Wedding Photographer Scam / Options?

CMfromIL wrote in post #14446336
Great. Thats a great personal insight.

I'm glad you noticed that part.

CMfromIL wrote in post #14446336
Really? An Attorney? Some people (myself included) either don't have an attorney on standby, or even have one on retainer.

Any attorney, can put together a letter and send it the the photographer for a nominal fee. Someone suggested sending a letter before the attorney step. That may work as well. The whole point is to let them know you are serious. Obviously if that can be done without an attorney, that would be the desired method.

CMfromIL wrote in post #14446336
What's wrong with trying to solve your disputes outside of court? Why do the 'nuclear' option before exhausting other avenues?

Yeah, so let's not be over-dramatic here with the "nuclear" option. Sheesh. Going to a private residence unannounced to confront the photographer just sounded like a bad idea. To me, that's more "nuclear". When emotions are running high and you are looking for answers, you don't want to end up doing the wrong thing. Of course it depends on the individual. I would just make sure something like this can't be used against you. I am not an attorney, so I wouldn't know. But better safe than sorry I say.

CMfromIL wrote in post #14446336
What boundries? It's not like he broke into her home, and burglerized the joint looking for the CD.

As I mentioned before, I would make sure something like that can't be used against you. Rationally speaking, the OP tried to contact the photographer many many times, only to get the run-around. I am guessing the photographer runs her business at her residence. So I suppose it wasn't too crazy. But again, I would have sent her the letter first.

CMfromIL wrote in post #14446336
If the photographer completely blew off all efforts to fufill the contract I have ZERO reservations about going to her home. None. In fact I applaud the OP for having the balls to do it himself.

Now if the pictures are crap, or she doesn't deliver the goods he can still persue legal options.

Seems like a LOT of hassle could have been taken out of all this had the letter been send a while ago. Let the professionals handle a breach of contract issue.

Six6Sicks wrote in post #14444138
She then had the nerve to tell us that:

If you would like your prints or any edits I need a list with in 2 weeks of the receipt of the DVD, prints will be sent within 15 business days.
Edits upto 25 will be done and sent with 30 business days
25 to 50 edits 45 business days
50 to 100 60 business days
over 100 90 business days

I don't know what you find so un-nerving about this part. I would say that someone allowing themselves 90 business days to edit 100 plus images isn't overly concerned with their customer service levels. 90 business days can quite easily work into 4+ months depending on what one calls a business day. I think it would be reasonable to provide a small deposit for the prints but given your history with the provider I would agree to pay for the balance on your print order upon delivery. My last wedding print order contained orders for 178 prints of mostly 5x7 and 8x10's and I had it out the door in 3 days. Perhaps he/she outsources this part and is simply covering her bases with such a long timeline.

ssim wrote in post #14455379
I don't know what you find so un-nerving about this part. I would say that someone allowing themselves 90 business days to edit 100 plus images isn't overly concerned with their customer service levels. 90 business days can quite easily work into 4+ months depending on what one calls a business day. I think it would be reasonable to provide a small deposit for the prints but given your history with the provider I would agree to pay for the balance on your print order upon delivery. My last wedding print order contained orders for 178 prints of mostly 5x7 and 8x10's and I had it out the door in 3 days. Perhaps he/she outsources this part and is simply covering her bases with such a long timeline.

Did you even read the op? She already took 8 months just to give us our photos. Now we're supposed to expect she'll do edits in 90 days? Why would I even bother with her anymore? Read up and then ask yourself again why this would bother me.

Let's see some of the photos!

yeah! lets see some photos!

Glad it worked out for you.

But I admitt that I agree whole heatedly with the poster who said they wouldn't have approached her residence. And the reason is from two scenarios:

1) a guy bought a bike from another guy for an agreed price of $200. He paid $100 when he picked up the bike and wrote and signed an IOU stating he would pay the other $100 within a fortnight. After three weeks the 2nd man is avoiding calls from the 1st man, the 1st man then goes around to the 2nd mans house for a suprise visit to ask about his money. They both discuss the situation heatedly and the end result is the 1st man ends up with a broken jaw and fractured eye socket. 1st man seeks legal advise and compensation but finds out he was in the wrong for approaching the other man who evidently pleaded guilty to assault but it was done in self Defence because he felt his family and his own safety was in jeopardy.
In shot, the 1st man unded up $100 out of pocket for the bike, medical bills and an apprehended violence order against home. The second man got a $100 bike.

2) A girl had a verbal agreement with her work friend that they would share any winnings from a lottery if they were to win. They won $1500 (hardly a huge amount) however the 2nd girl who checked the ticket reneged on the deal. Like scenario 1 the 1st girl approached the 2nd girl at her home. Again, long story short 2nd girl freaked out grabbed scissors, struggle ensues and 1st girl manages to grab scissors and stab 2nd girl. Not only does 1st girl now not get any of the winnings but she is now going through a lengthy and expensive legal case to try and avoid jail.

Both scenarios are real life scenarios that have happened to people very dear to me (one on each side of the fence) and they would have been avoided if they had sought the appropriate legal advise.

Anyways I've rambled on a bit and from the sounds of it you will probably do a better job at PP the photos yourself. I'm glad you know have the photos to look at from one of your most precious days!

My 1st wedding anniversary is in two weeks

There is a difference between confronting some one and stabbing/ punching them.

Rstanford wrote in post #14462029
There is a difference between confronting some one and stabbing/ punching them.

Gotta agree with this one. And if the photographer used her house as her place of business then he did not go to her "house" but instead her place of business.

Rstanford wrote in post #14462029
There is a difference between confronting some one and stabbing/ punching them.

I think the point was, when you confront someone, things can happen because you have now introduced a lot of variables. A letter either from yourself threatening legal action or from an attorney doing the same, will NEVER end up that way.

Littlejon Dsgn wrote in post #14462679
Gotta agree with this one. And if the photographer used her house as her place of business then he did not go to her "house" but instead her place of business.

Yeah, this is where it may get hazy. There's a good chance she was running in out of her house so then I suppose it becomes a place of business.

Again, I'm glad the OP got his images and I'm glad that there was no harm, no foul.

nicksan wrote in post #14462846
I think the point was, when you confront someone, things can happen because you have not introduces a lot of variables. A letter either from yourself threatening legal action or from an attorney doing the same, will NEVER end up that way.

In Florida, the homeowner could probably get away with shooting the person who confronts them under the "Stand Your Ground" statute. "They harassed me, then came to my home, and I felt threatened, so I defended myself and my family".

Six6Sicks wrote in post #14444138
My wife and I made a surprise visit to her house yesterday. Boy was she surprised lol. I saw bursts of fire in my wife's eyes when she came to the door. Best part was that she was mad at US for "harassing her".

While I am normally for a civilized "confrontation" as the first step if done in a peaceful manner (just in case there is a understandably valid reason giving someone the benefit of doubt- how many people have lashed out at another only to wish they could take it back when they find out the reason why)… the fact that the OP clearly identified that his wife and the photog had anger is a safe reason to deduct that maybe a different course of action would have been better in this situation.

Im just glad that at the end it didn't turn into a cat fight and nobody poked eachothers eyes out!

I'm glad the discussion of to go there or not is still going on, let me clarify again that there had been no response on her side from any form of communication we tried to make. We mentioned lawyer numerous times, and while yes, not having a lawyer actually contact her and just mentioning a lawyer are two separate things, the fact that it didn't get a response from her was quite frustrating. It was almost like it didn't matter to her. Our intentions by going to her house were simple, you can't ignore us when we're right in front of you. Our tone and demeanor when we arrived was very calm. Our questioning was very calm and in a relaxed tone. It wasn't until the photographer got upset that the mood changed a little.

Now sure, she could have just shot us, she could have came out with scissors and started slicing us up like Edward Scissorhands, she could have attacked us like a ninja jumping from a tree. All those things could happen. They didn't. I could just as easily be shot dead walking to my car or killed at a train crossing when the gates don't come down.
Point is, again, communication had been lost for over 4 months, we wanted our photos. We got them.

Some of you would run to the teacher when a classmate did something to you, my wife and I aren't those kind of people.

Six6Sicks wrote in post #14463322
Some of you would run to the teacher when a classmate did something to you, my wife and I aren't those kind of people.

Bad comparison and to insinuate that those who consult with attorneys on similar matters are cowards is quite silly. We aren't kids in a classroom, which is precisely why we need to make educated and calculated decisions. An eye for an eye type mentality is for juveniles.

It's unfortunately a sue happy world we live in, and while it is indeed ironic that in order to protect yourself, you often times have to get an attorney involved yourself, it's really the safest way to go.

Again, none of what could have happened, happened. That's great. But it could have. She could have gone bananas on you. And really, that's a lot different than getting hit by a bus or get hit by lighting, the latter a very random thing to have happen to you. Someone confronting another person at that person's residence isn't some random occurrence.

Anyways, again, glad you got your photos.

Six6Sicks wrote in post #14463322
Some of you would run to the teacher when a classmate did something to you, my wife and I aren't those kind of people.

From your OP:

What are our options?

Do we take her to court?
Do we have a case?

Thanks for any insight.

You're welcome.

moose10101 wrote in post #14462900
In Florida, the homeowner could probably get away with shooting the person who confronts them under the "Stand Your Ground" statute. "They harassed me, then came to my home, and I felt threatened, so I defended myself and my family".

That is probaly one of the most ignorant posts I have read in the 3 years I have been a member here.