'She definitely made our day 'unforgettable' in the worst possible way': Photographer allegedly refuses to deliver wedding photos with 'lighting issues' to bride

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via Beatriz Pérez Moya on Unsplash

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The poster shared that this Georgia-based photographer has caused a ruckus over these missing wedding photos.

Font - r/weddingshaming. Posted by u/Swordfish_Delicious 18 hours ago Bride Puts Wedding Photographer on Blast for Refusing to Deliver Wedding Photos Horrible Vendors OC This was posted in a local FB group in Georgia. Basically the photographer is refusing to deliver photos to this customer's wedding due to the photographer claiming lighting issues and the quality of the photos. I will admit, the attached conversation is a tad bit difficult to follow, but it's all the person posted. The photogra

via r/weddingshaming

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The bride shared this on her social media...

Font - 3h My husband and I hired for as our wedding photographer on 11/12/22. She failed to deliver ANY ceremony images from our day, claiming that they were not up to her quality standards. This is a day we can't get back and a day we can't re-create, this is ALL we had. It was an unplugged ceremony and there was no second shooter. She's been the least bit empathetic towards us in this process & has used many excuses to avoid sending OUR wedding images. We even had another photographer reach ou

via r/weddingshaming

Bride: My husband and I hired for as our wedding photographer on 11/12/22. She failed to deliver ANY ceremony images from our day, claiming that they were not up to her quality standards. This is a day we can't get back and a day we can't re-create, this is ALL we had. It was an unplugged ceremony and there was no second shooter. She's been the least bit empathetic towards us in this process & has used many excuses to avoid sending OUR wedding images. We even had another photographer reach out and offer to fix the images for her, for free. She ignored that too. She refuses to refund us anything. This whole experience has been a complete nightmare - many days have been spent crying since this happened knowing we may never see those images. Please read the screenshots for yourself & you can see how we've been treated for her own mistake. I would not recommend her to any bride or ANYONE for that matter. Save yourselves from making the mistake we did. I am just so heartbroken over this & I feel like I have nothing else I can do, except warn others so no one else has to go through this. She unfortunately has her reviews turned off so we can't share anything about our experience there so we are resorting to this. She definitely made our day "unforgettable" in the worst possible way.

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As she mentioned, here are the screenshots. The bride begins the conversation by asking for her deposit back.

Font - perfect! Thank you again for your time! Tur 1:20 AM 9.3 Failure to Deliver. Photographer shall not be held lable for delays int of such Work Product, or any Work Product undeliverable, due to technolo malfunctions, service interruptions that are beyond the control of Photogra Including as a result of delays in receipt of instructions from Client and for Product that fails to meet the specifications set out in Section 11 due to the Clent or attendees at the Wedding that are beyond the cont

via r/weddingshaming

Bride: If I don't receive my photos I want my deposit back.

Photographer: There are no more photos from the event. I can't provide what doesn't exist.
The depot is non-refundable, as also stated in the contract you received your gallery and that is all I can do for you. You signed the contract and if you want to try
and fight against what you signed. I will see you in small claims, as l have already taken necessary steps to ensure that the contents of the contract were met.

Bride: Deposits are legally refundable. I would like my deposit if I do not receive my photos.

Photographer: The contact was signed stating that within if business the deposit is non refundable, as well as all other photographers require as well. You signed a legally
binding contract. You've threatened multiple times to not only harass and hurt my reputation but also to take this to claims, which is completely fine as l have contracts in my place like this for this reason.

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Font - times that best quality photos would be sent over, but it environmental or other such things get in the way of that, you would receive supplemental coverage. This is why I took the time to explain it to you and then we spent all of the time doing photos beforehand. I made sure to get all of the family photos and ones of your children within their roles before it was pitch dark outside because I knew that these were very important. The lighting was fine if you got pictures after the ceremo

via r/weddingshaming

Photographer: […] times that best quality photos would be sent over, but if environmental or other such things get in the way of that you would receive supplemental coverage. This is why I
took the time to explain it to you and then we spent all of the time doing photos beforehand. I made sure to get all of the family photos and ones of your children within their roles before it was pitch dark outside because I knew that these were very important.

Bride: The lighting was fine if you got pictures after the ceremony. (The first dance & the shoe game.) It's not making any sense how you got photos after the ones I'm asking for & the reason is the lighting. If the photos at 6 weren't good then I don't understand how at 6:15 during the dance or shoe game it is fine.

Photographer: Nearly all of the photos of the shoe game, and the first dance were not up to par due to the lighting. I was able to get a few good ones, and those were the ones sent to you…still not completely in the best lighting. During the ceremony, lighting was completely blocked and so no good photos were able to come about. I had explained this to you and we discussed this prior to the event I made it very clear not only in person, but in messages that sun was going down and lighting is a key factor in quality photos.
I'm sorry you don't understand where I'm coming from, but I am ensuring that every piece of our interaction and my contract goes as follows.

Like I said, my contract covers every situation like this that could possibly occur. Due to this I don't offer refunds or anything like that, because the contract was signed by
both parties. Otherwise, there isn't much else I can do for you due to the fact that we had discussed all of this prior, I do thank you again for choosing me to be apart of
your day, and I truly appreciate your love for the photos.

Bride: How was the lighting completely blocked? I told everyone it was an unplugged ceremony so I have no photos.

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Font - I told everyone it was an unplugged ceremony so i have no photos. How was this taken but not 15 minutes beforehand in the same exact spot Like I stated to you, with everyone standing in front of the little lighting provided during the ceremony, it was nearly impossible to get any good quality photos, considering the ceremony was after dark. I'm not sure else how to explain it, but like! stated to you, there's not much else I can do in this situation. Everyone was sitting not standing. So

via r/weddingshaming

Bride: I told everyone it was an unplugged ceremony so i have no photos. How was this taken but not 15 minutes beforehand in the same exact spot.

Photographer: Like I stated to you, with everyone standing in front of the little lighting provided during the ceremony, it was nearly impossible to get any good quality photos, considering the ceremony was after dark. I'm not sure else how to explain it, but like I stated to you, there's not much else I can do in this situation.

Bride: Everyone was sitting not standing. So im not really sure what you are talking about No one except for a handful of people sat on the right side. Everyone sat on the left side.

Photographer: Bridesmaids and the groomsmen that were alongside you. The contract states everything that I have went over with you, and was signed prior to the ceremony. I hope that it was evaluated and read over by you and your husband, so that you understand how I am following it.

Bride: They were diagonally behind us. Not in front of us. I had their spot marked on the ground.

Photographer: If you didn't agree with what was in the contract regarding failure to deliver, I would assume that you wouldn't work with me and I'd totally understand. This is why nearly all professional photographers do require contract signatures.

Bride: You also see contract the day of the wedding after you were paid in full prior to [.]

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Font - all professional photographers do require contract signatures. You also sent the contract the day of the wedding after you were paid in full prior to the wedding day What's quality to you may be different to me. Why can't we look at them together and decide. I can't get my wedding day back. I would like photos from the ceremony. The contract was sent prior to you paying in full but wasn't signed. I had to send it again to you due to non answering on your behalf. I do not provide raw image

via r/weddingshaming

Photographer: […] all professional photographers do require contract signatures.

Bride: You also sent the contract the day of the wedding after you were paid in full prior to the wedding day What's quality to you may be different to me. Why can't we look at them together and decide. I can't get my wedding day back. I would like photos from the ceremony.

Photographer: The contract was sent prior to you paying in full but wasn't signed. I had to send it again to you due to non answering on your behalf. I do not provide raw images, as stated in my contract. As also stated. I, the photographer, choose the best ones from the event and those are sent to you. Everything is stated within my contract. There isn't much more I can do in this situation, as these things were out of my control. I have explained multiple times, and repeated the contract that was willingly signed, but I feel as though no understanding is being reached. Quality over quantity is stated in my contract.

Bride: I understand this is your line of work and I really don't wanna go back-and-forth anymore of cause any extra trouble. I also need you to understand that this is my wedding day. Thousands were spent and I can't get these memories back. It will go much further for your reputation to give me these precious photos than it will to forever be missing huge chunks of my wedding.

Photographer:My contract is stated in place for multiple reasons. I made you fully aware that quality over quantity applies, as stated in the contract that you signed. I understand the importance of your day, as shown when I took extra time to ensure that all photos prior were as they needed to be taken. You did sign a contract, and chose to work with me. I feel as though insinuating threat is not the way to go about being disappointed with something that was already discussed with you. if you are suggesting that you are going to initiate harassment or "dents" on my reputation due to the fact that the contract wasn't read, then that is [illegible] decision.

Bride: I can't go back and forth any longer. I want my photos now or I will report it to the […]

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Here, the photographer just straight-up admits it: "There are no useable ceremony photos." Yikes.

Font - uncussed myung anud suun veurenanu musw you turumu this is a huge day for you, as why I got all of the photos that we did. I can assure you that all of the photos have been sent to you that were as of quality. There was plenty of lighting, I could see everyones face & what color they were wearing. I still have the lights up in my backyard. You can edit them to make them salvageable. At least a few from the ceremony. This is my wedding day. Over one hundred photos were sent to you, and I p

via r/weddingshaming

Photographer: […] I understand that this is a huge day for you, as why I got all of the photos that we did. I can assure you that all of the photos have been sent to you that were as of quality.

Bride: There was plenty of lighting, I could see everyones face & what color they were wearing. I still have the lights up in my backyard. You can edit them to make them salvageable. At least a few from the ceremony. This is my wedding day.

Photographer: Over one hundred photos were sent to you, and I promise you that if any more were even slightly usable, those also would have been included. Like my contract states. I as the photographer choose the quality ones and those are sent to you. That was in the contract multiple times.

Bride: 100 isn't even that many when some were duplicates in black & white. I paid for 4 hours of coverage and you weren't here that long because I made it short & simple. I invested a lot of time, effort and money into this. So I'm asking for the ceremony photos again. I never received the contract before Nov 12th. Please show me where you've sent it beforehand.

Photographer: There are no useable ceremony photos, like I stated to you. You also paid for three hours. Like stated, if you'd like to take this to small claims, or insinuate threat through my reputation, that is your decision. I explained everything in the contract that was sent to you multiple times prior. Repeating the contract and repeating statements back and forth isn't going to get us anywhere. I'm sorry the contract wasn't read on your behalf. There isn't much more I can do for you.

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The bride even included what appears to be a social media message, trying again to get to the bottom of things with this photographer.

Font - 11:38 & ← O Typically replies within an hour FRI AT 7:44 PM Hey. Im sorry to bother you, but im reaching out again in hopes to get my ceremony photos, if not all then maybe a few. It's been bothering me these past few days. I don't want to go back & forth about this any longer. I just would like to see them. It was one of the best days of my entire life with my family & friends coming together to celebrate us. Just please let me know. I would really appreciate it from the bottom of my hea

via r/weddingshaming

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People in the comments were pretty helpful with lots of suggestions for this unfortunate situation.

Font - Quicksilver1964 - 16 hr. ago Yeah, I would talk to a lawyer and take the photographer to smalls claims. 396 Reply Share Illustrious-Mind-683 41 min. ago . Absolutely. The deposit is for a job to be done. If the job isn't done they should legally be able to get their deposit back.

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Font - aya-rose 10 hr. ago The photographer is 100% wrong in this. And that contract is not iron- clad. My photographer cried and gave me everything she had (plus a ton of extra fully edited photos, plus two printed albums) because she lost part of a day (not the wedding) to U.S. CBP through no fault of her own. S can happen to photos and equipment but nothing justifies this photographer's response. I'd be willing to bwt good money that photographer (un)intentionally destroyed bride's photos and

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Basically any photographer will cling tight to their raw photos, as they prefer to edit them. But if the photographer doesn't have the skillset to do so, maybe she can still hand them over.

Font - or buttonmoo 6 hr. ago Jesus christ. You can tell an amateur photographer from how guarded they are about their raws. Like my own contract stipulates that raws are not available for client use. HOWEVER if a bride asked under these circumstances I would certainly release them. Also who f cares if the photos aren't up to their 'standards' I can guarantee they're better than a phone pic no matter how bad the photographer thinks they are. Even grainy ceremony pics are better than nothing. You

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Font - Also if a ceremony is 'so dark' I throw my own rule book out the window and use flash. I don't usually use flash for the ceremony as I believe it takes away from the moment but since its literally my job to capture those memories I'll do so by whatever means necessary. I really feel for the bride and hope she gets her photos.

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Font - amanderlapander. 15 hr. ago I'm in the same group. Did they take the post down? The group admin/creator works for a venue and doesn't allow any negative vendor posts. Lol

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This person pointed out that the ceremony should ALWAYS have at least two photographers, just in case!

Font - Affectionate-Act-811 15 hr. ago (Sorry for the length) I'm a photographer with many weddings in my portfolio.... Having said that, I have some problems with the photographer. One thing that stood out to me was that there was only one photographer! IMO there should always be TWO (or more, but never less than two) for ANY large event. ~ Another thing, was that the photographer was paid in full prior to the wedding. - We expect HALF by the time/day of off the wedding and the remainder when t

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - As far as what i THINK can glean from the (very difficult to read) messages from the photographer... • the ceremony was after dark. Q's - WHAT camera AND lenses were used? WAS there a flash used? WAS flash affixed to an arm bracket? WAS there additional flashes/lights rented to help create the appropriately lighted atmosphere (WHICH should have been set up the day before at/DURING the actual practice/SET at the same time of day as the actual wedding for the following day)? WAS there a tri

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - About that contract... that should have been discussed fully on the initial day of meeting each other. Then It should have been signed that day or if there were any changes made, then emailed within days to be signed. Aside from the contract, I'm concerned about that photographer providing a professional service, when it feels like mid to below/par work was provided for instead. I'm bothered that they are so focused on their contact, about that contact, yeah... I get that there is ownersh

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - ...BUT if there is a way to make them look even better or salvage them (in a situation like this)... don't let your pride stunt the possibilities of providing the service YOU were paid for; I'd be checking in with several friends or peers to see if they might be able to do something with your raw images. After all, it's about capturing the love between your engaged couple, telling their story, THE day when they make it official... via photos. It's not about you, it's about the customer, a

via r/weddingshaming

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I'm cringing thinking about the possibility of this woman's whole wedding ceremony being wiped from the card!

Font - Amaline4 12 hr. ago I photographed over 150 weddings before switching careers, and have many of the same questions as you. My immediate guess as to why ceremony photos weren't provided (beyond the obvious lack of skill of this photographer) is that she very well might have reloaded her camera and accidentally wiped the card before making sure she had 2 backups of the photos. Either way I hope this woman who hired this awful photographer takes her to small claims court because this is abso

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - Trick-Statistician10 10 hr. ago Yes, thank you. She obviously didn't have the skills. If she knew in advance the lighting situation, which is what the photog is saying, she should have been prepared. I feel so bad for this bride

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Font - papuvesi 7 hr. ago Exactly! As a photographer it's always your job to compensate for things like lighting! If you don't have the necessary gear of know-how to shoot in low light conditions, you turn down the job.

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - consistentContent 3 hr. ago Yeah, I'm reading this and am positive that the issue isn't "quality over quantity", whatever the f that even means because what a subjective thing to put in a contract, but that they screwed up and deleted all the photos, and are trying to cover their ass. Which unfortunately means that small claims court will just get them money, not what they really want.

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - Appleofmyeye444. 14 hr. ago I mean, even if they weren't the best quality, I would still want to see them. I can understand not wanting to send something because you don't like it as a product, but to these people it's not just products. Idk why she doesn't just send raw photos so the bride can at least have that. She doesn't sound super picky. She just wants pictures. If they are bad then oh well. Ik I would be the same.

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - takeamile 16 hr. ago I'm gunna have to put my money on the photographer, i get that she explained before hand to the bride but like... On camera or external flashes, constant lighting, why didn't the photographer bring any? Theres not really an excuse for missing one of the most crucial parts of the day bride seems fair to ask for the deposit back if she's only missing a portion of the photos!

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - theregretfuloldman - 16 hr. ago To me it reads more like they skimped on a photographer who isn't equipped to photograph dark spaces doesnt have the required lights flashes etc. (Or the bride thought they would ruin the mood) Photographer communicated this and now the bride is upset she doesnt magically have pictures that should have been taken before sundown. But I guess we'll never know the truth. (Unless op updates when the bride posts about a legal battle online, I hope so!)

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Font - anapricot-jam - 6 hr. ago It's the photographer's professional responsibility not to take jobs they cannot preform

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Font - rachmaninoffkills. 15 hr. ago Agreed, otherwise why would the photographer stress this so much? Through texts before the wedding, the day of, making sure essential pics were taken while there was still lighting. It seems like the bride was more than informed that there would be a lighting issue. It makes total sense that the photographer wouldn't give OP pics that don't have adequate quality.

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Font - SayerSong 10 hr. ago The photographer. If the bride had no problem with it, then the photographer should have gone ahead and released the photos. Even if the photographer had to have the bride and groom sign an acknowledgment that the photos were not up to the photographer's standards. They paid for them, and should have gotten them.

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Font - Shoulder ToCryOn00 5 hr. ago. edited 4 hr. ago Modern cellphones can take decent photos in total darkness - I expect pro photography gear to be way better. Was the photographer using a Nokia 2650 camera or something? That (I assume professional) photographer had zero excuses for ruining a once in a lifetime event for someone like that for sure.

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - Rockpoolcreater 15 hr. ago From what the photographer wrote it sounds like the ceremony happened right as the sun was setting, with the sun behind the couple. This would have essentially cast the couple in a shadow without really good lighting and flashes. If the couple didn't want the photographer to use flashes, or the photographer didn't have the type of flashes needed, then getting the photos would have been incredibly difficult. It sounds like the photographer explained everything, b

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - jengaj2016 14 hr. ago If the bride had said not to use flashes the photographer would have mentioned that in one of these screenshots because she's saying everything else possible that points to it being the bride's fault, so I just don't think that's the case. Not having the right flashes seems pretty unacceptable. Don't accept a job you don't have the equipment for. I'm sure she did mention the bad lighting to the bride beforehand but did not say "you will not get any ceremony photos be

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - Personally I think it's on the photographer to provide what she's paid to provide, and if she can't she needs to explicitly state she won't be able to ahead of time.

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Font - Few-Instruction-1568. 14 hr. ago I can't imagine that you could get not a single even poor quality photo just based off the sun setting. Sides? From the other side of where the couple stood facing the guests? Entering the space? The space itself? Your example sure but not one photo from all that time? I just can't fathom that being realistic

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Font - oh_skycake 15 hr. ago I still don't understand what the problem in delivering the raws are with photographers. Are they worried we're going to blast those and tag them? I would hope photographers could come up with a better understanding. I do want more raws from my wedding if I can get them as well for personal use only, and I just don't get it. The photographer worded this very combatively. If the photos were so dimly lit that you couldn't see anything, why wouldn't the photographer let

via r/weddingshaming

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Font - owls_and_eclipses 12 hr. ago My immediate thought was that something happened to the photos. I've heard of SD cards becoming corrupted, and some photographers shoot on cameras that have a double SD card slot so there's a backup card, but based on the conversation I'd say if something did happen, the photographer def doesn't have a backup card. Otherwise it's so odd to not send anything over to prove a point to the bride, if they were THAT passionate about the quality.

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Let's hope the OP updates us if she decides to take legal action!

Font - LaughingMouseinWI. 13 hr. ago This is kinda what I'm wondering. Like, the bride offers to connect and look at the photos together. I get this would take time etc, but what would it actually hurt to actuality show the bride, here, I took 100 pictures but your "magical twinkle lights" weren't magical enough for professional photography. (Totally made up the twinkle lights, I feel like that's the lighting this bride has) On the other hand, if the photographer starts doing this how many other

via r/weddingshaming

'She definitely made our day 'unforgettable' in the worst possible way': Photographer allegedly refuses to deliver wedding photos with 'lighting issues' to bride

The poster shared that this Georgia-based photographer has caused a ruckus over these missing wedding photos.

The bride shared this on her social media...

As she mentioned, here are the screenshots. The bride begins the conversation by asking for her deposit back.

Here, the photographer just straight-up admits it: "There are no useable ceremony photos." Yikes.

The bride even included what appears to be a social media message, trying again to get to the bottom of things with this photographer.

People in the comments were pretty helpful with lots of suggestions for this unfortunate situation.

Basically any photographer will cling tight to their raw photos, as they prefer to edit them. But if the photographer doesn't have the skillset to do so, maybe she can still hand them over.

This person pointed out that the ceremony should ALWAYS have at least two photographers, just in case!

I'm cringing thinking about the possibility of this woman's whole wedding ceremony being wiped from the card!

Let's hope the OP updates us if she decides to take legal action!

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