Some of you may remember me (got married last August)- hello to the brides I haven't met yet!
Got a problem that I'm hoping I can get some help with...
I got married last August and we're still waiting on our wedding album, which we were told we'd get in January. We've been patient with this guy because he literally saved our butts- the photography company we originally hired went into administration a month before the wedding, and since he was already subcontracted for us he contacted us directly and gave us a good deal.
However, he's given us shoddy service since the wedding- our thank you cards were really late and had to be reprinted because he had spelt my name "Neisha" not "Nisha". He forgot the name of my husband (posting his online album with the title "Nisha and Jay"- Jay being my dad!) and now he's really taken the biscuit:
He told us to select 150-200 photos, which would be the maximum amount for a 30 page album (this I remember from our initial meeting when we went over the package details, and something my dad reiterated to me). Chris and I selected under 200 photos, under the impression that we would not go over this limit of 30 pages. He has explained in a later email that he also cuts down our selection so it would be fewer photos than the number we sent to him, so in fact there are definitely less photos than the maximum limit. However, he said to me in a recent email and text message that the upper limit he gave us is actually for a 54 page album- something he had not previously mentioned to me or my dad. Had he explained this to us previously, we would have cut down our choices even further or at least made a note of which photos we really desired for the album.
He told me to decide which pages I want removed from the album, however he told my dad that I need to compile a list of photos that Chris and I could do without and he would redo the layout. Which of these does he want? If it is the latter, I have asked repeatedly how many photos equates to 24 pages and I have yet to receive an answer.
Now he says he will have to charge extra for these 24 pages that *we* have gone over. At £90 a page! So it's either fork out what was essentially his original fee for these extra pages or we lose half our album.
In the contract, it clearly states the main album is 30 pages and any extra pages will be charged at £90 a page. This I have no issue with- it is the fact that he apparently set us an upper limit of 200 photos- that of a 54 page album- that he is supposed to cut down himself but he didn't. Apparently our wedding was so eventful, he can't cut anything out. So we need to pay him more money because he's not done his job. But according to him, it's all my fault.
What do I do?!!?!!?!?
CommentAuthorbrilly
i would just advise him u are paying no more then he was contracted for it was his error not ur own and if its not dealt with and ur photo album sent to you then u will have no choice but to contact trading standards over the issue xx
31st August 2013 I became Mrs Carrick
Cant wait to do it all over again in 2018
CommentAuthorzowie
do you still have it in writting (whether email or text) that he told you the wrong information? if so keep it but send it over to him and hopefully having evidence of the error will make him behave x
CommentAuthorAbbey
Wow, are you getting a gold plated album??? Thats what I'd want for £90 per page, that's ridiculous! I'd definitely contest his argument that it is your mistake and send him copies of all your documentation. At the end of the day he either made a written or verbal contract and trading standards is a good way to go.
CommentAuthorAbbey
Plus I bet the company who went into administration were the ones who usually did the album side of things and he would generally do the shooting. Sounds like his inexperience in this area has caught him out. Good luck hun x
my h2b does amateur photography so i read him the email and he said he's horrified of what this photographer has done to u. he said refuse to pay him the rest of the money. if u have proof of what he said in the first place he cannot go back on what he said. and if he still refuses then threaten to go to the papers. he'd rather cough up then have his reputation in tatters x
also wold have been nan and grandads anniversary
CommentAuthorshazzifox
I agree with everyone above.... What this guy is doing do you is horrible! Whether it's in writing or not, that guy made a verbal contract with you in front of witnesses so can't go back back on that just because it doesn't suit him... get in contact with trading standards - he's already broken his side of the agreement by not delivering the goods in the time scale originally agreed due to his errors!! Good Luck xx
******* Shannon & Trev --> 8 Years Together *******
CommentAuthorhigginszajac
Can you ask him just for the photos, there are lots of places that will make up a photo book for you xx
CommentAuthorHa_x3
This doesn't sound good hun, are you worried you may never get the photos/album? He sounds very dodgy to me :( hope you get it sorted xx
Mrs Lunn
08/05/12 was the best day of my life
& I love my husband with all my heart xxxx
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
We've already paid for a Graphi photo album, plus loads of other little versions. We are getting a lot for our money, but he wants more because he didn't cut out enough images. He called me today while I was on my way to work- obviously I couldn't talk to him. Besides I'd rather we did the whole thing by email since he conveniently forgets anything he says verbally. I want documentation.
CommentAuthorHa_x3
Yes i think you need the documentation hun.. Is he contracted? If not you have no leg to stand on i dont think, but the problem is he knows you will probably pay the extra as it was from the best day of your life xx
Mrs Lunn
08/05/12 was the best day of my life
& I love my husband with all my heart xxxx
CommentAuthorUnknown
i got married at the end of july last year and i am still waiting for my photo album as well!
i would have a good read through your contract and then go to him and say look, here is what the contract says and you want it as it says in there and you are not paying any extra.
if that doesnt get you anywhere, i would go to CAB and get some advise from there xx
CommentAuthorJoci "The Currypot"
I really can't believe that you and Terri both are still waiting for your albums. I honestly think it's a disgrace how long you've waited. I had mine back within 28days the 1st time round and as the photographer I've booked is using a disk this time she has told me I can have it the next day to sit and go through with all my family. If I had wait over 12 weeks I don't think I would even book with them let alone 8mths +
I agree with everyone, call his bluff by sending him a copy of the contract saying you will seek legal advice if he does not respond within 7 days
I have finally found my soulmate
On 1st Sept 2012 I will become Mrs Curry
CommentAuthorHa_x3
My photos will also be on disc, which after reading this I'm so glad I will have the cd within days after my wedding
Mrs Lunn
08/05/12 was the best day of my life
& I love my husband with all my heart xxxx
CommentAuthorMrsMarr2B
I would tell him you are paying him not a penny more than you had agreed! Tell him it was his mistake not yours and that he is already months behind with your photos and that he is now in breach of your contract and therefore you are going to trading standards and also the papers due to this. I would almost bet he will get it done pretty sharpish then!!! Blooming hate con men!!! As if weddings are not expensive enough with out being told that to get your photos you are going to have to pay an extra £2160 for an album!!! Do you get the disc with all your pics on with copyright? X
Mrs Marr 2 b!!! Can't blooming wait!!
10-11-12 can't come quick enough :)
CommentAuthorlala "mod" bunni
tell him you will happily pay for the 30 page album as discussed and arranged and you would like all other pictures on a disc ...... you can then make your own album.
i would also state that you are setting a time for this to happen and that if it doesn't you will be contacting a solicitor under the supply of goods and services act
The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 (c 29) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that requires traders to provide services to a proper standard of workmanship. Furthermore, if a definite completion date or a price has not been fixed then the work must be completed within a reasonable time and for a reasonable charge.
We have all the images on CD with copyright already, so that isn't an issue.
The problem is that he told us we could fit 200 photos in our album, and he tells us only a few weeks ago that this amount of photos equates to an album that is 24 pages larger than the contract states we have paid for. So in order to get the full album that he original told us we'd get, it will cost us £90 a page. I have read the contract, and it does state we have paid for a 30 page album and extra pages will cost £90- I have no problem with him upholding this part of the contract. The problem is that he waited until now to tell us the album is too big- something he must have realised when he did page 30 and still had loads of images to put in. Instead he waited for the whole layout to be complete, let me have a look and give approval before going "as you can see, the album is 54 pages and you've only paid for 30, so you will be charged £90 a page if you want to keep the extra pages"
It took my husband and I ages to narrow down our choices (from 4000+ photos!) and send our list to the photographer. It was his duty to warn us that something like this would happen- then we could have made a note of what was in every photo and note down which photos we could do without if we had to remove some ourselves. So now, because of his stupidity, he wants us to go through the list again (therefore having to refer to the original 4000+ image album) and decide which of our wedding photos we'd rather not have in the album.
Either fork out over £2k or lose half my album all because the photographer didn't give us all the information.
CommentAuthorHa_x3
How about saying stuff the album just give me all the photos on a disc? You can then do your own album when it suits you at probably a much better price? xx
Mrs Lunn
08/05/12 was the best day of my life
& I love my husband with all my heart xxxx
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
We've already paid for the albums- there's a massive Graphi book, 3 albums for the parents (mine, hubby's mum/stepdad, hubby's dad/stepmum) and 3 small albums for the bridesmaids. I very much doubt he'll refund the money we've paid for the albums. Plus, my dad is the wallet and he'd never agree to that.
I just want this guy to do what he originally promised- he's already stuffed up so many of it.
CommentAuthorHa_x3
Ohh i see, no i agree i cant see him refunding you. You must be absoloutly fuming, i know i would be
Mrs Lunn
08/05/12 was the best day of my life
& I love my husband with all my heart xxxx
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
I am fuming! What's making me madder is that my dad is more than happy to sacrifice half the wedding album- he's been speaking to the photographer as well but taking everything he says as gospel- the man is playing the matyr and saying to him "Oh, I could absorb the cost myself, because Nisha really wants all the photos, but that would wipe out all my profit margin". So of course my dad's replying "Oh, we wouldn't expect you to do that, I'll talk to Nisha". So as far as he's concerned, I'm just stomping my feet.
I was hoping that he'd be a lot firmer about this since we were cheated by my sister's wedding photographer as well. But even she's telling me to let it go- after all, they're only photos. Grr!
The only person on my side about this is my husband, who's just as furious as I am.
CommentAuthorAbbey
Why don't you tell him you will compromise by losing 12 pages and he pays for the other 12. That way he still gets a profit and you feel less cheated by an incompetent photographer? If he has already offered to absorb the costs then i think this is a pretty fair solution! Good luck hun and chin up, these things are sent to try us. (I've had a similar issue with my venue offering things they shouldn't have!)
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
I might try that, although I think his offer to absorb the costs was an empty one, otherwise he would have mentioned it to me as well. Instead he told my dad only, who he knew wouldn't say yes.
CommentAuthorJoanna
I hope you manage to get this sorted soon! He sounds terrible, and very unprofessional! Xx
The greatest thing you'll ever learn
is just to love and be loved in return
CommentAuthorbecky -mrs firth
am sorry i dont understand why ist takin 8 months for a photo album? no way it takes that long!!
Engaged 27th November 2010
Hen Do Newcastle 2nd June 2012
Marrying the man of my dreams 11th August 2012!
Honeymoon To Jamaica 14th October 2012
CommentAuthorHa_x3
I hope you get it sorted hun, i really do!! xx
Mrs Lunn
08/05/12 was the best day of my life
& I love my husband with all my heart xxxx
CommentAuthorshazzifox
Good luck chic, if he's offered to absorb - no matter how empty then he can't go back on that :) xx
******* Shannon & Trev --> 8 Years Together *******
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
edited
He's now refusing to correspond by email. He wants to do it through phone call, which I'm pretty sure he wants to do so he can get me to back down and I'll have no documentation. He says he wants to talk to me first and then email a summary to me, but considering he told me on Sunday that he'll email smaller versions of the whole layout so I can review everything at once and its now Thursday- nothing.
He keeps going "your dad understood when I spoke to him"- yes because my dad is afraid of confrontation. If he's really a man of his word like he says he is, then why does he HAVE to talk over the phone? What can be explained on the phone that can't be explained via email? I told him that he has to email me and he goes "fine, I will talk to your dad and HE can explain it to you". Excuse me, but I'm not slow, don't talk to me like I'm a child! I texted back "no, I want you to email me. I can call if I have any follow-up questions"
Whenever I communicate with this guy I get very angry.
::edit::
Just spoke to my mum and she says she's going to speak to my dad and give him my side since he doesn't listen to me. Apparently what he's heard from the photographer is that I'm insisting he use all 200 photos that I chose for the album- what I've been saying to him is that I am confused as to why he told me to choose 200 photos for the final album when that was clearly too much? He promised 150-200 photos in a 30 page album, I want to know why he couldn't deliver this and why he didn't tell us about this when he asked for the photos.
CommentAuthorOWB
Blimey, he sounds like hard work. At least you've got it in writing that he's being uncooperative and refusing to email you. They may come in handy if you have to take this further.
If only life could be one long tea break
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
That's a good point! Especially since he was more willing to call my dad when he gets home from work and get HIM to email me what he said. If my dad puts it in writing, the photographer isn't liable as he can claim my dad made stuff up if it doesn't suit him.
He did, however, send me the layouts again- but full sized rather than thumbnails, which makes it really hard to do a comparison. And since they're double page spreads I would actually have to remove chunks of my wedding to get it down to a 30 page album. I am not prepared to do this, especially since it was his job anyway to cut it down.
CommentAuthorFuture mrs mac
I think you need to tell your dad to stop getting involved as even though I'm sure he means well he's causing you more problems by agreeing with the photographer. Also, email the photographer saying your dad is no longer dealing with this and anything said now goes through you or your husband only as the contract is with you
Just to check he said you could fit 150 - 200 pictures in your album of 30 pages but since then come back and said to get the full 200 you need to pay extra as it goes over the 30 pages? As its in the contract that you get 30 pages I don't think your going to get the full amount even it in an email that you can have up to 200 - you could take this further and double check with cab but I think it will draw it out forever and you might not get the full amount anyway. However, could you try and reach a comprimise?Saying as you made the mistake can you meet us half way and give us an extra 10 pages?
If he keeps on going the way he is though i would cut my loses and change the album to the 30 pages and then with the disc you have get an album made up yourself - if this happens be sure to tell him you would not recommend him to any of your friends etc - word of mouth travels fast x
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
edited
My dad has to remain involved as he's the one who paid for the photographer, however the photographer is using this to his advantage.
Yes, that is what he has said. As I understand it, we pick 150-200 photos and then he cuts it down to fit into the 30 page album. However he originally told us it would all fit without him removing any photos. Each time he's given me an update, he's changed his story. He's already drawn this out for months and has made it worse by only telling us NOW that he wants me to remove half of the images I have chosen, because he couldn't possibly do it himself. In my opinion, he hasn't done his job correctly and I don't see why my husband and I should lose out as a result.
By the way, girls, I have named and shamed him on my profile. If you've hired him, back out or be on alert- ask all of the questions I didn't. If he's done something similar to your wedding package, let me know.
CommentAuthorFuture mrs mac
Could you ask another photographer for advice?Theres a lady on heres whose a photographer or find an online forum for some?x
CommentAuthorCharlotteJ72
I would get the photos from him and build a photobook yourself they are not that expensive and then you have control and can put the experience behind you, our photobook the movie supplier has dealt direct with our photographer to send them the images to create a video photobook but they are also sending them to us as well so we can create our own photobook as well.
Hope this helps:)
CommentAuthorHa_x3
I agree with charlotte, after all this hassle i would just ask him for all the photos on a disc and create your own wedding album, thats what i am doing. cant believe how much hes messing you around its terrible xx
Mrs Lunn
08/05/12 was the best day of my life
& I love my husband with all my heart xxxx
CommentAuthorlinzipple
I don't think you should back down. You've got your photos on disc already and could quite easily make your own album but you've already paid him to do this for you and it's the principle... he shouldn't promise things and then change his mind. Fair enough your dad paid for the photography but it's getting far too messy with so many people involved. We had a problem with our venue and CAB advised us to outline everything that we'd agreed in a letter and also state what we wanted them to do going forward. You should take all documentation & emails to CAB and see what they say... there might be some piece of legislation that you can throw at him that will make him get his backside into gear. Hope you get it sorted! xx
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
It is the principle of the thing, thank you! I know I'm being difficult with this situation but this man has promised something he's failed to delivered and then asking us to shoulder the (very hefty) cost.
No more news at the moment... Unfortunately, we have to shelve the situation for a moment (long story, I won't get into it) but I'm hoping that my mum will be able to remind my dad that he does, in fact, know how to negotiate AND that the photographer is trying to cheat us. My sister's wedding photographer got away with it (she didn't even get a disc with copyright), we're not letting it happen again.
CommentAuthorHa_x3
Your not being difficult atall hun, you have been messed around & its not right!! xx
Mrs Lunn
08/05/12 was the best day of my life
& I love my husband with all my heart xxxx
CommentAuthorLegoWife
Sounds a bit difficult because unless you've got it in writing that 200 images will definitely fit on 30 pages there's probably not much you can do about it. Sounds like a bit of a sneaky sales tactic, imply 200 images is the max for 30 pages when maybe he meant 200 was the max for an entire album?
I'd just find out exactly how many images fit on 30 pages. Re-pick them and be done with it.
But he has messed you around a lot by the sounds of it so I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to let it go.
~Wedding made of Lego~
*Married 30/03/13*
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
That's pretty much the situation- he told me in person and over the phone, so I have no written proof that this is what he said to me. So I have no recourse, especially since he refuses to have any written correspondance with me (which he has admitted to my mum is because he's trying to prevent me from taking any legal action).
We've had some update on the situation.
As I mentioned before, this photographer has got a lot of work from us- since we were so grateful that he took us on when the company we hired went bust, we recommended him to a lot of our friends for their upcoming weddings, including my mum's best friend. She has two sons- one had him as his wedding photographer as well and he's giving the same shoddy service. As a result, the younger son, now engaged, is not having him as his photographer. However, the family is using him for their upcoming engagement party. My mum is helping out at this engagement party and ran into the photographer at her friend's house yesterday. He was on his way out, but she accosted him and got him to talk to her about the situation, since he's been pitting my dad and I against each other. What my mum seems to have gathered from their chat is that he's handled the situation very badly and failed to explain everything upfront (which is the case as I understood it) and he's clearly not been understanding my communicaton with him. She put her foot down and said to him "You were supposed to cut the photos down in the first place, you do it and get the layout to 30 pages. Send the layout to Nisha and she can give direction. Don't put all the work and blame onto my kid"
As he finished the conversation, he went to leave and was stopped by the married son (who got married two weeks after me and Chris) who went "And where's my album?!" *snort*
So I won't get all the photos I approved, obviously, but at least this is all sorted. To be honest, I didn't know how I wanted this situation resolved. I just know this guy just handled it very very very badly and made me worry (and have a massive fight with my dad) for absolutely no reason other than to scam more money out of us. I want him to have some sort of payback for this... I'm just too tired to argue about it any more and I just want my wedding albums.
CommentAuthorFuture mrs mac
Least you have it sorted Word of mouth can be the best or worst publicity which he will learn to his cost so in the end what he done will lose him business xx
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
On that subject, I have named and shamed him on my Wall- please check if your wedding is in the South East
CommentAuthorUnknown
im glad it is all sorted.
i am finally getting my wedding album tomorrow 9 months after my wedding x
CommentAuthorMrsMarr2B
Well its good that your finally getting somewhere! great that your mum said her bit and managed to get a hold of him! hopefully thats it all sorted for you? xx
Mrs Marr 2 b!!! Can't blooming wait!!
10-11-12 can't come quick enough :)
CommentAuthorHa_x3
Im glad your finally getting your album hun xx
Mrs Lunn
08/05/12 was the best day of my life
& I love my husband with all my heart xxxx
CommentAuthorRaggedyAnne
200 photos spread over 30 pages? they would have to be really small. When I do wedding albums I offer a 40 page album, with 100- possibly 120 photos spread over the 40 pages. I wont cram in as many as will fit because it would end up looking like a year book. I want to showcase the photos in the best possible way, and the only way to do that is to have space to do it. If for instance a bride and groom desperately wanted 200 photos in an album, I would be telling them they need at least 60-70 pages. Obviously, people have choices, and I have different price bands to choose whatever they like.
I find it odd that he would offer 200 photos spread over 30 pages, that means there will be a minimum of 8 pictures per page, there wont be any room for just a large picture of you and hubby.
I personally wouldn't design a book like that, and as a bride to be myself....I wouldn't want my own album like that.
I can resist anything but temptation
CommentAuthorHa_x3
I have just ordered a personalised hardback photobook from grou pon 100 pages for £26.. bargain
Mrs Lunn
08/05/12 was the best day of my life
& I love my husband with all my heart xxxx
CommentAuthorNishaVyas88
Thanks, RaggedyAnne- that's exactly what the photographer should have told me to start with. I had no idea what he could fit into the album so I just went with it. What an idiot. Clearly using a very sloppy sales tactic- I much prefer people being upfront with me than sneaking it in on the sly. One this I do not accept is dishonesty.
Great news, Terri! Glad you're finally getting yours too.
We have a coupon through from Albelli to get a photobook for under £10- that's what we're going to do with the rest of the photos, I think.
CommentAuthorGailB58
edited
OMG what an absolute BLEEP BLEEP. One of my girlie friends who lost her job after her wedding (therefore ran out of money) negotiated with this amazing photographer who edited the images (he couldnt bare them not to be in his style for her) and gave them to her on a USB stick without a book to help her. We are using him although our day is an age away.
EDIT - THIS LINK ON THE POST HAS BEEN REMOVED AS IT BREAKS THE NON-ADVERTISING RULES OF THE FORUM. POST ON YOUR WALL ONLY - MODS
