To start deleting these wedding pics?

[JonSnowsWhore]

This is soooo outing but I don't know any other way of putting it.

5 weeks ago, I did the photography for an old friends wedding. I don't have a photography business but I did photography in college as an adult so she knows I do it cheaply to help out people I know. Before this wedding I hadn't seen her for a couple of years btw & wouldn't have been close enough to be invited to the wedding which is fine.

The wedding ended up being brought forward to when I'd still be pregnant, so I asked another photography keen friend of mine if she'd come & help me out as I knew I'd struggle doing a whole day at 7 months pregnant. Said we'd split the money between us & she said great as she'd love the experience.

So we get there at 10.30am, do the getting ready photos, horse & carriage photos, go to venue & do ceremony, group & couple photos, get a break for the food, then back again for the speeches, some of the party, cutting cake & first dance, eventually leave about 8.30pm. Bride said she'd pay me by bank transfer the next day & as I know her, I was fine with that.

Sent her my bank details the next day, got an excuse that their online banking was playing up, they'd go to a branch on the Monday to pay it. Monday morning I see on Facebook that they're setting off to their honeymoon in the uk. Don't hear anything. Midweek another message, there's no English banks so they'll do it as soon as they come back from honeymoon. I'm a bit pissed off now as it's not just me going without, I'm meant to give my other friend half. Since then it's been an excuse about their car breaking down, this money issue that money issue, can she pay me half & then the other half at the end of the month (now) so I say if that's all she can do then we'll have to do that, as I felt bad that my other friend hadn't been paid yet. She never paid the half, & never replied to my message. Now it's the end of the month, 5 weeks since the wedding & we still haven't had any money.

So, WIBU to start deleting her bloody wedding photos, what should I say to her as I'm getting bloody pissed off now, at first I didn't want to demand money as she was a 'friend' & didn't want to make things awkward, but can clearly see now that she doesn't give a shit about making things awkward!

I would post publicly explaining that as you haven't been paid you are giving her until X date and then the photos will be deleted as you need the Memory card for your next client. Might shove her into action if it's public!

There really isn't a way to get her address

If you have her surname and at least the town she lives in you could do a 192.com/electoral role search and at least narrow it down. Then a bit of detective work on social media can help narrow it down further. I tracked an online dating arsehole down by doing a Google reverse image search on his profile pick, finding his FB page and those of his friends/relatives, going through posts and found the exact house he lived in. I didn't do anything with the info but it was so satisfying.

What sort of trouble do people think she could get into for using the pictures without a signed "model release"? OP owns the copyright. The bride isn't a model and bride and groom have no image rights. I cannot think of a single cause of action against her (especially not from someone who hasn't paid. Difficult to even imply terms then)

Especially if it's laid out to her that if payment doesn't appear by X date they will be deleted.

eternalopt - It's not just about the copyright of the image. It's the privacy of the subject too. The (free) model release form that the Royal Photographic Society hosts outlines sections of UK law that touch on these matters. -
www.rps.org/~/media/Files/Learning/Resources/The%20RPS%20Model%20Release%20Form%20PDF.ashx -

Here's a site which outlines how some of these issues might be applicable to be a wedding: www.thelawtog.com/wedding-guests-need-sign-photography-model-release-form/. Granted that's an American site, but in general shows how there might be issues.

Clearly weddings are photographed all the time and not many people have Great Auntie Edna sign a form. However, there might be issues using the image for commercial purposes, and given the bride's actions thus far, it seems worth the OP being aware of a potential risk.

I know of instances where wedding photos have been taking with the express purpose of being used for the photographer or venue's portfolio/promotional purposes. There has been a specific release form or contract stating this, guests have been informed with the ability to opt out of their image being used, and the couple have received a discount on the photos/venue specifically due to the intended use of the photos.

what a rude friend :(and sadly a lesson learnt by you,always get payment upfront/sign a contract even for friends

smallclaimscourt

and yes i would write on her page/contact friends/family and ask them if she is ok as you havnt heard fromher

Model release forms have nothing to do with copyright. They are not limited to just models - they are needed in any circumstance where a person is identifiable and is being used to promote or enhance business or generate profit. It protects you against a range of potential law suits including defamation of character, invasion of privacy, how the image will be used, how it will be stored, data protection etc.

It isn't to do with payment or non payment. However, I am guessing the bride would be far more likely to sue if she saw her images being used without the model release forms if they continued to not pay and thus not receive images.

BT Phonebook often gives addresses. Otherwise do you know where she works? Send a recorded delivery note there.

Just feeling a bit tight now for only paying my friend of a friend £100 for my wedding pics! But she didn't edit them all, just a handful and then just gave me everything on a disc and the whole wedding was only registry office and meal afterwards. And she also just did it as a hobby, not a professional. And I definitely paid on time!
It's really out of order for anyone to agree to pay someone and then not do it, as negative aren't a problem, I'd definitely be going with public shaming 🙂

*negative business reviews aren't a problem

Don't book things if you can't afford it.
You've worked for her when you're heavily pregnant, you've done the job, she pays you the money. Sorry, don't accept the excuse of struggling if they've gone off on honeymoon etc and massively unfair for the OP.
I'd give her a week to get it sorted and then perhaps look at small claims court if you're not getting your money back.

If you're going down the shaming her on FB route, bare in mind if she blocks you, you will have no means of communication with her.

Saying that, I'd do it anyway because i think she has no intention of paying you & at least you'd get your point across for however long it took to block you.

Could you put it up on your own timeline, but tagging her? That way if she then blocks you, she'll know that any of your mutual friends will still see it - and with any luck, that will be sufficient embarrassment.

Yeah I was going to say you might find she blocks you soon. I think you need to contact the groom/other peole I'm wedding and ask if there is a problem with her fb or is she unwell etc

If you don't get anywhere/cant/won't take her to small claims then yes name and shame the cow!
Everywhere!
Atleast other people will be aware before she asks for services.
Sorry op.
She's a reall shitty friend.

She may say it's not her problem you have to pay your friend as she didn't ask for her, she asked for you.

She may well say that but she'd be an arsehole to seeing as I messaged her & asked her if it was ok for both of us to come. & the amount she owes is still the same, we didn't double it for 2 of us we said we'd halve it between us.

I'm so bloody ill today I can't even think about what to do next right now

Post onto her facebook wall something along the lines of
"just trying to get in touch re-your unpaid photography bill from the wedding as I'm a little concerned that you have not been in touch after previous contacts and I need to know what to do with your photos"

Then at least all her fb "friends" will know she's a cheapskate

She probably will delete the post immediately come to think about it.

Then you could post an update tagging her saying just letting _ know that since she has deleted your post and has refused to pay after X many days, she no longer has claim to the wedding photos and you have taken further action (don't say what).

Then get all your friends to comment on it

I am a wedding photographer. You should have had a contract. Don't delete the photos but don't edit them either. If she does get stills from the videographer they will be shit quality. Send her an invoice and tell her she has 28 days to pay or the photos will be deleted and you will take her to small claims court for loss of earnings. Maybe even edit one of the nicest photos and out it on FB for her to see (watermarked) maybe that will make her want to see the rest. And learn from your mistake. Always get money upfront and get yourself a contract.

People get a bit confused though and think they have more rights than they actually have. models are different as you can argue that had you known how widely the photo would have been used, you would've asked for/made more money, but generally, if someone takes a photo of you here (different in us) you have very few rights. Otherwise, the paparazzi wouldn't make any money.

Release forms/model contract are generally used as a "cya" measure to protect photographers against the "I know my rights" arguments!

eternalopt I'll say it again, model release forms are not just for models.
They have silly terminology but they are needed in every instance photographs are taken privately and used to enhance business / make profit if someone is identifiable.

The OP should have had contract, release forms and insurance - those of us that are saying this are only pointing it out because the bribe sounds like a tit and quite frankly from what I've read I wouldn't put it past her to try and extort money out of the OP.

Once a photographer takes a photograph of ANYONE model or not, the copyright of that photograph belongs to the photographer. A contract is there just to let the client know this but even in the event of no contract the copyright STILL belongs to the photographer. Always.

I hope you get your money OP especially when you charged so little for a friend