Photographer not giving us newborn pics?

[Summerfriday]

My daughter is now nearly 5 months old,
When i was pregnant i saw someone on FB recommend a photographer for a maternity shoot - i enquired, no problems at all getting my images back.

When we had the baby the photographer reached out to me and asked if we'd like to have a newborn shoot and we took on the offer as we were happy with the maternity images.

Not long after the shoot she got pregnant and i could see that she was in and out of hospital so didn't want to bother her but then a few more months down the line she was advertising photoshoots and posting photos she's recently taken so i asked her if i could have mine.

6 times now shes said shell get them back to me on certain date and there's always a excuse

1. her files had a virus so they wasn't sending.
2. her child was poorly (fair enough)
3. located the images but needed time to edit them 4)social media had been hacked 5&6) send the images but they were someone elses baby!!!

I've messaged her how unprofessional she's being as shes got a baby on the way and how would she feel in our position. Precious memories we can't get back and then she agrees and then swears she'll send them over then.... we never get them.

My partner said to leave it now and its obvious she's lost them but i cant let it go until i know for sure.

Where do i stand with this? Probably no Where as i didnt sign anything second time around but i wondered if you helpful people could give me some advice please

She ought to be reported to trading standards as a scammer. Take her to the small claims court. What a chancer. I hate this kind of thing. Keep all e-mails

Definitely get a refund. This is really crappy.

Tell her you'd like a refund and send her your bank details.

Don't let it go until you get a refund!

Ask for a refund and give her cut off point. Say that you will go to a small claims court to get your money back.

Precious memories we can't get back
Not about the refund though it's about trusting her with those special moments for her then to let us down!
What on earth are you going on about. You would have taken your own photos like everybody else does surely.

If she hadn't ''reached out'', as you put it, you probably wouldn't have had the photos done. It just sounds like a bonus opportunity for more pictures.

Just get your money back and make your own 'special moments'

I suspect they've been accidentally deleted or mis-filed, but perhaps giving her a deadline for a refund might put a rocket under her search!
🤞

She should admit it and refund you but surely you have other baby photos?
It’s not your actual baby she’s lost. It’s disappointing but not a hung disaster

I wouldn't let it go, personally. I'd comment on the Facebook page about it. Heck, I'd ask her to post the pics to me on USB if it came to it- with the USB free as an act of goodwill given how much she's messed you around. I'd offer to drive round and get them myself with a cable. I'd find so many workarounds that she'd either have to admit losing them and give a refund or actually give you the photos (on the slim chance she still has them).

It's not on.

Have you posted on a local Facebook page to ask, in a neutral way, if anyone else has had problems getting their photos from her? Have you left any reviews?

You need to get a bit tougher if you want to get to the bottom of it. Go round other house and watch her send you the photos.

You're being too nice

If your in the uk you can take her to the small claims court - there is some form of mediation now I think - easy to do.

I wouldn't let it go either OP, I'd report it via the Trading Standards line (i think it goes straight through to citizens advice nowadays) because she might be doing it to a lot of other people. And definitely get your money back - if you paid through your bank or credit card company they might be able to do a reverse payment.

My situation isn't exactly the same as yours, but I do feel your frustration and I hope your either get the pictures from her or a refund! When my daughter was born, we went to have a professional photoshoot together and I paid half of the cost. All of the images were put on a pen drive and my mum still has the pen drive. I've never seen those images since the photoshoot! I've in fact just messaged her to ask her to dig it out, if she still has it (the pen drive) as I'd love to see our pictures and print them out. I do hope she sends them over and if not, as other have said, request a refund! I can't see what she'd gain from keeping the images.. surely she'd be more worried about losing the money x

I’d message one last time:

Photographer, is there anything I can do to help you locate my newborn images, taken on X date at X time? You have been clear that they’re not lost (if they are, though, please do tell me). I don’t mind at this stage if they’re unedited or you’re not happy with them for some reason - just the raw pictures would be fine. I can deliver a USB to you if file transferring has been an issue.

I would love to resolve this because we had a great pregnancy shoot experience with you, and based on that I would recommend you to my friends but obviously only if this newborn shoot can be sorted out.

I’m afraid this means she has lost them.
Which is a very shitty thing to happen but at least she should come forward and be upfront about it. The most professional thing to do would be to admit she lost the images, profusely apologize and give you a refund without you having to ask twice. Now she’s trying to fob you off with silly excuses and hopes you’ll get tired of trying and will give up. I wouldn’t if I were you in this situation, she’s being unprofessional and ridiculous.

Tell her you want the images or you’ll go to small claims.

Don't just let it go, she shouldn't be let off scot free. At the very least tell her you want a refund. Disappointing as it is, if she's lost/deleted them there's nothing you can do, but at least make sure there's a consequence for her.

Bizarre, I send large images back and forth all day every day for work, via Wetransfer . com, the site has never been down ever on my memory, it's free, there is simply no excuse for transfers not to arrive, they do however sometimes end up in spam. In this day and age there is no excuse for USB drives sent by post or coming over with a cable, she has a reason for messing you about, maybe lost files, maybe doesn't know which baby is yours, maybe she's just lazy and flaky and doesn't care really.

Don't give up, can you get her on the phone? Can you pop into her studio in person ( with a usb and a cable, lol)? In any case, don't give up without a refund. I'd also book a new shoot with someone else asap, to get pics of your baby while she's still little, I totally get the lost memories issue, I'd be heartbroken.

I wouldn't message, I would phone her, you're more likely to get a straight answer that way. Use someone else's phone if she has your number

If you've paid for them then ask her to refund you
If you haven't paid then just let it go

Get writing a review of her business on her FB page.

In your position I would definitely prefer it if she just said ‘I’m sorry I’ve lost them’. It’s the not knowing that’s torturous because then you’re holding out hope. I’m going through a similar situation now with someone stringing me along so I fully empathise. At least if she would woman up and tell you, you could face facts that the pictures are never coming back.

[quote Summerfriday]@bubblecoffee i just want her to admit it as she always apologises when i message her and then yet again gives me a false day that she'll get them to me by. I've asked her just to tell me if shes lost them but she says she hasnt she just needs to send them over or edit them! i think I'll just let it go. My partner messaged her and she sent him pics of her laptop sending the files but never got them! I suppose i should give up x[/quote]
Well it's your decision. But you make the decision to 'let it go' then you actually have to do that - by not storing up anger and annoyance and grudges about the lost money and these precious memories. If you can't let those feelings go, then you need to follow up on requesting a refund.

And why would you just let it go?
You paid for a service, you didn't get what you paid for and it's actually a pretty big thing having photos of your newborn!
I wouldn't stop until I got the photos or at very least my money back and an apology

In 15 years of sending images via email or WeTransfer or the myriad other ways we have of sharing images.. I have never had a 'virus in my files' or been unable to send.

She no longer has your images, the reason is irrelevant, ask for a refund.

@Didydani do you mean your mum paid the other half and then kept the memory stick so you've never seen photos of your daughter?
That's outrageous.
Go round there and get it back!