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!

Absolutely do not use the photos for your portfolio as has been suggested, you'd almost certainly need written permission/model release forms for that. Don't get yourself into hot water.

Tell her that she'll have to pay more with each time you remind her of the price? I have pregnancy brain and can't remember the ENglish term right now, sorry...

Don't delete them!

Put all the photos on to a USB stick and duplicate them on cd. Make the UBS and the cd readable only.

Send her a message (to her AND her husband) saying that unless they pay in full within seven days, you will be taking them to small claims court, and they will probably have costs to pay too.

I take it you had no formal contract with her? Just a verbal ageeement?

If the court sided with you, hand over the USB/cd after she's paid. If the court sides with her and hubs, and says there was no contract so no proof of agreement, then get rid of the USB/cd. Because if there's no proof of agreement/contract, then there's no proof that you even took the photos.

Her and hubs then have a choice. Pay up or lose photos of their wedding day. Simple.

Just read all this. Well done for messaging her op. You really aren't charging much at all! I don't do photo editing but I know how bloody long it takes! People have to realise as well that photographers will take 6 or 7 shots of the same photo so that's a lot of photos to have to go through! It's so time consuming. You've given her a bargain and she needs to pay!

I really wouldn't post any photos on FB if you don't have a signed model release!

Oh what about if I put the Miss piggy & kermit heads from Earlier over their faces 😂

Jesus no! The couple were getting an absolute steal anyway for £200, 2 people spent their own money travelling to a venue and spent 10 hours working, why the actual fuck should the cheeky pair get that for free? What a stupid suggestion.

Yep to small claims.

The threat may be enough to make her pay up.

How about you edit a pic to make the bride look really really fat, and put Miss Piggy's head on it lol. If they kick up a fuss, say they can't prove it's her . Seriously though - if you use any of the pics, even for your own portfolio, without a signed model release, you could get into serious trouble. It's not worth it.

And - speaking as a photographer - editing all those pics would take so much of your time. I would really add extra on top of the £200. Hope it all works out.

If and when she pays up do not edit these photos! You've already been more than generous!

have you given the deadline? I don't think you will hear back to be honest!

Thats so shitty of her. They must have got plenty of cash as wedding presents. I really hope she pays up.

I think I'd send a message asking for the money and adding I won't edit the pics until payment has been made and just to warn you I'm going on maternity leave on x date and will not be doing any work for x months from that date.
What a cheeky cow though!

Judge Rinder.......
Definitely don't delete the pictures.
I wouldn't edit either! Ungrateful mare.
Give her a deadline & make it clear you'll take her to court. All further communication in writing, paper trails can't be denied. So signed for delivery etc for anything you send. I'd be tempted to add a penalty clause for late payment too!!
Good luck, hope it's sorted before the wee one comes 💐

I think you've done a hard day's graft and also so has your mate.

You're in the right if you wanted to delete and also if you wanted to give her a deadline.

But if it were me I'd pay the friend you roped in straightaway if you can afford it. Hold on to the pics and wait for her to pay without threatening anything. That's what I'd do. And never do anything like this for her again.

Yeah I know it takes forever to edit, I've done 2 weddings before & a couple of christenings & actually enjoyed making the pics as nice as I could. What a shame I now no longer have enough time to put that effort in for her

I'll give her until tomorrow to reply, it's Facebook, I know she's going to get the message notification on her phone etc so there's no excuses about 'not seeing the message' etc. Then if she hasn't replied we shall start phase 2

Anastasia are you suggesting the op should pay the other photographer out of her own pocket too?

Op really hope the bride does the decent thing

@ellesbellesxxx that's a point that I obviously missed.

Nope, not the bride, if I was the bride they would've had their money ages go. Never in my life late with any cash payments, never late for bills or anything else and not a penny of debt. I know, ideal

I still cant get over that you only charged her 200 pounds for all that time OP. Not just the day but the editing too.

If she were going to pay, I think she'd have messaged right back.

yes they put it as free pics a in included int he price but even my dsis paid 700 for all day attendance for two people

I can't imagine that still from a videographer would ever come out as well as your pics would? Anyway. Keep pics to prove you did a good job as others have suggested. One more email then small claims. Not really a friend (even if it is a distant friend) if she's willing you fob you off like that, is she?

"I'll edit a few nicely & use them to make myself look good if I make a portfolio "

Has she signed a model release form, because legally you are on very dodgy ground if you use photographs to promote a business without a client doing so.

I still can't see whether you arranged the payment details beforehand or not - sorry if I've missed your response to this. But if you didn't clarify beforehand it's usual to give 28 days (or in some cases 14 days) for an invoice to be paid. I am assuming you have sent her an invoice?

Actually, usually you do need a model release form if you are promoting a business, regardless of who owns the copyright.

(I'm a photographer).

As soon as you start using those photographs to generate income you need a release form.

OP should have also had insurance which would have had her covered for these eventualities but obviously hasn't because she does it as one offs and so I haven't raised that. However, it's another essential.