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

[Jakc]

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.

Speaking as a amateur photographer still studying/learning/hobby etc even I can see those photos are horrendous.

You might be able to see the couple, so if that's the case, -ALL- of you can see the grain, noise, pixalation and blur. If any of you think these are OK, then please get your eyes tested, or at least never pay more than £30 for photos if this is the standard you like.

It's like going to a low budget, college made film showing, filmed on a Nokia phone from the 90's and saying, "Oooh that was totally David Lynch standard!"

I am so sorry, OP. I had the same happen at my own wedding with the videographer.

I, personally, wouldn't take the money. I would destroy their company so they can't ruin another wedding. Or I would take the money and destroy them anyway, because they can't do sweet F all from Mexico. Their contract is not legally binding from a British Court of Law...or you sign it, but not your husband. Your husband can then leave the UK of shots and bad reviews. I would even look up Mexican wedding FB pages and leave the reviews on there and trip advisor. Leave no rock unturned.

Let them keep their shitty $700 and tear them to pieces all over the internet. The negative publicity will cost them more than if they’d flown you all out to retake the pictures again.

@RedRed9
No, I didn't miss that part.
Granted they are not perfect, but I wonder how she would have felt if none had turned out.
We can all shout and scream till the cows come home, pictures still wont be perfect, the moments gone and all that remains are the OP's pictures.
I'm 100% certain that each and everyone of you has a old photo of a loved one that is far from perfect, yet to you it is your only lasting memory...to everyone else it's a blurry picture.

At the moment OP is raw - understandably
As I said, I'm sure software could be utilised to make a fabulous photobook.

As for all the silly comments from so-called "Pro's" go find yourself a photo forum and bore them instead.

The images I received are nothing at all like the images in his portfolio.

Sounds like you didn’t actually get the photographer you thought you did.

If you booked as part of a package, wouldn’t it be the organisation you booked with that you would be claiming from?

Personally I’d take the $700 and leave it. If those booking don’t get a choice of photographer anyway it’s unlikely a negative review would hurt them much. If the hotel/booking company don’t know speak to them now, before you sign the form.

I would destroy their company so they can't ruin another wedding

Unlikely to work I'm afraid; even if OP had enough influence to trash the photog, the hotel who used him and everyone else concerned, they'd just swear blind they'd got rid of the "unfortunate mistake" and hired a new, all-bells-and-whistles top pro

... who'd probably be the same guy with a change of name for himself or his "company"

Yeah contentedsoul but most people didn't pay £1700 for their treasured old bad quality photo.

Sorry OP these are shocking! You poor thing.
I'm an amateur and in the process of turning pro photographer and I'd rather refund the whole amount than to hand over images like that.

I agree that the photos look like they have been cropped from a far larger image, and for some reason the ISO is too high, especially on the one of you coming into the reception hence the grainy effect.

I would take the £700, get dressed up in your wedding dress and get a beautiful outdoor shoot done. Hell I'll do it for free if you're anywhere near me!

Oh and yes to getting friends and family to post bad reviews. Save it happening to another couple

contented as a so-called “Pro.” I can assure you that no software can save out of focus, heavily cropped photos to make a “fabulous picture book”.
The so-called “Pro’s” are not giving silly comments, they are trying to help. You do realise pro means professional, as in, our job, our profession, which we have trained for, may have a degree and a masters degree for? Not just someone who has picked up a camera, stick it in auto and taken a few snaps? Why should we go and find a photo forum to bore instead of trying to help OP in something we have expertise in? Would you say that to an accountant or a solicitor?
OP I’ve nothing to add to what pp have said, but love the idea of a painting made from the happiest one.

@ Yabba

Maybe I know a bit more than I'm letting on....
Yep, trained here too..
O level Photography A
A level Photography A (highest mark in UK - Award and pic in paper)
City & Guilds Professional Competences - Distinction
HND Fine Arts Photography - Distinction
6yrs in total - full time

Went to work as Press Photographer (hated it)
Worked in Studio (hated it)

Retrained - got a job - never looked back

They are not perfect - but something could be done.
The negativity is depressing

OP if you can. get the original RAW files and take them to a Professional Photo Finisher.
You may not get the huge printout. But you will get a great Wedding photo book.

Ugh, I'm so sorry to hear this! Hope you will be able to get a full refund because you can't get this big day back nd the photographer ruined your chances to see the memories in the pictures! Still, is there re at least some photos that you would want to save, there is a photo editor called Photoworks, it is practically good at enhancing blurry photos. I've tried it myself when it turned out that the photos I took with my friend were blurry af and my friend went off to college so I wouldn't see her for a long time. Somehow it worked and the pics looked fine, maybe it will be helpful for you as well.
Anyway, go after the photographer and make him give you a full refund!

I'm just curious what have you decided to do at the end? Were you able to get a refund or save your pictures?