"photographer" warning/fear

[JudeBelfast]

I am so angry and upset about a photo session yesterday evening I have joined Mumsnet for advice.
I wanted to get a nice photo of my husband, new baby and I and was looking on Groupon for people in Belfast.
When one came up I contacted them to ask how much it would be for additional images (all the offers were 1 framed print). All seemed reasonable so decided to go ahead. He asked for a 50% deposit by bank transfer.
Now the Groupon offer was a studio session for 1hour for up to 8 people, with 2 changes of clothes.
I made it really clear there were 2 adults and a baby! Really clear!
Turned up last night and it was in what would be described loosely as a "beauty salon". He had no studio, no lights, no white background ( which is what I asked for), no props and no clue! He started by telling us off for bringing to much stuff so no change of clothes allowed.
The first photo was the 9 week old baby on top of a set of wicker drawers that he was wider than and I got told off for not letting him go. He then tried to make my husband set him face down hanging off a glass topped high coffee table with spider things legs and smaller than the baby. A baby who is only learning to hold his own head up!
I refused and it didn't go down well.
A few other pictures were taken (all my suggestions) then the photographer got bored going on about how artistic he was and my repeated requests to just take a photo of the 3 of us and the session was over!
He wanted to put the pictures online and I said no.
I am annoyed we wasted money.
I am afraid he will use the pictures online anyway.
And really worried another person will bring a baby there and it will come to some harm.
It was booked directly with the photographer - what do I do?

Sorry, it does sound terrible, but perhaps best if he does put your pics online so that someone else can see them and be like "WTF?! I'm not taking my baby there"! It must be frustrating as an 'artist' to have people dictating what they want you to do rather than letting your creativity run free, but when you're doing family portraits then you have to let that go. He'd obviously rather be taking arty magazine photos than baby snaps.

As far as I am aware having dealt with photographers before, you have to sign a release form in order for them to use your images on their websites/fb.
You didn't do that but keep an eye on his page anyway.
Maybe put a complaint in writing to Groupon.

That sounds awful and the reason why I don't do groupon. Many people I know have had similar experiences with offers they've purchased. I did a photoshoot a while ago and they make you sign a release form, so if you haven't then he can't use your photos. Also keep an eye on his website.

So many people like this.

They buy a half decent camera, have a flick through a few photographers website for ideas and then call themselves a photographer.

At least he didn't try to cover his inability with huge amounts of post production the only makes it look worse.

Dancing Days: that's exactly what he is doing - keep going on about how he is going to PhotoShop everything. He said he would make my bust bigger, which my husband laughed his head off at as I'm a ridiculous 32H breastfeeding!

Oh wow Jude your in for a treat. Just what you need right now, a bigger and fake bust. What's he hoping? DH will be too busy looking at them and ignore the lack of DC photos and dangerous props.

Pre DCs I used to Edit photos, the submissions I got that weren't even in focus and then they would heap on loads of post production, it was laughable. They would still claim it was untouched.

Contact Groupon. Their customer service is patchy, but you might get lucky..!

Groupon customer service is brilliant, I am sure they would refund you.

Eww he sounds like a right pervy letch with the bust comment.

I've found groupon's customer service to be poor but it's worth a try.