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Original poster

Wedding photos terrible! Will only get partial refund if I sign disclaimer and not write review or post pics?

112 replies

Jakc · 05/02/2020 22:17

Paid $1700 for my wedding pics, they are awful! Most are blurred and out of focus, he’s missed first look, first kiss, coming into reception, All the important shots. Nearly all the photos of me and my husband are blurred. The said they would only refund $700 of it if I sign disclaimer to say I won’t leave review or discuss with anyone anything negative. They won’t refund it all as photographer turned up, took photos and delivered in a timely manner! Doesn’t matter to them they are shit and can’t be redone. I told guests not to take pics as I didn’t want the professional ones ruined by camera phones. What should I do? The company is in Mexico I’m in uk if that makes a difference.

OP posts:
Francina670 · 07/02/2020 15:21

I’m not an expert at all and they look ok to me. I imagine most people would accept the photos even though they’re not at high quality professional standard. You’re in the business so the flaws are more evident to you.

Bluntness100 · 07/02/2020 15:26

Are they the worst? Because they look good to me?

AlwaysCheddar · 07/02/2020 15:29

Have you spoken to the hotel? As you paid them you have an agreement with them also.

Original poster
Jakc · 07/02/2020 15:32

It doesn’t mention jurisdiction on the contract. Francina you are seeing that as a tiny file can you imagine if you zoom in how bad they would look even printed at 8x10.

OP posts:
MaggieFS · 07/02/2020 15:34

Did you take out wedding insurance? Not sure how it would work with an overseas wedding, but I think UK insurers cover loss of pictures, which you may be able to argue.

AlwaysCheddar · 07/02/2020 15:35

You were ripped off paying £1300 in Mexico.

onionface · 07/02/2020 15:39

@Bluntness100 really? They don't look good. They look like snaps your Uncle Brian might take on a disposable camera, not professional photographs. The exposure and the focus are terrible.

I'm so sorry OP you must be so disappointed. You look lovely and happy though, that still comes through!

purpleboy · 07/02/2020 15:40

No help, but you look beautiful and you both look really happy. But I can see they aren't perfect and they should be. Did any of your friend and family take any sneaky shots of you on the day?

Inherdefence · 07/02/2020 15:49

Sign the disclaimer, get the money and then post the bad reviews ( or get your parents/best mates to do it).

Original poster
Jakc · 07/02/2020 15:56

They aren’t even the worst ones, just the ones I had on my phone. Didn’t have wedding insurance. There is no other photos from the few people we had, because my pet hate is when professional wedding pics have people on their phones in them and because I thought this photographer was amazing I had every faith he would do great. I can’t sign disclaimer as it says on it if anyone posts anything negative/reviews I will get fined.

OP posts:
PumpkinPiloter · 07/02/2020 16:00

They are awful. They look like they have been taken with a 10 yr old camera phone. You have my sympathies especially as you seem to have done your research. It might be worth taking the $700 and be done with it all as chasing it may end up being more stressful than it's worth. I would definitely try for a full refund first though.

Bluntness100 · 07/02/2020 16:03

I think they look fine, captured the moment, I'm fairly sure if the thread content was different and the op said what do you think of my pics people would be rushing in to say beautiful..

mummmy2017 · 07/02/2020 16:08

Can you just do the photo redo party and get everyone who can come to wear the same clothing. Use the refund to pay for someone to shoot it.
Then get everyone to comment on 1st photographys website.

Jux · 07/02/2020 16:08

How can they fine you? I mean, from Mexico? You're being forced to sign the disclaimer under duress, aren't you? Wouldn't that be a defence if they tried to come after you?

catmumof1 · 07/02/2020 16:09

I was going to suggest wedding insurance but just seen you didn't take it out.
At this point I would take the $700 and put it towards a post-wedding shoot with you DH, which is probably what the insurance would have covered anyway.
Truly gutted for you OP. Sad

TinyPaws · 07/02/2020 16:10

I don't understand why people are saying these look fine, I could take better quality pics on my camera phone (and I don't have a top of the range phone), I'd feel ripped off if I'd paid 1700 dollars for them (unless it was 1700 pesos which wouldn't be quite so bad!)

Original poster
Jakc · 07/02/2020 16:13

Jux the disclaimer also says I’ve signed this under my own free will and there was no pressure to do so lol they’ve obviously been through this before!

OP posts:
CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 07/02/2020 16:14

@Bluntness100 Don't be ridiculous - those are not professional photos!

Nobody would pay £1000 for photos that an amateur could take - the OP is a photographer themselves, they probably had friends there at the wedding who could have done a better job.

kelly14 · 07/02/2020 16:15

It doesn't matter if you paid for the wedding and photography together you can still raise a partial chargeback via your credit card company. Do sooner rather than later though as you only have 120 days from the date of transaction or date the service/goods were provided if that was later. Tell you CC you want to raise as Services not received/ not as described.

GCAcademic · 07/02/2020 16:21

How on earth can anyone think those are fine? From a professional photographer? I'd be fuming. They look like they were taken on a disposable camera by a kid.

Fanciedachange1 · 07/02/2020 16:29

They made a mistake and I really understand your frustration. You deserve a refund and should be allowed to leave feedback but I understand that they are making it difficult for you.

Just as an aside, I know I’m probably in the minority but I got married 5 years ago and can count on one hand how many times I have looked at the album. It may seem like a big deal now but maybe after a while it won’t be a big issue.

readingismycardio · 07/02/2020 16:34

I could have taken better pictures with my Iphone, what happened to you is so offending and insulting, cheeky fuckers.

What really bugs me, though, OP, if you're a pro photographer:

  1. Don't you have a network of good people? Why did you go to a random company?
  2. How did you not look at their portofolio??
Jellybeansincognito · 07/02/2020 16:39

I feel so angry for you OP.
The issue with this sort of stuff is- you know what you pay for. There’s pages and pages of terrible ‘photographers’ in the uk yet they still seem to get lots of customers.

Hopefully in the future they’ll be some sort of universal licence to do it. So everyone gets the same standard and not what you have.

😢

underneaththeash · 07/02/2020 16:40

Take the $700 and still post a bad review including the fact that they asked you to sign the disclaimer.

UK law would take a very dim view of such dodgy practices, so they're unlikely to take you to court. Alternatively, get your husband or mother/best friend to post the review instead.

User12879923378 · 07/02/2020 16:41

They don't look fine at all (sorry, OP). It's not just that they look like they were taken with a cameraphone in poor light - they're really badly composed, and I'm the opposite of a professional photographer.