500 Wedding Ideas

What should I do if I don't have my wedding photos after waiting a year?

My wedding photographer was paid in full, and by the end of this month, we will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary and still no wedding photos. She's been pretty good about returning emails, and always says she'll be sending them within the week. But for the past month I have not heard from her at all, she won't answer my emails or my phone calls. Should I take legal action? We're young and can't afford lawyers or anything like that. We just want our photos!

Public Comments

1. Go to small claims court and file a claim. It's a minimal fee, you don't need a lawyer. Just have all your paperwork and copies of your email, payments etc. If the photographer doesn't show up at court, you can file a claim against her business or any personal property like a car or house. It's a hassle but you'll get some action. I used to do weddings, always had proofs out within 2 weeks, and the album no more than a month later.
2. I would talk with a lawyer, most I know don't charge for an initial interview. If you can get one with a reputation like a pit bull with AIDS, that is the best. My idea is that either the pictures did not turn out at all or that she is so broke that she cannot afford to have the pictures processes the way that you did. You can sue for both your actual loss plus a punitive amount and such that she would have to pay legal fees. My idea is that once she gets a letter from a drooling pit bull she will answer up.
3. that's hard. does she have a office you could go to? if she does i would go; if not i would send a letter saying that if you don't here back you will seek legal action. you need the date she planes to get them to you, when she responds. there's no excuse in that length of time. good luck and b persistent.
4. I'm in the same boat - we'are at 15 months without a photo. We're in a tougher position because it's a friend of ours, but if I was in your shoes, I'd give them one more chance and tell your photographer, "Look, I hate to do this to you, but if we don't get our photos by the end of December, we're going to have to take legal action. We really don't want to do this - please let us know if we can work this out.' If she doesn't do it, get a lawyer. It's sad, but it may be the only thing to get her to work on them. If not, you deserve your money back.
5. Did you sign a contract with a photographer? If you did, I would contact legal counsel immediately. Either way, I would at very least consult with a lawyer for legal advise. At this point, you don't know what the hold-up is. The photographer could have messed up the shoot, could have skipped town, could have little intention to forwarding the pictures. Maybe the computer crashed the pictures were on. You don't know, but in the end, this is not your problem. A few weeks to a month for post production is expected, but a year? That's just excessive. It's a matter of professionalism, and really, if I mess up at my job I am responsible for it. If you mess up at your job, you would be responsible for it, correct? It is no different than that.
6. How much did you pay for the wedding photography? Your story is a common tale. Often it turns out the "photographer" was a second-jobber or just a hobbyist doing complete packages for well under market rates. And if you pay peanuts you get monkeys....... But, there should be a product in return for your money so take them to the small claims court as suggested and get the local papers involved. These people (assuming they are failing on their contract) need to be outed and driven out of business.
7. If you signed a contract, then anything legally binding will be held to what was written in it. If nothing is in there about time then discuss with your lawyer about options. My guess is she may have lost them. I would give her one more chance and explain your situation that you want the photos asap. If the contract states you should have gotten them sooner then sew for not only the photos but also to get your money back.