Wedding Horror Story

[v5educ]

I was at a friend's wedding this past Saturday. I was not the phtographer so I was just attending. There I sat observing the photographer. I thought to myself that she must be a very self confident photographer as she did not take many shots at all. For example, when the bride and her father was walking in, she took 2 pictures (counted by the number of time her flash went off). I would have taken 20.
Between the ceremony and reception, I did get to talk to her. He has a Canon 5D with a 24-105L, and a battery grip. I told her that I like Canons and I have a 40D. She told me she just got the package (one week before the wedding). She had a 40D and did not like it at all. She was very short and rude.
I just had a funny feeling about this whole thing. I am not sure whether she was a real pro or just learning. I also thought that she is not babying her gear like I do.
Here is the horror. I was standing in the hallway when she walked by. The next thing I heard was a thud. I looked over where she was and saw her picking up her lens from the cement floor. Damage was done. The lens will not fit back into the camera.
I went to her and offered my help. To no avail, the lens mounting must be damaged as it will not turn and be mounted. I ask her if she has any back-up camera or lenses. No to both questions. I offered to get my gear (at home but I can get it since I live nearby) to help her out. No was the answer. She told me she can get help from her friends (obviously I am not a friend) and she started to make phone calls. I left my offer open to her and she told me she would let me know.
About 20 minutes later, I found out, she had packed her stuff and left the wedding. There was no more pictures taken. I believe there was not a picture of the bride throwing the bouquet, of the bride and groom leaving, and not any of the standard group shots after the ceremony (they were going to do this after the reception). I felt so bad for the wedding party but could not do anything since I don't have my gear with me and people in the wedding party had already scattered.
I learned a few things from that wedding.
1) Do not hire a rookie to take your wedding pictures
2) Make sure they have back-up gears
3) To take my gear with me and leave it in my car just in case when I go to dear friends' weddings. (I have a rule not to take any pictures at weddings when I am not the phtograper.)
4) To tell future clients about this story if they complain about the price or comtemplating using family members (unless they are pros).
5) How much is the price for memories lost forever?

[lovebugg]

Wow....just wow.

[Yeoer]

Just one question... if she didn't have any other gear what was she doing taking the lens off...? it isn't going to 'fall' off no matter how hard you drop a camera.

[Bryan T]

jesus christmas. What lovebugg said.

[Moniphoto]

what ????experts tell me how many pictures in an event like this.

[Chris Dana]

hopefully they had a contract with her and are going to try and get their money back.

[ironchef31]

Dang!! How much did she charge for the wedding? Was there a refund?

[Moniphoto]

hopefully they had a contract with her and are going to try and get their money back.

at least ja ja ja ups

[CanontotheLeft]

WOW...she probably was too embarassed to accept your help. Either that or her big ego got in the way.

Poor B and G, hopefully they were able to salvage some nice pictures taken by the guests.

[neilwood32]

Now that sucks big time.

I hope the B & G have a written contract with her and get substantial compensation. Although no amount of compensation will make up for no wedding photos

[v5educ]

I don't know how things will work out. I will have to wait until the B&G are back from their honeymoon. I still feel so baaaaad for them.

[OdiN1701]

wow....how can you not have backup stuff at a wedding?

Hope they had a contract.

[hard12find]

Unfortuneately most contracts are put forth by the photographer, and provide more protection to the photographer than the customer. Sounds like she had no business shooting weddings.

[OdiN1701]

The more amazing thing is you offering to get your gear? Were you going to let her use it? I certainly wouldn't. I don't let hardly ANYONE use mine.

[v5educ]

I would probably take the pictures myself under her direction. I agree, nobody touches my expensive toys. :)

[ilmk]

Wow... unbelievable!! That's gonna cost her a pretty penny to repair that broken lens.
The poor B&G!!

[In2Photos]

Yikes! I am not a wedding photog but I was asked to do a wedding for an acquaintance. I made sure I had backup gear, although thankfully not needed. No way I would take my chances at something that important.

[Mum2J&M]

OMG. I can't even imagine that. I was asked to do a wedding and declined. There is just way to much involved and I know I don't have sufficient knowledge or gear. I would NEVER mess up someone's wedding like that! Shame on her. And wth did she do with that lens?!

[AngryCorgi]

All I can say is (knock on wood) I have never dropped any photography equipment! That is a horrible story indeed. Sucks to have a crappy (even if only in attitude) person shooting your wedding.

[cdifoto]

I also thought that she is not babying her gear like I do.
I don't baby my gear either. The whole reason for buying better built stuff is so you don't have to.

[cdifoto]

I would probably take the pictures myself under her direction.
I wouldn't even let her direct me. Her stupidity doesn't let her become my boss...

[In2Photos]

I wouldn't even let her direct me. Her stupidity doesn't let her become my boss...
So why does your stupidity let you become your boss. :lol: :p

[cdifoto]

So why does your stupidity let you become your boss. :lol: :p
Because I have no superior. :cool: :)

[BearSummer]

oucchhhh, feel very sorry for the B+G, hopefully other people were taking photos too.

Back when I still shot film and weddings, was usisng an EOS5 (2a for the americans) and had just posed a bunch of guests, was changing the command dial and it made a sound like a breaking pencil. Now you know the sounds you camera should make so when it does something strange you know. Turns out the command dial just spun freely. So turned to the posed guests, appologised and said "sorry just need to change the film, wont be a sec" reached into my bag and pulled out my spare camera. Then continued to shoot. Later on my wife asks why i was using that camera (was a different model) so i told her that I had broken the other one, last time someone went that white dracula was eating....

Good news is that the B+G never knew, the photos were fine and now I always try and have a backup.

Best regards

BearSummer

[Contivity]

Would it make a difference if the B&G is warned before hand if the service is provided dirt cheap or free by a college student and has been warned for the potential issues like this?

OP: Did you talk or ask your friend about the resolution to this problem? Not trying to hijack the thread, but your thread reminds me a question I had for a while. If you're trying to take 20 pictures, how do you make sure that your flash can recharge as fast?

I was at a friend's wedding this past Saturday. I was not the phtographer so I was just attending. There I sat observing the photographer. I thought to myself that she must be a very self confident photographer as she did not take many shots at all. For example, when the bride and her father was walking in, she took 2 pictures (counted by the number of time her flash went off). I would have taken 20.
Between the ceremony and reception, I did get to talk to her. He has a Canon 5D with a 24-105L, and a battery grip. I told her that I like Canons and I have a 40D. She told me she just got the package (one week before the wedding). She had a 40D and did not like it at all. She was very short and rude.
I just had a funny feeling about this whole thing. I am not sure whether she was a real pro or just learning. I also thought that she is not babying her gear like I do.
Here is the horror. I was standing in the hallway when she walked by. The next thing I heard was a thud. I looked over where she was and saw her picking up her lens from the cement floor. Damage was done. The lens will not fit back into the camera.
I went to her and offered my help. To no avail, the lens mounting must be damaged as it will not turn and be mounted. I ask her if she has any back-up camera or lenses. No to both questions. I offered to get my gear (at home but I can get it since I live nearby) to help her out. No was the answer. She told me she can get help from her friends (obviously I am not a friend) and she started to make phone calls. I left my offer open to her and she told me she would let me know.
About 20 minutes later, I found out, she had packed her stuff and left the wedding. There was no more pictures taken. I believe there was not a picture of the bride throwing the bouquet, of the bride and groom leaving, and not any of the standard group shots after the ceremony (they were going to do this after the reception). I felt so bad for the wedding party but could not do anything since I don't have my gear with me and people in the wedding party had already scattered.
I learned a few things from that wedding.
1) Do not hire a rookie to take your wedding pictures
2) Make sure they have back-up gears
3) To take my gear with me and leave it in my car just in case when I go to dear friends' weddings. (I have a rule not to take any pictures at weddings when I am not the phtograper.)
4) To tell future clients about this story if they complain about the price or comtemplating using family members (unless they are pros).
5) How much is the price for memories lost forever?

[v5educ]

Update: The photographer is a co-worker of the groom. This is a total lost for the B&G. They do no have any contract. Well a good lesson learned. End of Story.

[OdiN1701]

Update: The photographer is a co-worker of the groom. This is a total lost for the B&G. They do no have any contract. Well a good lesson learned. End of Story.

Were the pictures she did get turn out?

[v5educ]

Respond to a few remarks:

The church in which the wedding took place was well lit. I took plenty of pictures there before. I never had to use the flash that is why I can take 20 pictures quickly.

Haven't seeing any pictures coming back.

[sigmonster]

Hi Maybe she took the lens off to see how to get the film out :lol:

[bildeb0rg]

Hi Maybe she took the lens off to see how to get the film out :lol:

No, more like she was looking for the MLU switch.;)

[bildeb0rg]

Because I have no superior. :cool: :)

Not married then...?

[cdifoto]

Not married then...?
Hells no! I value my self-esteem.

[bildeb0rg]

Hells no! I value my self-esteem.

:lol::lol::lol:

[Yeoer]

Hi Maybe she took the lens off to see how to get the film out :lol:

LOL