A Bride Scorned

*The names have been changed until this issue has been resolved.

Our wedding photos were the most important thing to us so we splurged a little when hired "Lucy" for $3,100 to photograph our wedding. We had our engagement photos taken by her in March and were very pleased with the outcome and super excited to see what she could do for us on our big day. I was totally shocked when her husband, "Ricky", called at 4pm the day before the wedding to let me know she was very sick and would not be able to make it. They sent two other photographers in her place and Ricky was also there. There wasn't much I could do at the time being that it was 25 hours until I said "I Do." I couldn't pitch a fit or fire them because then I would have no one to document this very special day. Ricky assured me that Lucy's second shooter photographs like her and that Lucy would be editing all the photos so they will all look like Lucy's work. So with not many choices or options I said okay.

I anticipated some sort of communication from Lucy soon following the wedding such as an apology or a preview of some of my photos. A month went by and I had not even heard, or seen, anything from Lucy or Ricky. I was the one who had to chase them down. I sent numerous emails before she set up a gallery of her favorite pictures from our wedding for me to see. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. The photos were good, but we paid for great photos and they didn't look like Lucy's work. For example, if you are a Picasso aficionado you would be able to spot a forgery. I am a Lucy aficionado and these felt like a forgery. I told her how I felt and but she stood by the quality of photos. She did offer me a free session with digital negatives to make up for not being there though. I thanked her for the offer but told her I would rather have an album. As much as we are unhappy with the photos we have seen so far, we don't want to do a bridal session. Our wedding was something we wanted to experience once and I can't afford to have my hair and make-up re-done and rent a suit for Chad so we could get better pictures that should of been taken in the first place. Plus I would know that every time I looked at them that it wasn't our wedding day. Unfortunately Lucy said she would be not willing to provide me with an album because that would cost her money and in her offering a session, that would only cost her her time and talent. Apparently, she has no problem taking money out of my pocket though. I didn't respond to that portion of her email. I was, and still am, seething with anger about her unwillingness to do what it takes to make a client happy especially when she has royally screwed up and knows it.

At this point I just want my photos. I was told that I would have all edited photos on a disc between 6 and 8 weeks. At the 8 week mark I tried contacting them to inquire about the whereabouts of said pictures. Lucy responded after I sent her three emails saying that since she was sick (in May) she was still trying to catch up on editing and she would have them to me soon. It will be 12 weeks this Saturday and I still don't have any photos or any clue about when I will be getting them.

I feel like I am personally out of options. I have tried to be a nice as pie to them in fear that if I pushed to hard and upset them in any way our photos would be edited in a very poor manner, take many more weeks or months to get them or my biggest fear, to never receive them at all. It is apparent to me that they care little of making me happy and no matter how many messages I leave them will make them get off their high horse and do the right thing.

To be continued ...