Bad wedding photos

[Anonymous]

We got the digital copies of the prints a while ago and on the whole the quality was poor. For example, the color saturation was off in a number of the pictures (yellow grass, odd skin tones), several of the specific shots requested were not taken, there's very few shots of us which is compounded by the fact that a lot of the shots were poorly done. DW and her parents are understandably very upset.

I've talked to the photographer once about it and it was a lukewarm conversation. He's proposed a few fixes for a few of the items but the only workable option DW and I can think of is doing a re-shoot of sorts at the place we had the reception (obviously we can't completely re-create the event but to the extent possible). We really don't want our money back, we want him to make the photos right. Any other ideas?

[Anonymous]

If the color is off he should be able to photoshop it correctly.

There was a natural disaster on my wedding day. We were harried and couldn't take outdoor photos. We did a shoot the weekend after and it was LOVELY! I actually prefer those pictures because we're more laid back, in love and rested. Could you do that?

[Anonymous]

I would just move on. I think the photos matter less and less with each passing year (the opposite of what you'd think, maybe). I can't remember the last time we looked at our wedding pictures. You can color correct one or two in photoshop, ask wedding guests to share any especially good ones they took, and call it a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the color is off he should be able to photoshop it correctly.

There was a natural disaster on my wedding day. We were harried and couldn't take outdoor photos. We did a shoot the weekend after and it was LOVELY! I actually prefer those pictures because we're more laid back, in love and rested. Could you do that?

I'll ask about photoshopping. Honestly, I don't know much about photography and a lot of the input on this comes from DW and her family. If photoshopping was an option I assume he would have volunteered that when we were discussing the issues with the photos but I'll certainly confirm with him the next time we speak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the color is off he should be able to photoshop it correctly.

There was a natural disaster on my wedding day. We were harried and couldn't take outdoor photos. We did a shoot the weekend after and it was LOVELY! I actually prefer those pictures because we're more laid back, in love and rested. Could you do that?

I'll ask about photoshopping. Honestly, I don't know much about photography and a lot of the input on this comes from DW and her family. If photoshopping was an option I assume he would have volunteered that when we were discussing the issues with the photos but I'll certainly confirm with him the next time we speak.

I was this pp. Our day after (well week after) shoot was only $300 extra and it totally was worth it.

How much did you pay in total? We had two photographers for $3500 to make sure we got all the shots, and we still didn't get them all.

also, why is DW's family involved?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just move on. I think the photos matter less and less with each passing year (the opposite of what you'd think, maybe). I can't remember the last time we looked at our wedding pictures. You can color correct one or two in photoshop, ask wedding guests to share any especially good ones they took, and call it a day.

The photos are really important to DW. It's hard for me as a guy to wrap my head around it all but she was telling me about how important the wedding day is for her and how she put a lot of time picking the venue and the photographer for that reason. You're probably right that we won't look at them much but it's important to her so it's important to me.

Also, we did pay a lot for the photos and the consumerist in me thinks he should make it right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the color is off he should be able to photoshop it correctly.

There was a natural disaster on my wedding day. We were harried and couldn't take outdoor photos. We did a shoot the weekend after and it was LOVELY! I actually prefer those pictures because we're more laid back, in love and rested. Could you do that?

I'll ask about photoshopping. Honestly, I don't know much about photography and a lot of the input on this comes from DW and her family. If photoshopping was an option I assume he would have volunteered that when we were discussing the issues with the photos but I'll certainly confirm with him the next time we speak.

I was this pp. Our day after (well week after) shoot was only $300 extra and it totally was worth it.

How much did you pay in total? We had two photographers for $3500 to make sure we got all the shots, and we still didn't get them all.

also, why is DW's family involved?

We paid about $6K including the engagement shots for two photographers. The wedding was in another part of VA so just to put the price point in perspective. Her family paid for the pictures and saw them. Her dad knows a lot more about photography than I do so I've asked him for clarification on certain technical points before I had the discussion. So, they're involved because I asked for input.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the color is off he should be able to photoshop it correctly.

There was a natural disaster on my wedding day. We were harried and couldn't take outdoor photos. We did a shoot the weekend after and it was LOVELY! I actually prefer those pictures because we're more laid back, in love and rested. Could you do that?

Sorry, just saw the part about the weekend after shots. Yes, that's what our idea in the OP was to fix it, to do a re-shoot. We're a little further than a weekend out but now we're back in the same season so it would work.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend where the photographer had a broken camera. 1 side of every picture was out of focus.

They got all of their money back - but fact is they now have NO formal wedding photos. They needed to threaten to sue which was very unfortunate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend where the photographer had a broken camera. 1 side of every picture was out of focus.

They got all of their money back - but fact is they now have NO formal wedding photos. They needed to threaten to sue which was very unfortunate.

I feel bad for them, that's unfortunate. I know he can do good work (our engagement photos were excellent) so I think he just dropped the ball a little this time. I'm confident we can resolve this without needing to sue.

[Anonymous]

Send an email to all the people who attended to send you the best photos they shot. You might have enough for a decent album.

[Anonymous]

DW will get over it. I was very disappointed with the photos taken at my wedding, the photog made some artistic choices which he thought were authorized by me but weren't. Honestly, the way I cope is, I do not look at or think about the pictures. I move on with my life. Our marriage is many times better than our wedding was. How soon can you get her pregnant?

[Anonymous]

I would ask for my money back and either redo them now or wait and do family portraits in a few years. They are important now, but in a few years, you will rarely, if ever look at them. I can't remember the last time we looked at our pictures. I would be upset like your wife, but this stuff happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send an email to all the people who attended to send you the best photos they shot. You might have enough for a decent album.

My sister made a flash drive with pictures from my sister, parents and cousins. I'll expand the group of people I'm requesting pics from and see what that turns up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would ask for my money back and either redo them now or wait and do family portraits in a few years. They are important now, but in a few years, you will rarely, if ever look at them. I can't remember the last time we looked at our pictures. I would be upset like your wife, but this stuff happens.

Well,I do think we can fix the situation if we do a re-shoot. Like I said, she was really happy with the engagement pics so I know the potential is there but was just gathering some other ideas. Reaching out to more people to see what other pics they have was a good idea that I didn't think of so definitely will be doing that.