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 agree they're good practice, but if push came to shove, I can't see that the bride has any cause of action to sue even if there isn't one if op uses the pictures to promote her business. Celebrities are obviously identifiable in all paparazzi shots, and they sell those to the highest bidder.

OP states that she doesn't have a business - it was more a favour to an old aquanitance - she wasn't close enough to be invited as a guest to the wedding

eternalopt Pap shots are typically taken in public spaces (no real expectation of privacy) and also reporting on events i.e. editorial use - even if we might not find D list celebrity arriving falling out of a cab at 2:00am as newsworthy!! The long lens shots into someone's house are more of a grey area and that's probably why you don't see so many of those anymore - there have been court cases.

Not really the same as taking shots of a private event on private land where the subjects of the photos are identifiable, and using those shots for promotional purposes.

OP you have my sympathy but I'm guessing she's not bothered about photos and already has plenty of good enough shots from friends and family.

It's been a hard lesson, but I'd be reluctant to put myself through any more shit with small claims, tracking her address, public shaming on fb etc etc in your condition. It's not worth the hassle. Tell your assistant you're sorry, keep a few photos in case you do more work and want samples, and put the whole mess behind you. Some things in life are better written off imho

I agree rock apart from the Facebook shaming

Still no reply. Again I've seen that she's been online loads since I've sent the message but she's chosen not to open it.

I'm going to get an early night because I feel horribly sick today, and I've got appointments tomorrow for a scan & my consultant. Hopefully I feel better tomorrow & can decide what to do!

Well whatever you decide, good luck with it. (and if it's not too late already, I'd still refrain from the fb shaming. One way or another, this will come back and bite her on the arse)
Goodnight!

@ataraxia what do you think would be their legal cause of action then to complain? They consented to the photos. Not really a "law of privacy" in the U.K. They stretched the law to create one for Zeta jones, but they were photos taken without consent. No image rights unless your image is famous/valuable. Can't see what complaint bride could have. Especially with no contract and no payment.

I never cease to be amazed at the brass neck of people. Hope you get paid OP!

Just a quick note in case there is any confusion caused by people saying that OP "should have had a contract". I agree that OP should have had a detailed written contract setting out her terms and conditions and specifying that the couple were deemed to consent to the use of the snaps in her portfolio. However, as far as the basic agreement to pay the 200 quid in return for her taking the photos is concerned, the OP did have a contract as the exchange of emails/FB messages/ texts all combines to create the contract. Even if this had just been agreed orally it would still have been a contract, giving OP the right to bring a claim for breach of contract in the event of non-payment.

It really should be very easy and cheap to file a small claim - no, you can't force her to pay but you can mess up her credit history, which would prob end up costing her more than a couple of hundred quid in the long run.

'They consented to the photos'

They consented to photographs being taken to be given to them. That's all. They haven't consented to photographs being taken to be shared on a portfolio, or to create profit for the photographer.

Consent doesn't automatically cover everything - it's a bit like sex.

I've just read this thread and I can't believe it!!! What a cheeky cow.

She has no intention of reading your message, responding to it or paying you.

Get tough OP!

I hope you're feeling better today

OP it is only £25 to recoup up to £300 and you can make the claim online
www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/court-fees
If you feel well enough today and have a phone number for her, have a conversation and if you are unable to resolve it, small claims it.

Don't edit the photos if you are unable to resolve the matter informally. Photos as seen.

www.gov.uk/make-money-claim-online
And here is the link to make the claim

I think you should take her to small claims - great ideas by Blueink

OP - good luck with the scan and birth.

Have you put a couple of best pix up with a watermark on FB?

I would still go for the county court judgement - it's thirty squids. I know you don't want to be bothered right now, but just text her saying that's what you'll be doing if she doesn't pay. Keep the emails and photos. She effectively agreed to a contract. I know your mate is not pursuing you for her share of the fee, but people should honour their commitments ....

Why not look up her friends list on facebook, send them a message and ask for her address under the guise of sending a suprise belated wedding gift?

You could call to her old home address and see if the new people know where she moved to (pretend you didn't know she had moved).
She may have signed up for the post office to redirect her mail from the old address so you could post her your invoice.

I know I sound like I'm just making up excuses not to get the address but she's moved a few times since we lived at the same place & im not sure of the addresses of the last 2 of them let alone this new one lol!
I've got more important things to worry about now anyway, baby is bloody breech so got to work on getting him the right way up before I'm booked in for a caesarean 🙈

Fingers and everything crossed!

Argh Im so annoyed I don't know what to do next. It's going to have to be another message 'payment by Friday or pics are getting deleted' isn't it... there's nothing else I can do without an address.

Just have to decide whether to write it privately or publicly...

I can't believe she still hasn't paid you.

I'd pop a message on her wall "can you check your PMs please? Not sure if you've mislaid my bank details for payment so I've resent them" That way you know for sure she's seen it (& so has everyone else)

Publicly. Definitely publicly! On your wall, as well as hers, tagging her in it. You've nothing left to lose really the friendship is ruined anyway

off topic but acupucture worked for me when DD was breech. When I went in for turning she had already turned.

Still ended up with a 3 day labour and EMCS though. Just wish I had not bothered and had the planned CS.

Good luck getting the money. I would personally start messaging any mutual friends asking if she is in financial trouble since she hasnt paid you and you are concerned. All innocent like .

I know you're right, I just have images of her or all her friends turning on me some how 😂

I don't know why, I don't know any of her friends & as I said I'm not bothered about her any more. I'm weird, I can be gobby as you like usually, & if this was the other way round I'd be 100% telling someone to shame the shit our of her!

Fwiw I think it needs to be public.

The friendship is already lost and she won't respond privately