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!

He's sassy to everyone, but is a sweetie and is only nasty to people who deserve it so she will get it in the neck .

warmest

Yes ! and also do that !!

Small claims court is only £30 to file and you can lodge it on line. Better to keep the photos and challenge through court. If you don't have clear terms for payment times, she could claim loss and damages for the deleted photos when she'd intended to pay "within time" as she saw it.

If she refuses to pay after you have messaged her I would put one of the best photos on Facebook (one that will make her want the rest) and tag everyone you know who went saying.
"The last of the wedding photos I have now deleted after you failed to pay me for offering you a very reduced price wedding photography package whilst 7 months pregnant."

But then I am a MASSIVE bitch.

Stay professional . Message with your plan of small claims making sure before you do that you have screen shots of all previous messages as they will form the contract .

Best of luck .

Email her formally saying that you will be taking her to the small claims court if payment doesn't arrive within 7 days. Don't delete any photos and don't put anything on Facebook as you want to remain looking professional. Could you find out her address from mutual friends?(make sure you tell them that she owes you money!). Do you know any of her family? Perhaps they will help you get the money out of her.

going to small claims court is easy and cheap but it still then needs enforcing. its not like you go to court and get a judgment and its guaranteed she will pay up.

Look.

Remain professional. Don't discuss anything client related with friends.

Did you agree up front a payment plan? People are usually given 28 days to pay for a service if not.

In future agree up front the payment plan, price, and deposit if necessary.

A ccj will affect her credit rating as it will show up on any loans, mortgage or rental applications, credit cards etc. Not many people would consider £200 worth getting a ccj for when they have spent thousands on a wedding and honeymoon.

I think she will pay up once she realises you are serious about taking her to court.

It's a pity that you didn't sort the finances out before the wedding. It's a lesson learnt for you - especially when 'friends' are involved. I wouldn't give her the photos until she's paid and if she doesn't ever pay, I would just write it off as a mistake, never to be made again. Try not to let it stress you - you have precious cargo on board, so it definitely isn't worth fretting over. All the best.

Edit them to make her look like a clown then plaster them all over facebook. Taking the piss, surely she wants the photos? What a dick

She's a piss taker.

Send her one more messgar, money by Wednesday or small claims court, her choice and if she does pay, don't bother editing them.

Right I'll message her tomorrow. Or seeing as that's the end of the month do you think that looks a bit needy messaging on the day?? Seriously what is wrong with me no I'll do it tomorrow, I'm not going to go fully formal as she knows that's so far from how I normally speak, but I'll put it in a way that shows I'm serious about wanting to be paid now, as people have pointed out I'll be having this baby in a few weeks & there'll be no time for photo editing!

Do it tomorrow. Asking to be paid money for work you have already done is never needy.

I'd make her pay up and then just lob her the disc. I wouldn't even bother editing.
Tell her it's another £100 for editing.

What a piss taker. A wedding like you described, and she didn't have £200 spare? I bet she received numerous money gifts on the day. She's got no intention of paying you.

I wouldn't message her. Send her a tracked letter in writing. If necessary ring a mutual friend and ask for her postal address. I think she is relying on you not knowing her details/following her up. Her actions are very bad form.
It is much harder to ignore a paper letter than it is to ignore a message.

Don't let it go. If you post the photos anywhere maybe the 'watermark' could be THE BRIDE & GROOM HAVENT PAID FOR THIS PHOTO on the diagonal across each photo? Point made I think.

PS If she does pay up, I certainly wouldn't go to too much trouble with editing. I'd do the minimum possible and I would not give her the disk.

As sarahmum says I wouldn't edit them, they already have a complete bargain at 200 just for the photos and they won't pay it, don't throw in editingtoo.

Oh god, she has well and truly fleeced you, £200 for a days work is nothing, wedding photographers can charge from 1K onwards, so you being amature photographers, you could have charged her around £600. She has the money for a honeymoon and horse and carriage and a videographer which are very expensive. We got married 13 years ago, and I enquired about a horse and carriage and that was £700 and videographer £500.

Nexttime if you do something similar, ask for a deposit up front before you do any work, and take her to the small claims court.

Why are you not going to go formal?
Op this psrson is not your friend!
I'm sorry but real friends don't do this to each other!
Tell her she's got 7 or 14 days if youre feeling generous to pay up or you'll see her in small claims court.
She's a piss taker!
She's banking on you doing nothing.

She probably thinks you'll give her the photos for free.

Grrrr! I feel for you op..OP...This happened to me with wedding flowers. 13 years ago I charge £400 for 6 bridesmaids bouquets and headdresses, 1 flower girl posie and headdress and a large and extremely beautiful bridal bouquet. Delivered personally hundreds of miles away! She couldn't afford to pay me the last £250 as they'd had to pay for their golf club reception, posh car and Maldives honeymoon! I eventually (4 months later) got the money, but I didn't make a penny profit and in fact I probably lost out due to travel etc...I think she thought I'd let her off as she'd invited me to the wedding! I had b&b to pay for for me and Ds, car fuel and an expensive toll bridge! Bloody entitled brides!