I don't know why people are being so mean OP. We had a similar issue with our 1 year old (now 5) and I learned a few things: (1) try to do a short shoot when someone is running a promotion; (2) outside is always better; (3) if the kid is really freaking out do a shot with you holding him and looking off in the distance (no faces); (4) bring snacks. Lots of them. Ones he doesn't normally get. We bribed our then 2 and 4 year olds and got some great pics. Even in the best of shoots you might get 5-6 really good shots. We had one at my kids' school with an insanely expensive photographer and she got two decent pics but the rest were awful and my kids didn't click with her at all. I know she's good because I've seen her work. It just wasn't the right day and mix of personalities. Ignore the haters and maybe do a funny card this year with one of the not great photos - put a funny caption on it and people will love it. Anyone with kids knows that the REALITY of life, not the perfectly staged cards we all get. I totally understand why you're emotional and I would be too but I think this is just one of those parenting moments where the idea doesn't link up with the reality of unpredictable little people

Anonymous wrote:OP- This is an FYI. Your 3 and a half year old is not a toddler anymore.

I was gonna say this when I saw you had typed it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there was a contract that said no reshoots but I do think a professional photographer with experience with kids would do one of two things - after trying for 30 minutes of so with no better results, call it a day and reschedule or if all photos came out bad, offer a much limited/location timeslot reshoot to get at least one or two good pictures. I think most professional photographers want customers to be happy with the results and be excited and love their photographs.

I agree.

OP, how was she with your kid? A good family photographer knows how to calm the kids down and get them smiling. Posting a negative review about her demeanor and skill with the kids and the fact that she wasn't interested in getting successful photos would certainly be fair.

Not really. OP said her photography skills were good and it sounds like she tried to get a good picture. There really is no getting a good picture with a tantruming 3 year old. Who knows if this was actually a photographer that specialized in children or not.

Posting a bad review - unless you cop to your kid being inappropriately hysterical the entire time - is sour grapes. Period.

Anonymous wrote:If this is a professional photographer with a reputation to protect, I would think they'd offer a half price or very short re-do session. We do our family photos at different fun locations instead of in a studio, you might want to try that. And switch photographers!

I agree that they probably should offer you something, but if they don't that's also fair. You absolutely have no grounds for negative reviews.

Except, I will say that most photographers develop ways to work with kids. If the crying for 2-3 hours was uncharacteristic for your child, you might question whether the photographer took that part of their job seriously and search for a person / venue where you are likely to get a happier kid and thus better shots next time.

OP- This is an FYI. Your 3 and a half year old is not a toddler anymore.

PS thanks to those with the helpful responses! OP out!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there was a contract that said no reshoots but I do think a professional photographer with experience with kids would do one of two things - after trying for 30 minutes of so with no better results, call it a day and reschedule or if all photos came out bad, offer a much limited/location timeslot reshoot to get at least one or two good pictures. I think most professional photographers want customers to be happy with the results and be excited and love their photographs.

I agree.

OP, how was she with your kid? A good family photographer knows how to calm the kids down and get them smiling. Posting a negative review about her demeanor and skill with the kids and the fact that she wasn't interested in getting successful photos would certainly be fair.

I'm OP. I wouldn't say the Photographer did anything wrong except maybe just jump into things without really establishing a connection with my daughter. I have noticed doctors and dentists always have their little tricks so as to show the child their medical equipment before jumping in. She is strictly a child/family photographer so I was thinking she'd have a knack for it.

My kid is usually fine and this isn't common for her to just lose it. But she lost it that day. Who knows why? Sometimes toddlers just lose it. I guess the error in my thinking was this was common and that there would be a contingency plan like when the daycare photographer comes back for "reshoot day" for kids who were crying or were out sick. I thought the same policy would apply with a children's studio.

I was wrong. To those so upset by my ignorance, I hereby apologize to the entirety of DCUM. Pbbbt!!

Anonymous wrote:And she's still not answering. Her devil of a child has probably been howling all morning.

OP, sorry you don't like the pictures but my guess is that the photog captured your child's natural state and *that* is the part you dislike.

Why are you being so nasty? If that's the case then OP's kid might be ill or have an undiagnosed special need. Why would you be so shitty about that?

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there was a contract that said no reshoots but I do think a professional photographer with experience with kids would do one of two things - after trying for 30 minutes of so with no better results, call it a day and reschedule or if all photos came out bad, offer a much limited/location timeslot reshoot to get at least one or two good pictures. I think most professional photographers want customers to be happy with the results and be excited and love their photographs.

I agree.

OP, how was she with your kid? A good family photographer knows how to calm the kids down and get them smiling. Posting a negative review about her demeanor and skill with the kids and the fact that she wasn't interested in getting successful photos would certainly be fair.

What was your child crying about? Most kids that age can be redirected with incentives.

And she's still not answering. Her devil of a child has probably been howling all morning.

OP, sorry you don't like the pictures but my guess is that the photog captured your child's natural state and *that* is the part you dislike.

OP, I think your mistake was going for the middle. Had you gone to Target/JCP, you wouldn't have been out a huge sitting fee. Had you gone to a really experienced photographer who was used to working with children, you would have gotten some decent shots, but paid dearly for it.

A really experienced photographer probably would have suggested taking the shoot outside because it's better for kids, or would have built reshoots into her sitting fee.

You basically went to Outback, expected Wendy's prices, and Morton's service.

Cut your losses, go to JCP or Target and get some Christmas card pictures. They are used to working with kids, so you may be surprised with the outcome.

Once your child is older, and can take direction, you can seek out the middle-of-the-pack photographers like this one.

Money and principle aside - you'll look back and laugh at your kid being crying in all the pics one day!

$250 is insanely cheap for professional photos.

Anonymous wrote:This is why so many of us use Target and JCPenney for photos in those early years. Even People Place has pretty cheap sitting fees and all often have coupons or groupons. While I didn't get the artistry of a photo shoot, I've always gotten great photos, even when mine were little.

Sorry this didn't work out for you. It's a lot of money to spend and not get what you had hoped for.

Yup, this. I would rather have ok but not amazing photos at a discount than spend hundreds of dollars for nothing.

OP, has your kid ever done photos before? Is he typically mild mannered?