Photographer problems?

We chose a photographer that was a little on the cheap side (about $1000) for the wedding day. We have already given our deposit, which is 1/4 of the price, and it is non refundable. Our package included an engagement session which we did in late November.
I was not impressed with ANY of these pictures and I am afraid of what my wedding day ones will turn out like. I am way too shiny, he did not use light properly (we were behind a lot of plants but the pictures came out so dark that you couldn't even tell there was exotic plants behind us) and in a lot of them my hubby-to-be had a double chind because of the way he had us pose. Overall I am not impressed, but I dont' want to fire him because we can't really afford a more expensive photographer.
The pictures he showed us in his portfolio did not look anything like our engagement pictures. He also annoys me when he talks to me.
How do I explain that I expect better and tell him that I feel like he is smothering, without being rude?

Hey everyone thank you for all of your wonderful answers! I really did look around my area for a cheaper photographer but there aren't any. I know that I probably should spend more, but with our budget we just can't (everything for a wedding is so expensive) I think I will at least sit down and talk with him, maybe ask for a reshoot which someone mentioned, and go from there. Thanks everyone!

Is there any other affordable photographer in your area that you are able to contact? Try looking around again ~ if you are this unhappy with the engagement photos, it may be worth it to spend a little more money & get a different photographer.

I know you said you can't afford it ~ but is there anyway to save more money? Borrow from a parent? I may get a lot of thumbs down for this ~ but maybe even put it on a credit card? ~ I don't recommend going into debt for a wedding or putting wedding expenses on credit ~ but an engagement shot is a relatively controlled situation. If this guy was unable to take a good engagement photo ~ imagine the mess your wedding photos could be. A photographer is the ONE area in wedding planning when it is Ok to splurge.

But, if you are really stuck with this person you should just be honest with him about what you don't like. Call & make an appointment to discuss the engagement photos (that way you aren't just barging in on him & he will have time to talk with you) Don't be rude, or come across as angry. Tell him very calmly, politely & nicely what you don't like. Explain to him the difference between the pics in his portfolio & your engagement pics & why you are unhappy ~ ask if he would be willing to reshoot your engagement photos.

Maybe once he has a better idea of what you want & are looking for, he will be able to take a better photo. Granted, we expect the professional to already have this ability ~ but like you said, you went with a cheaper photographer. There is a reason he charges less.

Just be as sweet with him as you can possibly be (even though I don't blame you for being upset!) Most people in the wedding industry have delt with plenty of drama & attitudes ~ and you will get a lot further being extra nice.

If you are able to convince him to reshoot the engagement pics & are still unhapppy ~ you should probably get rid of him. I would start searching again now & calling others in your area, just in case. Go ahead & call the more pricey photographers & ask about their packages ~ many are flexible with their packages & may be willing to work out a deal with you. You may end up with less pictures ~ but would you rather have a lot crappy pics of your wedding day, or a few really good ones?

Best of luck to you!!!!

I would just take the loss of 250 and look elsewhere if the pictures on the wedding day are that important to you then maybe you should not leave it up to him correcting himself.

I agree with the above comment. I would not want to risk having awful pcitures of my wedding day ebcause the guy is rushing and ripping you guys off. Have you considered having a family member take pictures? It would be a little bit cheaper on you. Also, you could buy some disposible cameras and give them to each guest (or family) and ask them to take pictures during the ceremony and reception then ask them to turn them into a basket when they're cameras are full. You can then take them to Wal-Mart to get developed. I know a lot of people who did this and they're pictures were really cute and they had a huge variety of shots from their big day; it also saved them money. You can buy cameras in bulk at theknot.com; i think they run 3 or 4 bucks a piece.

It's awful you have to deal with this crap and that the photographer is cheating you out of money. Seriously fire him and take a loss; you'll be a lot happier knowing that you're not out a thousand bucks for crappy pictures.

Ask for the deposit back because the pictures were horrible. If the photographer won't budge, report him to the BBB. If you want, you can probably take him to small claims court to get the cost back.

Or, you could just take the loss and try somewhere else.

do not setal for anything less.. tell him how you feel and that u are not happy with the pictures and that they are nothing lke what he showed you

I would just deal with the loss of the money you paid for it and look around my mom does photography and she is doing mine and I want them to be perfect and she does and awsome job. I wouldn't risk it. If you have to deal with him just tell him your not happy with them at all and you want a refund.

at the wedding,try to have a family member take pictures to.You can take him to small claims court for the first set of pictures he did.So you can already get part of your money back.If he screws up the wedding pictures.you can get all of your money back.If you signed a contract and you try not to use him for the wedding he can sue you.Try letting your boyfriend talk to him if he gets on your nerves.

Don't use him. Buy a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT or xti and have a relative or friend take the pictures. Learn how to use it, it's a little complicated, but using the full auto setting takes good pictures. It's a very professional camera. Find someone to take the pictures soon so they can learn to use the camera now. The XTI is better but the XT is still good and cheaper. I costs about $500 dollars depending on where you get it.
You can order it here or just look at it:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/37...

Do not buy just the body. It has to include a lens, otherwise you can't use it. You also need to buy a sandisk Ultra II Compact Flash memory, you can get a 2gb for $30.00.
I recommend you buy this camera so you can use it to take pictures of your baby. I have the XTI and it works great.
You could ask your friends and relatives if they have this or a better camera and pay them to take pictures or ask them to do it for free. Good luck and God bless.

I would really tell him that you didn't really care for your engagement photos and ask for a reshoot. He should be able to do this again at no cost to you. After then 2nd shooting, decide then. If you don't like them, take the lost of the depoist. TRUST ME if he messes up your ENGAGEMENT photographs, which are posed, he will mess up the most important photos: your wedding! You want to be happy with these photos.
Sounds like me he either doesn't care or doesnt know what hes doing. either way, ask for a reshoot and go from there.

Find another photographer and have a serious talk with this one. Give him a chance to redeem himself by re-doing the engagment photo session and if they are still bad run like Hell. You can't re-do a wedding day. Shave some dough off the flowers or the music....but don't spend ANOTHER $750 for pictures you hate. Heck you could take the bridal party to Sears and get better pictures from what you've told us.

You need to keep in mind that the portfolio he showed you is only going to be the best of the best just like he won't give you the number of an unhappy bride for a refrence. He's had time to retouch them with Photoshop and who knows how many rolls of film he used to get that one good photo. That's why I tell brides to ALWAYS ask to see a wedding from start to finish completely unedited. As my grandpa says "Even a blind squirrel will get lucky and find a nut every once in a while"
You found a blind squirrel.

In the meantime I suggest posting ads on the board at local art colleges and on Craigslist. You will get showered with responses of possible photographers you can use instead. Look over their work closely, ask for refrences, and do test runs like the engagement shoot beforehand. Price has nothing to do with quality, as you now know. 1k is not "cheap" but apparently his work quality is.

okay, as a professional, you should tell him how unsatisfied you are with the work on your engagement photos. tell him that they are not the same quality as what you saw in his portfolio. do you have a contract? what does it say about an out in it? i take a nonrefundable deposit, but all of my images are satisfaction guaranteed. if they don't like what i take the first time, we go again till i get the look THEY want. i would start checking with other photographers, and quick. you may have to take a loss on the deposit. get a loan if necessary. don't trust your wedding memories to just anyone with a camera. don't be afraid to ask for referrals. i usually give 5-7. and always different types of ceremonies. like indoor daytime and candlelight, outdoor daytime and evening. i'm not afraid to let them look at my work either. most photographers only want you to see their best work. i usually show them my not so great work too. because not every shot is going to be fanastic. but the funny thing is, what we as photographers think is not so great, the bride and groom might love. but talk to your original photographer and explain your concerns. also talk to an attorney to find out what can be done about your deposit, especially if you do or don't have a contract. you might be stuck with the remaining balance if it's in the contract. and just because someone is cheap, it doesn't always mean it's good.

He has already blown it. Do not try to get him to commit to improving. It seems very likely that he would agree to improve, then blow it again.

I suggest two courses of action.

The first is to find another photographer. You could probably find a better one for $750. Ask a photography instructor at a local college; they often have excellent photography students trying to build their portfolio. Search craigslist or other places for upcoming photographers trying to build their portfolios.

The second is to sue him in small claims court for breach of contract. Even if you have a contract that does not quite support this, you might argue that the portfolios he showed you ought to be an implied part of the contract. Many jurisdictions have a statute of limitations of one year, so you may want to pursue this after the wedding. The key to winning in small claims court is PREPARATION. Personally, I find such activities very educational.

I recommend NOT buying a good mid-range camera (such as the Nikon D40) and having a friend take pictures. Shooting a wedding is harder than clicking a button. If you want to go the instant-wedding-photographer route, buy a wedding photography book and use a point-and-click camera.

If you are in Northern California, I could shoot your wedding for you. If not, and your photos turn out terrible, send them to me and I can probably make them look a lot better. No charge either way. (I am one of those upcoming photographers trying to build my portfolio.)