I know I've been MIA since I posted the photos.
I also know that you all loved the photos I did post. So do we.
They are the best images of the day. I just haven't known what to say. Mr B & I are so unhappy with the photos in general. After reading all your lovely comments I just started to feel massively ungrateful. Like you would all hate me if I told you I feel ill about the photos we are missing, as in it's keeping me up at night as I replay and obsess over it.
There is no photo of me getting my hair or make up done. No portrait of me with my mother. No close up portrait of me at all. There are fifteen shots of me with the girls and forty three of Mr B with the boys. No detail shots of the placecards we spent hours making. Hardly any photos of Mr B & I on our own. I could go on and on.
We spent $60 on socks for the boys sock shot. You all know the one. And we got this -
I adore the ring photos on everyone's blogs. And I adore our rings so was really looking forward to ours. These are the most in focus shots.
This is the backdrop the photographer chose for our portraits - even though we both expressed concerns at the time - eg. Us -We really don't like the look of this. Him - It looks great. Us - trusting that he was seeing something we weren't.
I particularly like the ugly pots and the chair that is creeping in on the left hand side of the frame. Did he not see it?See this shot -
He said - Stand there and smile. And we said - we don't think this is a great backdrop. You can see the look on our faces - the what are you thinking? look. Would you like a cheese platter? WTF?Mr B & I had big plans for some fun balloon shots. Trying to make Mr B look like he was floating away. This is the way our photographer choose to crop it - without the balloons. And I even remember him saying - Oh these look great.
He cropped everything WAY too tight. The front of this building is so beautiful. But you'll have to take my word for it.
I think the shots I am most gutted about are my walk down the aisle. This was a huge moment for me and my Dad. And the only shots we have all look like this.
Not a single shot from the front. And none of the girls or my beautiful flower girl walking down the aisle.
This is how ALL the ceremony pictures look. No zoom in, zoom out, change angles. How would you have taken this photo? Landscape? Or portrait?
We had the most beautiful venue. Yet 80% of the shots are all of just the staircase. All the family shots and the ceremony shots look pretty much identical to those shots of the bridal party I posted before.I know I am being picky. But we paid the man $2000 for these shots. It was the BIGGEST wedding expense. These photos were really important to us. I've seen his photos. He shoots for a wedding magazine - does all their covers. Beautiful shots. He's even got a shoe shot on his website that is killer. We kept saying can we give you a list - and he said no he had it covered. We thought we were on the same page.
I just don't know what happened.
I emailed him three days ago and still haven't heard anything back.
What do you think? Honestly? Are we being too picky?
38 Ideas shared:
I’m so sorry. I don’t think you’re being too picky at all, and I would honestly be disappointed, too. I’m being very honest when I say that you look beautiful in the pictures no matter what, but I think he could have and should have chosen better backgrounds, angles and ways to crop. And what type of professional photographer refuses a shot list? I have never heard of such a thing!
As for the shots going down the aisle, was there a second photographer on hand? I feel that for $2,000, there definitely should have been. I’m so, so sorry that you’re now left feeling disappointed.
I don't want to make you feel worse-- because you did get some great shots-- but for that money I feel like you should be happier with your purchase. Can you ask them to recrop the photos from his originals? Or tell him that he did not take direction well and owes you? Maybe he could give you a free shoot to make up for it so that you and your husband could get dressed up again and take some new photos? Good luck!
I agree with Bicoastal Bride and Cupcake Wedding. At the very least the ring shots can be re-done, right? These seem like this guy just sort of checked out at pretty important moments. Sigh, I'm sorry these haven't turned out as you'd hoped.
I recently read somewhere a piece of advice on choosing a photographer: ask to see contact sheets from a few different weddings, because any photographer can get a few good shots from 8 hours of coverage. I don't want to make you feel worse either, but after your experience since photography is going to be one of our biggest expenses too I am definitely going to have to be fully certain that the photographer and us are on the same page.
I really hope you can get something better from this guy. It won't come close to making it up, but still.
You are absolutely right in your feelings, these are not what I would be happy to present to a client, it seems like he really phoned it in.
And I know that photographers can be heaps more expensive but seriously 2 grand is a lot of money and you should be happy with what you have.
Definitely keep at the photographer about your unhappiness. Is he local cause I though it odd that you were waiting for them in the mail if he was?
You are absolutely right in your feelings, these are not what I would be happy to present to a client, it seems like he really phoned it in.
And I know that photographers can be heaps more expensive but seriously 2 grand is a lot of money and you should be happy with what you have.
Definitely keep at the photographer about your unhappiness. Is he local cause I though it odd that you were waiting for them in the mail if he was?
Lady, I was going to post about this (maybe I should sooner than later).
I was in EXACTLY the same boat- just not in love with all my photos (cropping, why weren't there more couple shots, lack of detail shots I slaved over, killed me that I didn't have individual shots with the girls).
In terms of making up, see if you can get a photo session of the details and maybe a mini post session. I'm not sure he'll actually give it to you, but worth a try.
I was a little happier when we got married in Taiwan and my brother took detail shots including stuff we brought from the original NYC wedding.
I know it kills you. But don't let it consume you. You really do have some great shots, like I did too. If you have time later for some of those shots, do it. Otherwise, stressing will get you nowhere. It's such a disappointment, but once you gather all the pro and friend shots, you realize you still have some wonderful gems of photos and the marriage of course being the biggest one of all.
You are looking at them quite critically, but I know I would be doing the same for my wedding photos.
I agree the composition and cropping of some of those photos does seem a bit amatuer. But although some are just okay, there are some that are lovely (from the first post for example).. but I guess its the shots that are missing altogether which must be the most heartbreaking.
Sorry Im probably making you feel worse but I do think your disappointment is justified and it will be really interesting to see what he replies to your email.
This might make you feel better!
Its the couple from the UK who sued their wedding photographer, their photos were pretty awful
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/748226-are-these-the-worst-ever-wedding-day-photographs
Awe hon! That's horrible that you've been feeling that way. Especially because I can understand that feeling keeping you up at night.
It is really horrid that you didn't get the photos that you wanted. But on a positive note I'm actually jealous of the photos you've posted. You do have some keepers there (you've given me so much inspiration just with those photos alone!). I know that nowhere near makes up for what happened and that photographer should never have put you through that and made you feel this way.
Have you seen any photos from friends and family? I know it's not the same but they might have more to add to the collection.
Lots of hugs and evil thoughts aimed in the direction of the crappy photographer.
I'm so sorry that you are unhappy with your photos. Honestly my biggest fear is not ending up with good photos. I think the ones you posted before are great but I can understand why you are upset about the others and more importantly the lack of certain shots.
Is there anyway he could give you a partial refund? Since you said you are missing a lot of shots of you and your husband could you both wear your clothes again and have him take more pics of you two at the same location? I'm sure no one would ever know the difference.
I hope you are able to somehow come to a conclusion that makes you feel better about the photo situation.
It breaks my heart that you feel gutted. I feel gutted for you - not because I think the pictures are objectively bad (they aren't, and there are some great ones in there) but because you deserve to feel delighted with the photos.
Don't for a second think we would judge you for obsessing about this either. The photos are a big deal and I don't think you set your expectations too high at all.
I just wish there was something I could do to help you feel better!
Sending you big internet hugs xoxo
I don't want to make this worse for you, but I'm going to be honest. I agree wholeheartedly.
In fact, my heart was aching for you as I looked at these pictures. Even an amateur wedding photographer would have known to get face shots, shots at different angles, better backdrop shots. And a REALLY good photographer cares about the opinions of his subjects and listens to them when they express doubt or concern.
This sounds like an expensive douche who thinks he's too good to do a good job for an "average" person. It really sounds like he felt like he had better things to do with his time and wasn't concerning himself with quality.
I hope you have an option for recourse in this matter. A part of the fee returned or something . . . though I don't know if that would be possible.
I hurt for you, and I'm so sorry.
And I don't think you're being selfish. Your pictures are the only remnants you'll have of one of the most important days of your life. I wish this had turned out better for you, and I don't know what else to say, except I'm so sorry.
Em
I think you have every right to feel disappointed! While the shots you showed were beautiful, it sounds like the ones you couldn't show would have been just as beautiful. And for the money you paid you should be happier. To be honest I thought this was a more amateur photog, not the pro you describe. Can you visit his studio since he isn't replying to your emails? I know a refund of some sort doesn't get your pictures back, but some kind of reimbursement is needed if he can't fix your pics. So sorry that this happened to you guys!
Aww, honey, I'm so so so sorry that this happened to you. At the end of the day, you are the customer, and your photog needs to be concerned about his reputation. He should offer to do some portraits for you for free to make up for this. And I agree - at the very least, the ring shots can be re-done.
Whatever you do, keep pressing him until you get a response. Let him know that you're not going to just "go away." He owes it to you to make this up. I'm so sorry again!
oh wow. i'm so sorry you aren't happy with your photos..., i was so obsessed with photography that i had ours ferried in and put them up for the night in our "island" hotel!!!
i'm surprised he didn't let you give him your wish list. and i wonder..., the cropped pics, ... did he zoom in for the proofs or are his originals much farther out?
it couldn't hurt to ask him that.
you still look fabulous, if it means anything!!! you both do!
-kelley
I'm so sorry that happened to you.
Maybe you could get some of the photos other people took at your wedding and have another photographer edit them and put an album together? You know, just pick the best of each aspect. And definitely see if you can have another shoot with this guy. He owes you that.
But, like everyone else said, you look beautiful and there are some great shots there.
Ugh. That sucks. I'm sorry I don't have anything more eloquent to say. Keep us posted on how things go with the photographer.
Since my wedding was close to yours, I can totally relate. What you said really resonated with me. Photos were one of the most important things to me, so I analyzed my photos like no one's business. While we paid a bit less than you, and overall I was happy with what we got, I had some of the same thoughts as you, regarding close ups of faces, detail shots, etc.
I chalked it up to the fact that the photographers I love charge $6K a day or more, which is ridiculous, so I just cannot allow myself to have those expectations for my photos. Also, I do think wedding blogs give us way too high of expectations on wedding photos and we feel like we have to top everyone else, and that is just not realistic.
That being said, you paid good money and you deserve to be happy, at the very least satisfied, with your final images. I really hope your photographer is willing to redo some shots so you can get more of what you want.
Sorry for such a long comment, but remember that you are your harshest critic!! We all think you are a gorgeous bride!!!
We got married in November, and although we didn't pay that much for the photography (it was a friend), I spent ages being dissapointed that I didn't get a couple of shots that I really wanted (one of me and the gorgeous Garry full length, one of me from behind, just about anything in the church). But you have to remember what do you have, there must be one of the two of you that you think is amazing, that's the one you have to cherish. Remember that 50 years ago they had only a handful of photos and they were really treasured. You'll be just the same. Dwell on the good things, don't worry about what went wrong...
You have every right to feel how you do about your pictures. Your expectations have not been met, despite reassurances from your photographer. I would be disappointed too snd would keep on at him for an explanation.
In the meantime concerning the pictures that he missed, do you know if any of your guests managed to capture anything. Whilst that is not what you want (especially after paying 2k) and it won't be professional quality, sometimes some of the best pics come from family and friends, who are there snapping away.
Hope things work out!
What was he thinking? Seriously! I can't believe he didn't take different shots of you walking down the aisle and what was with the weird locations ie .in front of the cheese platter sign and next to the pot plants? Hopefully your friends took some nice pics. I actually preferred the shots my friends took over our professional shots. Anyway, the first shots you posted were great.
I read through all the comments and I agree with most: yes, you need to either get a partial refund from this guy, more editing of the pictures you do have or another shoot to get the photos you want. I feel that he should give you all three if that's what you want. His professional reputation is on the line here - you could potentially have a lot of people reading this and it would serve him to make sure you get what you paid for.
Thank you for talking about this issue and posting your photos - I know it will help me when discussing my wants with my photographer so I am grateful to you. I was just going to have my photographer wing it! The photos you posted earlier were sooo awesome - so I'm really glad to you have at least a handful that worked out.
I'm anxious to hear how this turns out! Good luck!!
okay - i was prepared to say, "your photos look great!" to try and cheer you up but i do think for $2000 you should have gotten more... or better.... or both.
you know how some couples get dressed up again the next day and do their formal shots then? Perhaps you can tell him that he should do another session with you. It won't make up for some of the lost moments but at least you could get pictures with your husband in a way that you want...
Also, pester your friends and family for their wedding day shots. once they know you are disappointed with your wedding pics i'm SURE the photos will start to pour in!
i do completely understand though. i don't have a single picture of myself with my bridesmaids that i like. and he KEPT shooting from below me despite the fact that I kept saying that i'm super self conscious about my chin and its double-ness when shot from the wrong angle. (haha- i just posted pics today - mostly from above)
anyway, on the plus side, the pictures you do have are lovely. and your memory is the best photographer because it can capture feelings and not just images. :)
Could you tell us the name of the photographer? I'm pretty sure I'm planning a wedding in the same city as you, and I would hate to pay this guy based on awesome magazine-cover type work and then also be disappointed!
I would demand that he do another shoot. I know that it is not the same as on your wedding day and some of those precious moments of you walking down the aisle with your dad can never be recreated, but for $2000 I would settle for pictures I wasn't happy with. You want something you can display and be proud of and if you are unhappy, the man needs to know. I am sorry your pics didn't turn out how you wanted them too and I hope he makes everything right.
I'm with ya- I think photographers should know to take lots of "texture" photos (ceilings and stained glass in a church, details like that, building shots to set the location) and what photographer doesn't get you walking down the aisle!?!?!? I think you need to share your concerns with the photographer and if they don't make it right/offer to do something, you need to share this information on boards in your area and yelp. Even though the pictures could be framed better, etc... you look GORGEOUS and both look so happy!
-kjpugs
Oh dear.
Honestly, I do not think you are being picky at all. You look gorgeous in the photos, but if this is the best of the best that you got, he could have done so much more. Photography is the most expensive part of so many peoples' weddings and for good reason I think...it's your memories of the day. And if he didn't get your day the way you want it remembered, then there is something very wrong with that. I really hope he gets back to you. If he doesn't, I'd email him again.
I hope it all gets worked out ASAP.
Holy crap! He sucked! We had a HORRIBLE experience with my sister's DJ at her wedding. The guests didn't know what a screw up he was so they all thought he was fabulous but after I worded a very strongly written letter to him and demanded they give us at least half of our money back, they complied. Didn't take away the pissed off emotion we still feel to do this day. But you have to just let it go.
Your photog sucked. You had some great shots in that first post but everything you said of the pics you posted here is spot on. You are totally right and have a much better editing eye than he did!
I say, absolutely get a reshoot done in your tux and gown and HE should be the one to pay for the tux again if you have to rent it. If he refuses to do a reshoot, then you demand a huge refund of some sort and then tell him you're going to give him horrible reviews all over the internet! It does mean something if you find the right sites to do this.
I hope this works out for you. I feel so bad that you have had so many unfortunate experiences at your big day. Seriously, if you want to take a vacation to the states in the next two months, come to my wedding and I'll make sure my photog hooks you up with some pretty shots of you and Mr B! :)
Dude! You are dead on. That tree is sad/scary. I told my sister and she's all, no way. Yes, way! I'm going to have to figure out the politics of this. Sigh.
My heart went out for you when I saw the photos. I just didn't know what to say. So disappointed for you.
you're not crazy- your photographer is um... not awesome. sorry.
that aside, lemme try to add some perspective for you. i think we bridal bloggers get to see SO many wedding photos. we want them all. but not every batch of wedding photos has the same mix. ya know? we set sorta high expectations by assuming EVERYone has great make-up shots or a close up of the kiss at the altar. some of that isn't feasible in a real-life, real-time wedding.
but, like i said- your high expectations don't excuse your photographer for sucking a big one. here's my solution to this: save up and get some photos done. hire a photographer you love, and spend hours posing where you want to in your gown and him in his tux. it won't make up for the "missing" candids, but it will replace the ugly backdrops and poor cropping. and as far as the expense, you may be able to get some cash back from this guy for sucking so bad. it's probably an uphill-battle, but it may be worth a shot.
lastly- why'd you get married, hun? for the photos? i know that's not true! so while this is a major disappointment, you didn't plan on your groomsmen wearing hot socks, etc just for photos- but for the memories, am i right?
you know, its hard being a blogger and seeing SO MANY WONDERFUL wedding photos everyday on the other blogs that you read. So, I can imagine how your heart sank when you realized that you weren't totally happy with yours. There were a couple shots that our photographer didn't get and some that didnt turn out so great...but you know....in the end, you really only frame and display just a handfull. The rest {maybe} go into an album and are looked at every so often by friends/family when they visit. i had plans of covering our walls with our wedding pictures....but its been over a year and I still only have 1 framed. 1. and its a 5x7. :) point being, i really hope that you have a couple great ones, especially of the two of you, because you can display those and look at them with a smile forever. :)
If I hadn't just seen how lovely the previous pics are then maybe I'd think they're not too bad... I'm so sorry you're were disappointed with these ones. I agree pretty much on all your points from the cropping, to the focus to the choice of shot location... Bit scary that you thought you were on the same page as him though. Have already seen some of your family's pics though and they look like they're making up for it all! x
If I hadn't just seen how lovely the previous pics are then maybe I'd think they're not too bad... I'm so sorry you're were disappointed with these ones. I agree pretty much on all your points from the cropping, to the focus to the choice of shot location... Bit scary that you thought you were on the same page as him though. Have already seen some of your family's pics though and they look like they're making up for it all! x
I don't mean to bring this up again.....I am planning a wedding in your same city and now am petrified about making a mistake re photography.
Is there anyway you can post the initials of your photographer? If you can't post the name that is.
wow. i'm kind of reading your most recent posts backwards here so i'm a little out of sync. i had no idea you were disappointed with your pics (cause they are super adorable) but now after getting your explanation, i totally understand. you shouldn't feel bad for feeling bad, i'd be pissed off too! i won't say we had the same experience because i loved my photos (sorry! :( ) but i also had a few holes filled in by mates' pictures. hopefully you will too! i say don't apologize for being disappointed, let him know your level of dissatisfaction... and then let it go. cause you guys do look wonderfully happy and hip and sassy! did you know your husband looks like patrick dempsey? ;)
Susie Q - I'm sure Mr B will laugh when I tell him you think he looks like Patrick Dempsey!
Thanks so much. I was actually looking at the same person...!
P.S No I don't have a blog but maybe I should start one :) Will keep you posted! There are so many vendors and it gets so nerve-racking hoping I've made the right decisions.
Lynette - happy to help! If I could do it over I would choose differently. So hope you start a blog - and share your photos!
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