Do I Ask for a Refund and Have Someone Else Retake Them?

Oh yes!!! I would demand a refund or else go to small claims, for the amount of time its been, it sounds like you have been pretty nice about the situation. i would also report to the BBB and any other way possible. Who knows who else this has happened to!!

Dear B.,

Unless you have a contract, you may have waited too long to exercise your consumer rights. Your photographer may not know this. I would write a letter stating exactly what you want.

Deposit returned
All negatives/proofs destroyed (Wedding and Bedroom Photos)

Also state if your demands are not met within 10 days, you will:

1. File a complaint with the BBB
2. Turn her in to the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board
(This might be your saving grace, because I suspect this person may be operating outside state and federal tax laws).
3. File a small claims suit against her company

She may also require a local license to operate in the counties where business is conducted. (She probably doesn't have one).

Let us know how it turns out...Blessings!

I feel so badly for you! I agree with the other moms - get a full refund. I like the advice about putting it in writing. That way there's a paper trail.

If it makes you feel any better, my wedding pictures didn't turn out either (we ran off to Vegas, so I didn't expect much though). I am consoling myself by thinking about re-dedicating our vows at 10 years in the tropical wedding we really wanted (but could not afford when we got married).

WITHOUT QUESTION! Unbelievable! SO sorry for you..I had an irritating wedding photgrapher but at least I did get some decent pics...too posed and wasted a lot of our time during the day but you deserve at least a partial refund. I would go get the pics and demand to see the lingerie ones and get what you can and then file in small claims for the max...but try to pick up what you can first.
Good lUck!

I would definately ask for a refund. That is unacceptable. I know it's a hard thing to do (I hate confrontations) but you definately did NOT get what you paid for! And why isn't she releasing your lingerie pictures? That would creep me out. I would also report the photographer to the Better Business Bureau. There are also websites (I've seen commercials for on TV) like angieslist.com where you can put your opinion out on some businesses (good or bad) so others in your area can read about it before they use someones services. I would defintely ask for a refund and report her. This sounds ridiculous! Good luck!!!

She most likely wouldn't give you your money back now so you should taske her to small claims court. The time to tell her the pics were awful was before ordering any of them. It is unfortunate but they are the only pics you have and you can't redo that day the way it was. She has to show you the lingerie phots and let you decide if you want retakes.

If she won't give you a refund then I would sue in small claims court. It's fairly inexpensive to file and I am betting that once she gets served the court papers she will cough up the refund. Good luck. L.

Yes... Get your money back. And she has intimate photos of you. You really need to get those. And make sure you get the negatives. And she should just give them back without any charge. You have put up with too much. If you don't get those back, take her to court. And call the BBB.

Don't worry about being tactful. 2 years is too long. I got the finished products of my wedding photos approx. 3 months after my wedding. I was married in September and got them in time to make christmas gifts for my parents and my in-laws.

Yes! You had to wait 2 years to get your wedding pictures? Completely unacceptable!

Photographs are a product and if you do not want it you do not have to pay for it. If she refuses to refund your money, take her to small claims court. whatever you do, find out if she is a member of the BBB and report her.

Hi B.,
I am so sorry for you experience with your photographer! I am a mom of 4 girls and a wedding photog my self. Here is what I suggest: Go to your contract if you have one, Find out exactly when and what she promised you. Send her a certified-return reciept letter with a copy of the contract with her responsibilities highlighted (she probably lost hers) and tell her what you want, A- your money back, or B what she promised, plus your negatives back! Give her a time limit, 10 days or less. Then tell her, do not ask, Tell her if she does not complete what she promised, you will be taking legal action. Keep your records together. Get out your phone records and try to write down every time you have called. It sounds to me like she does not keep good files. Report her definitely to the BBB and local chamber. You can even post comments on the knot to save someone else.
I always sit down and explain to my brides exactly what they are getting for the price discussed and I promise pictures in 4-6 weeks, and it is all in writing.
If you really don't like ANY of the photos, talk to your family and friends and have them all send you copies of theirs! Everyone sees different beautiful things, and even though they may not be "professional" photos, they could be just as lovely because they were taken by those closest to you, those who love you and know you better! Have a picture party, ask eveyone to bring you thier cd's or favorite photos, get a big beautiful scrapbook and build you own book with the love of your friends helping you! Then it will be a labor of love, created by You and the people who care about you the most! That will be more meaningful than any obligitory photos that make you cry! Please please have good luck with this and make this a happy memory! The best photos make you feel happy, it sounds like you friends pictures might be the best ones of all. Best of luck and let me know if you need any help!
-from C., new to petaluma and the mom of 4 very beautiful girls, 13, 11,9,5

Hi,
I had the same issue's with our wedding photo's. The photographer took horrible pic's. They all had shadow & lighting problems,my husband's head ended up looking 12 inches bigger than it was etc...I complained when we got the proof's & never heard from him again! We tried to order some of the picture's but like I said we NEVER heard from him again. I was never able to order any of our photo's. we tried to go to another photographer to see if they could get copies of the proof's from him & they were not able to either. They even went so far as to contact the developer. No luck......
If you can get your money back, I would try. I think it is unlikely though that they will give you any. The biggest problem is that you can't just recreate your wedding! I have found out that those memories will just have to be from our thoughts cause we don't have pic's.
I have been married for almost 25 yr's & I am ALMOST over it.
Hopefully, you will be a little more persistent than I was, cause now I have nothing to show for it....We may re-new our vows next year & I will make sure I have a better photographer.....L.

Yes. It sounds like she did a bad job.

Hi There,
I am not sure if your question is to get a refund for the lingerie pictures or both the wedding and lingerie. The photographer refuses to show you the lingerie pictures and thinks you should spend your time to retake them. Ask for your money back and be clear as to why you want your money back. It sounds like you gave no indication that you were not happy with the wedding pictures to the photographer and you did not say when you gave your selection to the person. I waited over a year to give my selections to my photographer, so it makes sense that I will not get the photo back 3 months after the wedding. If you really do not want any of the photos I would ask for a total refund. You sound like a nice person, so you might want to write a draft and have someone you trust read it to make sure your reasons for a refund are clear and email to photographer vs. a phone call.
:) S.

As for a refund!
Demand to see the pics for hubby. I bet they are lost too.
Refund!
S

YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO DEMAND A REFUND. I had a very similar situation happen at my wedding and to this day, I still feel upset when I look at my album - the pictures are horrible! You need to take care of this now, do not let it fester. Make sure you let your photographer know that you are unhappy with the photos. If she is not willing to work with you, make sure you let your feelings be known on internet ratings sites - that is what they are there for. I dont mean to be so agressive, but it hits close to home. Good luck!

OMG get your money back!!! 2 years to get your photos? I would not have waited 2 months. YOu are going to have to be a lioness on this one, but you need to go in with a clear head. It is unacceptable for any photos to have taken that long. Also, regardless of whether or not you should retake any photos, lingerie pics- you need to get those negatives/originals. If you have to, get a lawyer...take her to court. You hired her to do a job which she clearly did not follow through on. TWICE! There is no reason she should be able to keep that money or your photos. Plus, I might be concerned what she is doing with the photos or if she totally wrecked them or what.
B- Get your money back and take no other answer. Be firm.
Good luck!
-E.

I agree with the other mothers... but I'd just go ahead and take her to court... enough is enough.

Threaten to take her to small claims court. That is ridicoulous!!!

Dear B.,

This photographer is unethical. You can not have wedding pictures "retaken" nor can you have the intimate ones reshot two years later after the birth of a baby. Do not accept any of the pictures she has sent to you.

Send them back with a letter explaining that it has been two years since you married and that this second set (the first set being "lost" as she clams) is not acceptable, not only because they are very late, but because they are of very poor quality. Tell her that she is to send you a complete refund ($1000+) or you will take her to small claims court.

If she does not send you the refund money, take her to small claims court.I believe you will get all of your money back.

M. (aka Merylyn)