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

It's surprising me that people are basically suggesting the OP is unreasonable for wanting her photos!
A photographer was paid to take the photos, her job is to provide said photos. I appreciate people make mistakes and maybe she has lost them. However part of being a reasonable adult and business owner is to communicate this and rectify the situation (basically be honest, apologise and refund). I can see why the OP is upset, she wanted photos from a special time. Yes she probably has other photos but she paid someone to take photographs and therefore should expect them. I'm saying this as someone who has never had professional photos of my DC.
People saying get a refund and move on - I do think the OP should receive an apology. She has spent months chasing photos only to be lied to and fobbed off. It's not how a business should be run.

@andweallsingalong

Have you reminded her of the exact date and time of the shoot? That should help her figure out which ones are yours if she's frantically looking through pics trying to figure out which ones are yours.

This.

I’m thinking she’s looking at photos of loads of random babies and hasn’t got a clue which one is yours. Maybe remind her of any props, what baby was wearing or, if you took any pics on your phone during the shoot, send a couple of those so she can compare.

[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]
I'd let the fact she doesn't have the photos go but I'd tell her to send back your money asap.

Don't give up on it you need your money back at the very least. The e mail suggested sounds good. Is it an actual business? If so then Trading Standards may be able to advise.

Why would you let it go? She took your money, failed to provide a service and has been stringing you along for months. Time for a deadline and mean it. She owes you the money back at the very least.

If you've lost them please have the grace and dignity to admit, rather than lying any further. And issue a full refund.

@NewlyGranny

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! 🤞

If they're accidentally deleted they can be recovered.

Tell her Your'll take it up the small claims court aswell.

As a photographer you dont 'lose' photos, any professional will have them backed up in multiple location including external hard drives.

What stands out to me is the 'virus' comment, a 'virus' shouldnt effect photos but if she failed in her professional duty to back them up and lost the computer to a virus then thats highly unprofessional.

The biggest photography disaster than ends up without images is card corruption when the memory card dies (it can happen to anyone, more modern cameras often shoot duo carded now but many of us still use older models as its really expensive to upgrade) and its virtually impossible to recover anything but in those cases photographers should be honest up front as 'buying time' wont help and just makes you look bad.

Her litany of excuses suggest that perhaps she isn’t a professional photographer at all but someone doing it as a hobby and has got herself into a pickle.

send the images but they were someone elses baby!!!

This is clearly in breach of GDPR and a potentially serious error. You should report this breach to the Information Commissioners office.

No don't give up, you paid for a service and she hasn't delivered. I would demand refund as you've already given her x chances over x months to provide the photographs. Take her to small claims court of she refuses and I would leave an honest review of her services. I would be so disappointed if I'd paid for a newborn shoot and they lost the photos. Those shoots aren't cheap and as you say it's memories /keepsakes you want.

Precious memories we can't get back

Eh? Photos shortly after birth, first day at home, etc etc etc are your precious memories and presumably you took your own photos?

A staged photo shoot is disappointing to lose the photos but not really memories of anything. Just ask to be straight with you. Ask if she has lost them and if she has that's that.

OP my DH is a photographer. She's clearly lost the photos.

Take it to the small claims court for your money back and leave her a negative Facebook review too. Report her to any photographer association she may be a member of

[quote Luckytattie]@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![/quote]
Yes and I do have one photo from the shoot, printed out on canvas but there's many more photos I've never seen. She said she still has the pen drive and I'm seeing her tomorrow, so I intend to get it back tomorrow and print them out.

OP, we haven't heard from you but I hope you you get your pictures or at least a refund! Lots of good advice on here x

@notacooldad

No we would've gone elsewhere if she didn't reach out. This baby is our baby after a loss so we created a theme at the Photoshoot and obz pics u take of a normal camera arent as nice hence why we wanted a professional shoot. Youre just one of those people who aren't arsed about helping people on here, you just want to knitt pick to pass your lonely day away. Move along.

Omg people.... We brought loads of outfits for the Photoshoot as she is our rainbow baby (baby after a loss) we spend loads on our own background theme and outfits for the shoot which obs don't fit her now. They were precious photos and would've been great memories for us. Is it so hard to understand?!...

Youre just one of those people who aren't arsed about helping people on here, you just want to knitt pick to pass your lonely day away. Move along
A lot if others have said similar to me. So why are you singling me out? 🤷‍♀️
I also gave you advice about going to a small claims court. That was trying to help.
We employed a photographer to do "precious memories," of Ds2 prom. It was expensive and we had hired something special for DS. We never saw our photos dispite chasing up for months.
We took our own photos as well. We stood behind the photographer and when she took a picture did I.
We never got our money back. The photographer disappeared. However you are still in contact with yours so you stand a chance if getting something, whether its money or pictures.

Ps my day hasn't been lonely, so dont make ridiculous assumptions!

Maybe she can't remember what baby it actually is. X

Go for the refund now. Threaten her with a bad social media review and court if she isn't forthcoming. I wouldn't bother trying to get her to admit she has lost them.

@Summerfriday I get that you put a lot into that photo. I get that it has a special meaning to you.
But that isn’t going to make it reappear by magic.

The photographer has somehow lost the photos.
You need to make your peace with that, however gutted you are about it.

You definitely just need to go professional and practical on it and issue her with a request for a refund, expected within 14 days. If she doesn't return the cash, go to small claims court or let it go.

One thing you can't do is wait around for her to "own up", say sorry or feel bad. She obviously doesn't care, for one reason or another.

PLUS, there is a slim chance that she might actually have your photos and you demanding a refund might get her to send them. I agree it sounds like she's lost them, but either way you'll get the money back at least.

Omg people.... We brought loads of outfits for the Photoshoot as she is our rainbow baby (baby after a loss) we spend loads on our own background theme and outfits for the shoot which obs don't fit her now. They were precious photos and would've been great memories for us. Is it so hard to understand?!

You did not mention any of this early on so I have no idea how you expected people to understand this.
Anyway, go for a refund. She's obviously lost the photos or they were crap. And that's obviously really disappointing and unacceptable but she needs to give you a refund.
At least get that money back and do another shoot (with a different photographer) for some other appropriate occasion.

Because i didn't want to go into it thats why its personal. I just wanted advice on the question i asked but because people are so quick to judge about me being so upset about it, i felt the need to explain ... We paid for something we didnt receive and have every right to be upset no matter the circumstance. But thanks for eveyone who understands.

Its been so draining chasing her for months now I've decided to just come to terms with her possibly losing my images. We have loads of our own photos but wanted professional ones for a canvas but never mind. Thanks again :)

It was pretty obvious to me why you'd be upset without any of that personal info OP. You don't need to justify your feelings to strangers.

@flittingaboutagain thank you xx