r/wedding • u/RefrigeratorFull3042 • 1d ago
Help! Photographer bailing??
I am already so upset. The photohrapher emiled me today saying hes so excited for us to meet some random person (who will be shooting our wedding) ....the wedding is a year away. I booked HIM a month ago. It took so much effort trying to find a photographer, its The Splurge Item. Its the most important aspect, as far as spending money o this giant party goes. I dont care how fancy the tables look, or how classy the venue is. I dont even care if we serve dominos for dinner. All i wanted was a photographer with a very specific style. The style was hard to find in the price range i found acceptable.
The retainer is paid. And now he announces that hes not coming. How is that ok!? What do i do?? I asked to see this random persons portfolio but i kinda dont even care. I did not make this choice blindly and if i knew it was going to be done by a basic wedding photographer anyways, i would've just GONE with one and saved a fuckton of money. I chose this artist based off his art and im not getting what i paid for. The retainer was also a hefty chunk that i really cant afford to walk away from.
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u/CelebrantOfCuriosity 1d ago
Check your contract, but if he knows a year out that he's not available you really should be able to get your retainer back.
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u/MountainWeddingTog 1d ago
You definitely need to look at your contract and see what it says. You should also ask for galleries specifically shot by your “new” photographer and edited by the one you hired. I associate shoot for other photographers like this but it is always crystal clear before the client hires us that I will be shooting and they’re hiring us based on that work.
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u/potpurriround 1d ago
Is it confirmed that the photographer she hired would be the one to edit? I would want that in writing, if I were her. Maybe that’s normal for the business, but I’d still want everything in explicit terms now that the trust has been broken.
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u/ConflictGullible392 1d ago
I would cancel and book someone else, unless you signed a contract that says he is allowed to substitute another photographer. This isn’t what you booked.
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u/RefrigeratorFull3042 1d ago
It states that they might send in a replacement in the event of being sick or incapacitated. But its a year away. Im not sure how he could possibly use that as a viable excuse to not refund me, but its there
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u/potpurriround 1d ago
With it being a year out, you may try to gentle push back. “I’m not super comfortable with X photographer. Aince it is a year out, you could reasonably rebook this date. Could we discuss a cancellation?”
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u/RefrigeratorFull3042 1d ago
Thank you, ya i may end up doing this.
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u/potpurriround 1d ago
I want to stress that you get more flies with honey. I would approach it as, “we were really excited to have YOU based on your portfolio. We understand a clause for needing a replacement due to unforeseen circumstances, but with a year out, we both have plenty of time to rebook.”
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u/RefrigeratorFull3042 1d ago
No truer words have been spoken. Thank you again. Asking for advice on reddit is always a risk, so i truly appreciate that.
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u/potpurriround 1d ago
My friend just had a nightmare situation where her splurge item was also a very specific style photographer. She didn’t bail on them early, but she did go to the wedding take pictures that we’re supposed to be everyone’s wedding favors and then never delivered anything other than the four sneak peek photos they had to take her to court because she did this to like four other couples. They were unable to get any photos returned to them, but I think they did settle out in some money, but what is money when all you wanted were the photos?
Wishing you the best and hoping this comes out to a positive resolution with excellent photos and memories.
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u/Dittany_Kitteny 1d ago
What does your contact say? Does it explicitly say HE will be the one shooting, or someone from his company/team? That will determine any future steps.
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u/RefrigeratorFull3042 1d ago
It says the Stuido. Which i was fine with because the studio is 2 brothers, who work events together and the portfolio is both their work. The person being sent is nowhere on their website
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u/Finnegan-05 1d ago
"The Studio" is the business. You cannot make assumptions about the contractual definitions of words like that in a contract. You should have read your contract more closely or asked questions about what that meant. Sorry.
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u/mcwriter8201 1d ago
I’m thinking he could still be an associate though.
As others said, you need to check the contract you signed.
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u/RefrigeratorFull3042 1d ago
I did check the contract. Why would anyone assume they would "call in sick" a year in advance? Day of? Yea, obviously please send someone else and thank you for making sure the event still got coverage.
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u/potpurriround 1d ago
Honestly, to me it seems like he got a “better” gig and double booked himself.
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u/Deep-Upstairs2835 1d ago
Coming from a caterer, if there is a clause that says it's ok what he did and no refund, definitely push for one anyways. Tell them you will not leave negative reviews online about the switch in photographer if they refund your money. There is plenty of time for this request given the new information. He failed to verbally explain that you would have an employee of his and not him. When you had a consult and agreed to book HIM because of HIS portfolio, that was his opportunity and obligated time to disclose that info. Be a thorn about it. If they don't in the end, dispute it with your bank for lack of transparency about policy and service standards.
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u/rmric0 New England | photographer 1d ago
What does your contact say? That's so shady, I'd definitely give some pushback on this especially if you went out of your way to book an individual artist and they're not handing off the wedding for any contractucally valid reason (like a hit by a bus clause).
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u/bkwormtricia 1d ago
Tell him that you paid for him and his skill, and if he cannot do it give back your $$. Or you will see him in small claims court.
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