Not Happy with Pictures

I think you got what you paid for.
$30 is a far cry from professional, and if you hate confrontation then it's not worth it. I'd let it go and move on.

I'm a professional photographer and honestly, you get what you pay for. Take it as a lesson learned. If you want real professional photo's then you are going to be paying in the hundreds for it. You do still need to pay her though. She did put in the time and effort to do the session and maybe editing (I don't know). Next time if you want real professional photo's, then look around and find a good one (professionals do not charge $30) and then you will get the photo's you want. Good luck

I'm a photographer, just starting out. I'm doing free sessions right now as a way to get my name out there. If a client isn't happy with their pictures, I want to know! I would want to do to free retakes so that they could come out with a good picture.

Personally, as an artist? I'm a graphic designer, and I do professional work for clients on a freelance basis, kind of like a photographer who takes pictures on a freelance basis. When I submit my work to a client for review, I expect them to tell me the honest truth... if they don't like what I show them, I revise and resubmit. In this situation, I would be honest... but not hurtful, because I'm sure that's not what you are looking for. Let her know you are hesitant to pay the $30 because you aren't completely thrilled with the look of the pictures. Tell her what you are looking for... good lighting, props, back drops, the use of his personal toys... ask her if she would be willing to reshoot free of charge, keeping in mind you have a few things you'd like for her to consider before taking the pictures, and at that point you'd be glad to pay the initial $30.

Again, as an artist, I would want to know that my work isn't even subpar. and I would want to fix it to make sure my client and any other future prospects would be happy. Because word of mouth travels... if someone isn't happy, she tells her friends, and then I can't find any freelance work. See what I'm saying?

Good luck, let me know how it goes!

Personally I'd pony up the $30 (not ilke it's $150) and call it al esson learned. I always like my own pictures better than most professional places. The best backdrop for photos is outside. Early or late in the day are called "the magic hours" for anyone into film-making or photography as the sun is less harsh, the shadows are deeper and the colors are more true. If there's a body of water anywhere nearby (pond, lake, etc.) you'll have even more true colors since the water reflects light. Bring a digital camera and experiment with different settings. Take a zillion pictures since you can delete all the goof-ups (closed eyes, wierd expressions, windy hair). Try all kinds of settings. My favorite picture of my son around 18 months was at the play ground - he was sitting at the bottom of a bright yellow tunnels slide and his grey and blue jacket had yellow piping (that I hadn't noticed). His cheeks were all rosy (it was a cool fall day). My favorite photo of my daughter was in our living room on a sunny Saturday morning and she was playing with her dress-up bos. She had a tiara on crooked, a feather boa wrapped around her shoulders and about 10 beaded necklaces around her neck. She was so pleased with herself and the sun was beaming in the window.

Go online and google tips for photographing kids. the best advice I was given when my neices & nephews were small (30 years ago) was to get down to their level to take photos. Sit on the floor / ground. Even lie down and look up at them. Get different perspectives.

And a big BTW - school photos always suck. I eventually gave up. The guys taking the pictures don't care, they just want to get out of there (can't blame them). Your kid's hair will be standing on end, or they take the pictures right after gym class when they're sweaty and disheveled. then your kid will decide they don't like the outfit you put them in and they'll take off the cute sweater and look like they're wearing their underwear... I got to the point where I only bought the class photo and took my own.

I'd lean the same way.
In this situation I'd consider the almost free price, her relationship with your family member AND the probability of future interaction and the awkwardness avoided by not causing a stink.

If this were a professional photographer, you could certainly turn the work down and/or ask for retakes. You could ask in this case, too... but maybe it would start a family quarrel. If your brother's friend (or your brother) is offended by your request, you might go ahead and pay, and just not employ her again. But I hope that, if this woman wants to earn money through photography, she'll take a professional attitude. It's such a subjective thing, liking or disliking shots; a photographer needs to be ready to roll with the punches.

My friend did my son's 18 month picture.. and I loved them. But she said over and over, if you don't like these or there is not enough, we can do another shoot. I paid $100, and I got the disc.. so that covered her time and I had the rights to make as many as I wanted. So the $30.00 dollars is not that much.

Ask her to re do the shoot? say you are not happy.

I will admit, this is one of the reasons why my daughter has never had professional pics, I just take them my self. I have the camera and lenses. Then I am only upset with my self.

When you think about how much it would cost to take your son to a portrait studio, $30 is really nothing. We've taken our kids to Walmart many times (Picture Me, maybe?). They do a nice job! You can get talked into one of their packages, or you can just go with their current special.

Lots of portrait studios have deals. I'd just pay her and take him somewhere.

I would either pay and learn or ask for retakes if there are poses you liked but they weren't quite what you expected. I do not like buying pictures sight unseen and I think that's backwards. The studio I took DD to took 24 pictures and I picked the ones Iiked to actually buy. So consider going that route. Even school pictures do retakes.

ETA: Gidget has a point. Target (where we got DD's 4 yr old pictures) has some coupons right now. http://www.targetportraits.com/offers/portrait-studio-cou...

30? Yeah, you got what you pay for. I would charge more then that for a deposit!!

Is she a person that has a fancy camera that likes to take pictures, or is she a professional? That's the difference. You get what you pay for, so give her $30 and move on. It sucks, but it's not worth the confrontation or awkwardness.

I'd ask for some retakes as you didn't get exactly what you were hoping for. As a professional, she should want to know if someone isn't happy. And since you have common acquaintences, you'll be running into her for years so deal with it now. Give her a chance to make it right. If the new ones turn out like you want, then great maybe you'll refer her to someone else. At this point, you wouldn't refer her. She can only improve with honest feedback.
When I used to do this, I always wanted honest feedback as well as friends that are photographers. Word of mouth is key to this career.

Yep, lesson learned.

I would talk to her. Thank her for the disc but ask if she can take a few more pictures in hopes of getting the one you want.

A., I seems like you wanted 2 different things from this photographer. You mentioned that you liked some of the pictures you had seen that she did previously, but then you also commented that there were no backdrops/props.

What was it you liked about the other photos? Were they also of children? If they were, were backdrops/props in them? You may find that she did not "own" them, that they were supplied by other people.
If you liked the style of the other photos, but they were more of adults, it's possible that she tried to change her approach for shooting a child.

I would talk to her, use some of her other photos as examples, & let her know that you were hoping to get something that looked more like (one of them). Ask if she'd be willing to do a quick reshoot to try to capture that look, & be honest but polite/respectful about what the photos she took are lacking that make you not like them as much.

Truly, the reason you hired her is because you DID like her work! So let her know that.... and then, give her a chance to recreate the magic for YOUR photos that you saw in others. You may find that she put raw images on the disc & the magic comes when you pick your pose & she does digital editing.

If she says no, or has a reason that the other photos look the way they do that she cannot recreate, then you still do owe her the $30. That covers her time & expenses of taking the photos, plus all additional work of review, any editing, etc.

But then, know that you dealt with someone who even after you approached them with respect & honesty, did not respond with integrity, & make sure you vet out other photographers more carefully.

But I'm going to believe that if you approach it with praise for her work, & concern about the differences in your pictures, she will be more than willing to do them over!!

T.

I would ask her for another shoot.

My son has a HARD time with pictures. He is a flirt, smiler, a little ham who loves putting on a show, but the minute a camera comes out, he flips a switch and stops all cuteness :-) We did not get an actual smile in a picture until he was 2 years old and that was because we paid more for a photographer to follow us around while playing in a park, so things were more natural than in a photo studio where you are trying to get a kid to smile and perform in an unfamiliar environment. STRESSFUL - I hated picture days with him and then was so disappointed when I didn't get one I liked or didn't capture the ham who was always smiling for me at home.

I think it is unrealistic to try and capture a child in a "professional" setting. Sometimes in the living room with his favorite toys will capture the little boy you know. Some kids do a GREAT job showing off and smiling on cue, but my son didn't. Some of my favorite shots of him were taken with a phone! :-)

You get what you pay for. I would pay it and take it as a lesson learned. So there are not hurt feelings on any party. Remember she is just starting too.

I too, would pay the $30. But I would also tell her that if she wants to do this professionally, she will need to figure out a way to make her work look more professional. She needs the "constructive criticism".

You can just use the pictures as if you took them yourself for your photo album.

Hope you get a good picture elsewhere.

Dawn

HECK NO!!! i wouldnt give her a dime-if you went to target,bought a vaccum so to speak-put it together and it didnt work-would you just keep it?
heck no-youd take it back-same with pics-anyone can take crappy pics-if your paying for a service-you want it done proffessionally-not 1/2 assed-dont let ppl take advantage of you!! 30 bucks is 30 bucks-did you get that money for free? im assuming NO- so she shouldnt either.have her do a retake.good luck

I'm was an art major. Basically that meant there were a couple of us weirdos like me and like 80 percent photogs. So most my friends are photogs! It's a super flooded market. She wouldn't want to lose a client and even worse not have your word of mouth. Especially if she is so low budget that she doesn't have back drops or a lighting kit. Be honest with her. I'd say you got a big majority odds that she'll be all too happy to give it a second go. If she isn't.... Then if you have a contract you'd have to pay her and if you wanted to bother take her to small claims court to get your money back. Know that's a moot point with you just saying. But be honest with her. She might have just had a bad day if all her work you've seen was good. Give her a second go.

No I would not pay her. I would talk to her and tell her what your expectations were. Ask her to retake the pictures. Ask about backdrops and props, lighting ect. If she is a professional she should be able to provide at least the backdrops.

When my grandson was a baby, about 8 months, my daughter dressed him up, and used a white sheet attached to his pack and play and used some Christmas garland and a Santa hat and took some adorable pictures of him.

One thing to ask about is what she is using for a backdrop. A large peice of fabric or a sheet work great, just make sure the backdrop contrasts but not too sharply with your clothing. For instance if you are wearing black you don't want the backdrop in black or gray but if you may not want red or yellow either.