that photographer . sounds amazing …
I would consider suing her for much more than a refund. You contracted her, she had an obligation to fulfill the contract. Now you don’t have professional photos of your marriage or of the celebration later.
Unprofessional and scammy, they initiated the rescheduling so it should be their responsibility, also they cancelled an appointment with you, I think you can legally sue them because it went against your original agreement or contract.
The idea that she asked you to reschedule your elopement is bananas. And then to try and reschedule again?? Beyond unprofessional. Any retainers are only held when the client cancels if she can’t preform her services it’s a full refund. This is the problem with the barrier to entry being so low with photography now. Any one can claim to be a business owner and photographer but they know nothing about what the are doing.
Sorry this happened I would just dispute the charge.