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!

Small claims court. It's not complicated or expensive. Good luck

Great, you will need all those. Keep the photos secure. You will be able to claim interest too. Btw, if you win, and you will, she will also have to pay all the court costs.

I'd be wary of small claims. You'll pay a court fee and then even if you win (which you probably would) then she still doesn't have to pay you.

She would get a CCJ but some people wouldn't care about that.

I would edit just one and post it on facebook, so she can see how good they really are, making sure the copyright/name watermark thingy was right across her face, other guests pics will be nothing compared to the real thing, she will see that and pay up hopefully, I remember feeling fairly wealthy after my wedding, a lot of people gave cash gifts

Agree with everyone.
This is exactly what the small claims court is for.
Don't delete them.
You still need paying for your time and skills whether she ends up with photos from you or not.
You have all the evidence of the agreement and her excuses for not paying, just message back saying you need payment in full (I'd go with 'Plus £X for late payment fee' but that' s up to you) by 5pm on 3rd may {or whenever} or that you will be taking her to small claims court (which will, of course cost her a lot more). Then do it.

I wouldn't edit them even if she does pay. You don't now have time to do it. You've agreed to about minimum wage as it stands. Don't sell yourself so short.

Just send her this one! Cheeky cow!

Haha love the pic!

Oh god wouldn't it be awful if they really weren't that good & she then says she doesn't like them & theyre shit 😂

Then just tell her it's not your fault she is so ugly

Joke aside, I am sure they will be fine and £200 is such a bargain considering your travel costs and time spent.

Although she may argue you should just feel privileged you are allowed to be part of her special day

Shame her on fb immediately. .

God what a piss take I could never do this to someone . She had an absolute bargain to .
Reiterate small claims court.
And in future take payment up front

please let us know what the outcome is, I hate a hanging thread

You only charged £200?

Does she have any IDEA how incredibly cheap that is for a wedding photographer and all the hours you put in?

Ah man all talk of great big water marks & photoshopping funny pictures is out of the question, just went to go on my laptop & it's broken, back to the shop again to get it fixed thanks to my 3 year old! All her pics are still on my camera as well though so they're safe, incase anyone was worried for her photos

Keep the photos but say if she doesn't pay by X date they'll be deleted.

Post one edited photo to Facebook, clearly watermarked. Leave a lovely comment saying what a lovely time you had as a one off for a friend.....hope they are enjoying honeymoon/married life/blah blah blah.

Send the email mentioned by Paperdoll.

And then follow through with looking at small claims court.

And then vow to never again photograph a friend's wedding

Just read your update Jonsnowswhore
👎🏻

Or just don't turn up unless paid up front next time! This child of mine is pure evil I'm sure, this isn't the first time he's broken the laptop only needs a new screen I'll take it in on Tuesday when shops are back open, should get it back same day.

I was thinking, would be fun to see if she pays me now it's the end of the month, say thank you very much for the money, however I'm now on 'maternity leave' from my non existent business so won't be editing anymore photos for the next 12 months

The small claims procedure is very straightforward.

Write to her one last time telling her that you require payment within 10 working days of your letter/email or you will issue proceedings. And then do it. Keep copies of all letters,emails, texts etc as well as the photographs as it will prove that you have done everything you can to sort this out before it goes to court.

She will hopefully then start to take you seriously and pay up before it actually reaches court. If she doesn't and you win the case, you will need to ask the court to issue a CCJ, I don't think they do it automatically. The court will then write and tell her that she then has a further period of time (can't remember if it's 10 or 28 days) to pay up before the CCJ is issued.

^Judge Rinder her ass*

You read my mind Shocked wife

OP - take her to small claims (please let it be Rinder because I loooooove him) . You can claim your expenses back too.

If you fail to get anywhere with her, please do put the photos onlinecarefully edited they're your copyright and you can do what you like with them, I imagine.

A CCJ will really cock up the bride and groom's credit rating. They'll have a right fanny on it they want a loan, a mortgage, a credit card etc.

Doitdoitdoitdoitdoit!

Judge Rinder would NEVER be horribe to you.

I bet he would be horrible to her, though.

I would call her not text and tell her how you feel. I'm feeling really stressed and upset that you haven't paid me for the photos yet. You've put me in a really awkward position with my friend who I promised half the money to for helping me out....

Judge rinder is sassy to EVERYONE haha.

I very much doubt it'd come to any kind of court, she has to pay when I ask, I really can't see that anyone would be that inconsiderate...