As a wedding photographer, dealing with an unhappy bride is the worst. How do I handle it?

I recently photographed a wedding with another photographer recently. To be honest, I thought that we did a really amazing job. I just sent the bride the photos (300 4 x 6 prints) and a disk of even more photos. We got some really wonderful photos. And yet she asks for photos of some of the people at the tables - people who didn't even stand up all night. Are you kidding me? And she wants a picture of the charlie brown christmas tree that was at her reception. I actually do have that shot and will send to her but it seems weird. We severly undercharged her - $1300. I professionally color corrected every photo that she got and she complains. I'm not sure how to handle this. Suggestions?

Did you go over things with the bride before the wedding and make sure she told you who she wanted pictures of? I often tell a bride that I don't know the family so she'll have to ask me at the reception to photograph her with this one or that. I always try to get everyone elderly and everyone really young in at least one shot for future purposes. If that person who didn't "stand up" means something to her or that "Charlie Brown tree" has a meaning, she should have the images. It's not up to you to determine what she should or shouldn't care about. 300 prints and a CD are not much for the money, even if you did color correct them. They SHOULD be the right color! Give her what she asks for gracefully. It's your reputation.

Some people are complainers no matter what you do. You have to be the better person though. The photography industry is one that is best served by word of mouth. A bridezilla isn't going to do you any favors, but if you treat her like crap it'll only make things worse. If she didn't state she wanted pictures of all the tables in advance of the event, you just have to nicely confirm that you did your best to achieve preserving the requested photo list and additional shots may or may not include everything she had hoped for. As for the other stuff, provide the Christmas tree...its not weird. Its obviously important to her. Meet the requirements and don't go any further bending over backwards to help them further. You don't want her telling her friends that treating the photographer like a door mat will serve them all sorts of free stuff. She's going to bad mouth one way or another. Don't support the bridezilla. Finish your obligation and move on.

Better get used to it. You'll need a thick skin.

No matter how many times this bride, or any bride, is going to get married or shack up in her life, she thinks this "one" is going to be a "once in a lifetime" deal.

I suggest that you create a list of poses, subjects, cakes and decorations, etc... that will fit any situation, but make sure the bride gives you "her" list, and signs off on it.

Than when you shoot, shoot everything. Every table, every log that doesnt get off their butt, or wont put the whiskey down long enough to say cheese.

I have seen too many weddings, to ever do a wedding myself, let alone think about doing it as a living.

I wish you luck.

you really did undercharge, and my experience, (though not with wedding photography) is that when i under charge i get complaints, when my prices are in the orbit of pluto, everyone is happy.