Photgrapher problems

Tigerlilley1980

Hi all I want your opinions again!!

My photogrpaher is charging me £400. I have just had an email from him saying this is only for two hours, when really I will need more as after thinking about one hour of that will be covered by the guests arriving and the ceremony.

I haven't paid a deposit or signed a contract although I have confirmed the booking by email. In order to get him for this price he is sending his friend to do the photographs and then he is editing them as he was already booked for that day.

I have sent a few other emails recently but he doesn't respond to them all, and after 3 days still hasn't responded to the most recent, although I undstand he could be really busy.

I have found another photogrpaher who will charge me £40 more and I get him for the whole day, and it includes 30 prints, wheras the original photrogrpaher only gives me a cd.

I have rang trading standards to find out where I stand if I want to cancel him and they say I have a contract as I confirmed by email, although I don't have a contract and have no idea what terms are. I have never met the photographer, which also makes me a bit uneasy.

I really think I would be happier with the new photographer, what should I do?

Tiger xx

b4be

well if i booked a photographer , i d expect him to be there for a start not a mate , id expect him to cover the wedding not part of it , you haven't actualy signed anything or handed a deposit in , so i say dump him , what can he do , take you to court , will cost him money to highlight his poor
service , these are basic standards than anyone would normaly expect , and any judge would uphold that , he acting like he's doing you a favour getting a mate to do it , when your paying good cash , i reckon even if you keep him , and get your disk , the pics might not be up to scratch , and you might regret it . if it were me , i wouldnt take the chance

wallbash

still hasn't responded to the most recent, although I undstand he could be really busy.

Too busy for a reply !

He wants to send a friend ?? rush job . only an hour

£400 , if its not David Bailey Cancel , get someone you will have confidence in.

alanwjones

Have a look at this site http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/ particularly the talk buisiness section, signup for the best advice and perhaps find a photographer in your area. Alan.

Private_and_Confidential

£400 for 2 hrs coverage with images on a disk only is rediculous.

I'm a wedding photographer and for £400 you'd get full coverage of the ceremony (including arrival at the ceremony) through to speeches and first dance. No limit on time (although I would charge travel expenses).

I say find an alternative. Especially if you haven't signed any contract.

My contract requests £150 non-refundable deposit and the remainder 2 weeks before the wedding, but to be honest, I doubt very much that I'd chase any monies owed to me if the couple changed their minds. I think this is pretty standard practice.

Also, I'd expect him to be there in person and not a 'mate'.

If you need any advice I'd be happy to help with things to look out for.

rachfriar78

You say you called Trading standards and they say you have acontract with him, hits the naik on the head, the contract is with him not his friend or had you already confirmed to have his friend tiger?

I personally would bin him off and go for the other one, it really is amazing how some photographers work!!

Tigerlilley1980

Thanks guys that's what I thought! It does feel like he is doing it as a favour, which is why I probably would feel bad about cancelling him, but it is starting to feel like I have no confidence in him, which is not good!

When I rang trading standards they said he could take me to court and sue me but if he would have to pay to do this, I recon it would end up costing him more than the actual money I wuld have paid for the service, or would I have to pay his court costs?

I really do want to cancel him though as the other guy is so much better and his pics are fab! I am starting to think I shouldn't have rushed in and booked him, but the new photographer has only been goig a few weeks and I hadn't seen his website. I am going to see the new photographer tomorrow evening, which already is more than what the other photgrapher has offered as he hasn't even seen me.

Would you email to cancel or phone. I'm not good on the phone and would feel very uncomfortable doing it over the phone and I'm worried I would end up agreeing to something else from him lol!! Do you think I could just say that money is forcing us to cancel or should I say that I have found someone better.

Tiger xx

Tigerlilley1980

rachfriar78 wrote: »

You say you called Trading standards and they say you have acontract with him, hits the naik on the head, the contract is with him not his friend or had you already confirmed to have his friend tiger?

I personally would bin him off and go for the other one, it really is amazing how some photographers work!!

He did say at the time of booking that it would be his friend, and that he is a proper photographer, and I agreed to that because it was the cheapest deal we had come across.

The other photographer I have found will cover the whole day and some of the night do, which would be fab and much better. I'm just worrying now about cancelling him, but I just think that because I havn't signed a contract or given him any money it should be ok. Although trading standards have said I have contract!

Tiger xx

rachfriar78

I would email him and just play the sympathy card and say unfortuntely you and HTB have split up so you no longer need him. I can't see if you say anything like that he will still want to charge unless he hasn't got a heart. Hope that makes sense.

party_of_five

To be honest, and I'll admit I am a photographer here, you probably did know the price when you booked him but I would have thought that he won't take you to court or anything if you cancel. I probably wouldn't although I suppose I would feel better about it if you let me know as soon as possible so I could take steps to mitigate my losses.

However, I have to take issue with saying £400 is ridiculous. Wedding photographer is incredibly hard, it isn't just turning up with a camera and clicking away. So you are paying (presuming that this particular person isn't just a rip off merchant) for training, experience and qualification. Also, for time on the day and time in post production afterwards.

It is all well and good to say that you offer more for £400 , Private and Confidential, and I'm glad that it works for you to work this cheaply but it isn't a flat rate across the nation. For example an amateur with no overheads and no insurance will not charge as much as a professional with a studio and top notch gear to maintain, years of experience and qualifications.

I'm absolutely not having a go at you TigerLilley - it really does sound like you have a raw deal but it just gets my goat when people reduce photography to a price. Sure it has to be within your budget but us professionals do offer a little more in terms of managing situations, helping to string the day together and providing high quality and lasting memories of your wedding day. I don't think it's a bad thing that we should be fairly paid for what we do.

missimaxo

Hi Tigerlilly

I agree that the photographer himself sounds pretty poor. You have not seen (I presume) evidence of the friends photography, however well this guy edits them. £400 may sound steep for 2 hours work but I do know photographers who charge this, and also know (us included) photographers who charge less.

What is more important here is the terms and conditions of the (presumed) contract you have with him. You say you have never signed a contract, but how did you find the guy, is what he is advertising a standard package and does he have terms and conditions somewhere eg a website which you have agreed to by agreeing by email. If the 2 hours was not agreed to then he may be in breach of contract as well, but only if again this has not been pre-agreed.

I think we need more info about what was discussed, what terms and conditions were either discussed or were available for you to see elsewhere (website) and what those terms say about cancelling.

Good luck x