Dodgy photographer - advice please!

sweetpeaqueen

We bought, in person from a local photographer, my parents a voucher for Christmas entitling them to a family studio photography shoot lasting an hour and a half plus a follow up print of their choice and the option to buy more prints if required. Four weeks ago all nine of us got together (no easy feat as some of us live miles away) with the photographer at his studio and he promised to upload the results of the shoot on his website the next day. We have heard nothing from him since and all our enquiring phone calls and emails go unanswered. The photographer has since moved out of his studio leaving no forwarding address. However, his website is still active.

We're all feeling very uneasy about this. Does anyone have any advice on how we should proceed to get either our voucher refunded (£80) or access to our photos? It was an expensive day for some of us considering what we laid out for travel costs, new clothes, hair cuts etc.

Any advice welcomed. Thanks!

nexuss

Is this a guy in newcastle-upon-tyne by any chance ?

sweetpeaqueen

No - St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Have you had a similar experience?

nexuss

It is a very common scam in the photography business.There was a guy in the North-east doing something similiar.The voucher is to get you through the door then they do their sales pitch for you to pay hundreds of pounds for more prints.
What is the persons website ?

nell35

This makes me so mad!!:mad: As a photographer its people like this that make us all look bad!! I don't charge an astronomical fee and neither do I have a hard sell pitch - (I live in an area where people won't pay way out prices!! Plus I'm not much of a hard nosed business woman:rotfl:).

On his website is he a member of an offical boby i.e SWPP or MPA. If he is you could report him

£80 is alot of money to most people and I think your being generous not including all your other expenses - if you've exhausted all avenues take the t**t to small claims.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

CHR15

I hate it when people complain about a specific company and don't even tell us who they are complaining about :mad:

What's the blimmin' point???

nell35

CHR15 wrote: »

I hate it when people complain about a specific company and don't even tell us who they are complaining about :mad:

What's the blimmin' point???

They maybe don't know if they are allowed to 'name and shame'

Personally I think they should!

sweetpeaqueen

darylseeleyphotography.com


Oh. And have no fear. We will be certainly claiming for all expenses incurred, even our time. None of us can afford to lose a penny.

The whole experience is such a crying shame. As well as being for my parents Christmas present it is also their golden wedding anniversary this year so we wanted them to have something memorable.

Looks like it's turning out to be memorable for all the wrong reasons......

maninthestreet

That website has the following registrant information:


Registrant:
Daryl Seeley Photography
Unit 6UA, St Albans Enterprise Centre,
Long Spring, Porters Wood
St Albans
Hertfordshire, England AL3 6EN
UK

Domain name: DARYLSEELEYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM


Administrative Contact:
Seeley, Daryl daryl@gobstopper.co.uk
Unit 6UA, St Albans Enterprise Centre,
Long Spring, Porters Wood
St Albans
Hertfordshire, England AL3 6EN
UK
+44-7932-790-416

trolox

Hi sweetpeaqueen - Sorry to hear about your problem. I have to agree with nell above, that it gives people in the business a bad name. What has probably happened is that his business has gone under (rather than it being an actual scam) - times are fairly hard in what is becoming an increasingly competitive business (1000s of photographers for only 100s of jobs) - I should know as I am trying to get my own photography business going - thankfully I am still working in my day job full time until things a) get better and b) I have enough work and backup money to survive without the day job!

Have you checked out companies house for the company details? That might give you some idea about where to start chasing him and go about claiming back your money.

I know this might be against forum rules, so sorry mods, however, I am only trying to help the OP. Sweetpea, I might be able to help you out. I am based in Enfield and work out nr St Albans (for a large educational institute) - why dont you PM me and I can send you details of my photo website - I am looking for some more portfolio material and would love to help you get your folks some photos for their golden wedding, so if willing I am sure we could exchange the sitting for some pictures for my portfolio (and I will point you in the direction of printers who dont cost the earth, rather than the expensive studio fees for prints that you might have had). I dont have a studio space, prefering to use client's home and gardens (or nice outside space) and as we are approaching summer that might be quite good.

Best wishes
Andrew

sweetpeaqueen

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. Most appreciated by this first time poster (yet long time lurker)! Many brains are so much better than one....

Special thanks to Trolox for your generous offer. I will have a word asap with the rest of the gang and PM you if there's something we can sort out.

TTFN! Will keep you posted on any developments.