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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:
Original poster
Jakc · 07/02/2020 16:42

Readingismycardio I don’t know any photographers in mexico which is where I got married and trust me I researched this as photos are so important to me. I looked through loads of portfolios and was over the moon I managed to get the photographer I thought was the best and style matched mine, by his portfolio. The images I received are nothing at all like the images in his portfolio.

OP posts:
ScarlettBlaize · 07/02/2020 16:46

Why did you get married in Mexico, out of interest?

mencken · 07/02/2020 16:46

what lovely, happy, unposed photos - far better than the 'peering over shoulders', 'pouting in his arms' etc that you usually see.

I get that they probably won't enlarge well, but you'll have to take legal action in Mexico. Good luck with that...

just get back what money you can and then forget it.

heartsonacake · 07/02/2020 16:46

Have they given a reason as to why there’s such a mismatch, OP? Why are the photos on the website so amazing but the ones they did on the day awful?

I would try and get as much money back as possible and then negatively review them everywhere.

littlebillie · 07/02/2020 16:47

You could probably save those with a grainy filter and BW. I know it's not what you want but Elements may help you save them.

Shinycat · 07/02/2020 16:49

@Jakc

They ARE poor quality. Anyone who says they're not needs their eyes testing FFS!!! Hmm

How fucking annoying for you, but as it was Mexico I imagine you have little recourse.

Maybe take the $700, and get your family and mates to leave bad reviews.

And then all get your wedding gear on, and get someone with a good camera to re-take as many pics as possible.

Good luck. Flowers

You look soooooo pretty by the way. Smile

TeaAndCake321 · 07/02/2020 16:55

Whilst they aren't remotely close to professional pics and I can totally see your disappointment, I think they could be improved with some photography software. My brother is very into photography and spends hours post-prosessing and editing pics. I think it'd be worth taking the $700 and putting it towards having a professional tidy them up. You can't go back and do the day again and you asked for no other pics? I've no idea why you did this? I encouraged pictures and videos even though I had both professionally done. I got 100s of fab pics from 100 angles capturing bits the photographer may have missed, well not missed but didn't get the same "moment". I know you can't go back but anyone reading this don't stop guests taking pictures!!

Get them looked at and tidied up, you might be surprised what they can do.

heartsonacake · 07/02/2020 17:00

I think it'd be worth taking the $700 and putting it towards having a professional tidy them up.

TeaAndCake321 RTFT. OP is a professional photographer and nothing can be done to improve them.

Buggedandconfused · 07/02/2020 17:02

I’m a professional photographer too OP. These are have so much noise on them, are badly exposed, bad colour balance and soft - they look like they have been cropped too from a much bigger image which doesn’t help. I would ask your credit card company if they can do anything - otherwise it looks like you’ll just have to take the $700. It must be galling, particularly as you know what you are doing and did so much research.

If it were me, I’d just think about them as showing the pure happiness and love of the day only - and have another shoot done here when the weather gets better. I’ve done a pre-wedding shoot for a Chinese couple (apparently it’s a thing in China) and the photo’s were lovely & romantic. You could get them done in a lovely setting outdoors, get to wear your beautiful dress again and have a lovely dinner & champagne afterwards.

GFJoe · 07/02/2020 17:05

God that's pretty bad. I know it's not a great solution but could you have a photo shoot with the two of you and at least recreate some of those memories in your dress. I'd personally hold out for the £1700 plus compensation or go to town on leaving them really shit reviews, with evidence, everywhere you can.

littlejalapeno · 07/02/2020 17:07

I’d want a full refund, don’t let them put you off.

It seems to me, as the style and quality is so different, like it might not be the photographer you had paid for. This might be an angle to approach the hotel and company with. That’s the kind of softness you get if you don’t check the back focus or if the flash and lens aren’t calibrated. Which means it’s not a professional using the camera. The framing is odd too, like they’ve cropped into a larger frame and lost quality there. Actually the more I look the more I see- the images are totally flat and ungraded, they’re over exposed, so likely using auto settings and not compensating for bright and shade with the iso... definitely not the work of a professional. You defo couldn’t have these printed and why would you want to?

If it’s a package deal with the hotel I would be going to the wedding manager at the hotel and asking why you have been ripped off like this. Block your credit card so they can’t take money without permission and square it with your bank. If it’s not a full refund I would be hitting up the wedding boards with my tale of woe and putting people off using both the venue and the photography service. You’d be doing people a favour.

Do not listen to the trolls. There’s always a couple who pop up to gaslight the OP and say they can’t see a problem. It’s not right at all.

PinkGinAndTacos · 07/02/2020 17:13

wow- they are bad. Really pixelated too! It looks like they were zoomed in loads. The framing of the images is terrible and they don't look professional at all.
If you paid for the pics with the hotel then do the 2 have a link? Could you contact the hotel and make them aware of the poor quality and how upset you are?

Cyberlibre · 07/02/2020 17:14

OP I am so sorry this has happened, I agree that those photos are not good quality at all and it must be heartbreaking given your job!
I know how much everyone's phones spoil photos but I have to say, my family member is getting married abroad this summer and I'm going to tell her this story just in case something similar happens. I'd rather have phones in the photos than hardly any photos which are poor quality.
I have no advice on the legal side of things but I'd be asking why they are so different to the ones on the website!?
Push for full refund.

KaptenKrusty · 07/02/2020 17:15

OMG - i'd be absolutely fuming!! They are crap photos (though you guys look lovely and very happy)

Such a shame - I wouldn't be letting it go would really push it with trying to get a full refund

sirmione16 · 07/02/2020 17:16

I have no legal advice, but wanted to suggest giving the images to an artist who may be able to create a beautiful painting from them in a big size you can display in your home as they're not print worthy. If you tell them your story, I'm sure there's someone who may do it at a reduced rate.

BaolFan · 07/02/2020 17:20

I'd tell them it's a full refund or nothing - and if they won't refund you then you will review them and share examples of the work plus the fact they pressured you to sign a disclaimer.

If it's any consolation you look radiantly happy in the pictures, which is what matters. I do sympathise - our wedding photos were horrendous and it upset me for a long time afterwards, but 14 years' later it's water under the bridge.

littlejalapeno · 07/02/2020 17:26

I have no legal advice, but wanted to suggest giving the images to an artist who may be able to create a beautiful painting from them in a big size you can display in your home...

This is a lovely idea!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 07/02/2020 17:39

I looked through loads of portfolios and was over the moon I managed to get the photographer I thought was the best and style matched mine, by his portfolio

The photos on his portfolio were probably someone else's work ... either that or the guy you got wasn't the one you booked at all

I don't know about English law, never mind that in Mexico, but I doubt you'll get anywhere by engaging in a foreign legal system unless you've got very deep pockets. Best, perhaps, to pursue it through your credit card, or just take the $700 and review them anyway

As you said, it sounds as if they've been through this before Hmm

Cam77 · 07/02/2020 17:46

My kid has got a kids camera that cost £10 from China. It gives a better image quality and color contrast than that. Can’t believe people saying they’re ok! I’m not sure how they managed to produce such terrible photos. I mean the framing is ok and the guy could obviously click the button. I guess they just got a total amateur though who didn’t know how to work any of the settings whatsoever and pocketed 90% of the fee for themselves.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 07/02/2020 17:48

Take the money, sign the disclaimer and then get all your guests to write a honest review about what they think of the photographs they were in (after all, they haven’t signed the disclaimer) because I am guessing they will be negative.

ShirleyPhallus · 07/02/2020 17:52

I can’t believe there are people on this thread saying those photos are ok - are they actually serious?!

There is so much wrong with them and they’re very obviously of poor quality. I don’t have any advice beyond what everyone else has said but you do look very beautiful and happy, so I hope it hasn’t spoilt your day too much

contentedsoul · 07/02/2020 17:54

I agree they are not super sharp
BUT, they will definitely bring a smile to your face in 10yrs time, when you look back.
I was expecting much much worse, but I love your expression. I don't like contrived pictures, I find them sterile and dull. Be happy he caught the moments.
Imagine if none has come out!! you'd be gutted then.

Shinycat · 07/02/2020 17:58

You don't need to be a professional photographer to see these photos are shit FFS! Hmm

contentedsoul · 07/02/2020 18:04

You're all doing a great job of making the OP feel down...happy now!
The moments gone, it could have been worse i.e No Pictures at all !!

Op, seriously I'm pretty certain that you could make a amazing photobook. Forget the dreary album, staged line ups, Yawn ZZzzz

Be positive and create something wonderful with them.

Alsohuman · 07/02/2020 18:04

They’re awful, so sorry OP. I bet they weren’t taken by the photographer whose portfolio you liked, which probably why you’re being pressured not to give a bad review. I hope you get your money back.