Millgate Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Hey guys, No, this isnt a promo to win my wedding photos, ha. I could do with a bit of wisdom/advice. As most of you know, I got married in June. Everything went perfect and everyone had a really good time. We paid for a "professional" photographer to take snaps throughout the day, starting with the wife getting ready in the morning and finishing at about 3-4pm. We even paid extra for him to do a "photobooth" which went down really well. However, 4 months have now passed and despite me and Emma emailing him, we've not heard anything. At this point, we both said that we wouldnt recommend him to anyone. The mother in law called him on Wednesday last week to chase some extra photos that she'd ordered and was told - "Oh, I was just emailing Luke & Emma now with an update, you'll have the photos by the weekend". We were happy with this, even though it's taken forever. Later that day, Emma got an emailing telling her that he'd LOST ALL OF THE PHOTOS!!!!!! As you can imagine, I was a little angry so I called him up and asked what had happened. The hard drive he used was "broken" and all the photos had gone. When I asked if he'd back them up, he said no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How the hell can he not back up the photos! This is his full time job!!!!! Obviously I'm getting a full refund (after arguing with him) but that's not going to replace the photos of our wedding. Emmas devastated and I'm furious so what can I do????? Take him to court? Put him in the papers??? What do you guys think? TIA Luke
AMLinington Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Offer to do 'data recovery' on the drive - those are precious memories and cannot be recreated. I don't believe for a second the drive is broken. I think you should pursue him through the courts, although demand the broken drive first. 1
cuester Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 As well as the drive you may be able to recover from the memory cards from the camera 1
penfold Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 As above - either send him details of services that he can use to attempt data recovery or offer to do it yourself. I will add that when I got married last year we were provided with Multiple CD's as a Master and Copy should 1 become corrupt within a week or 2. He was semi-professional but I very much doubt that those were the only copies he had around so I would be surprised that any professional would only have 1 copy. Although many months have passed if there any chance any of the photo's could be on the camera still? 1
Willott Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Depends what contract you had with him. Certainly suggest that data recovery by a specialist is attempted on the drive. In terms of the more important part of getting memories, you'll be surprised how many of your guests will have some amazing pictures of it all. Worth sending out a bulk email and sorting out some "dump" space for people to shove photos on (haven't looked into how, but maybe dropbox or something would allow) 1
Millgate Posted October 28, 2013 Author Posted October 28, 2013 Thanks guys. Just spoken to him. He's managed to recover less than half but the biggest he can print them is 2x2! He's calling me back later on so I'll ask him about the SD card and the drive, We could probably muddle an album together made out of other peoples photos but no one else took photos of Emma getting ready with all her bridesmaids, parents etc and no one took any photos in the church as we thought we had a professional doing it for us! Gutted!
plexer Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 If he's in anyway a "professional" although it doesn't sound like it then he should be contacting data recovery companies. I doubt he would give you the drive for you to do this as I would expect it would have other customers pictures on as well. Ben 1
TwoZeroAlpha Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Ask for the HDD and get data-recovery run yourself? Offset his charges against data-recovery? 1
Andrew_C Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 If you paid him, it may be worth contacting a solicitor. ISTR that some years ago, a similar case resulted in the photographer having to stump up to "stage" a rerun to get the pics. Cost a lot in travel and the like!
Millgate Posted October 28, 2013 Author Posted October 28, 2013 After a long argument, I'm getting all my money back plus the photos that he does have on a CD. He got very shirty & laughed when I mentioned compensation so I'm taking him to court. Luckily the wife is the PA to the MD of the Sheffield Star so it'll be going in there too. Plus it'll be all over FB and Twitter. Oh, and on here. ALWIN • GREYSON • PHOTOGRAPHY | Sheffield Based Studio For anyone getting married around the Sheffield area, I wouldnt touch him witha barge pole
VeryPC_Colin_M Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Oh mate, feel really sorry for you, that is shocking. Thanks for the advice too, me and Jill will be giving this joker a wide berth. We're using these guys LP-Photography | Affordable Wedding Photography and Video and thanks to your thread here, I'm going to be on them like a rash on the day making sure they're saving, backing up, etc! 1
pantscat Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 So sorry to read about this - seems that it's all to easy for a **** with a camera to start up their own business these days. As a keen amateur photographer it really annoys me that you get so-called "pros" with all the gear and absolutely no idea what they are doing. Interestingly - the faq on his website does say he has "all the relevant insurances"... Good luck! 3
penfold Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 I hope you manage to get some good shots back at least. Unfortunately even compensation won't replace the photo's you've lost:( 1
penfold Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Might be worth getting a bit more information about photography insurance... taken from click [h=1]"Professional Indemnity Insurance[/h] Not all claims are as simple as a lost/damaged camera equipment body’s or lenses, some can involve no physical attribute. Should you undertake a job whereby you are expected to provide pictures to a high standard, failure to do so could result in your be proven to have been negligent and so be faced with compensation costs or the costs of rectifying the error. The cause may not be wholly down to you, but you will be deemed to be professionally negligent in failing to deliver the images. This cover is extremely important to those who engage in wedding and commercial/advertising photography. Don’t deliver the images and you will have some very unhappy clients. Cliik provides cover at £100,000 within its policy, to ensure you are adequately covered. Higher Limits are of course available to meet you contractual and obligatory requirements." 2
Novalee Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 I am so sorry to hear this Luke, how upsetting for you both. I hope he can recover them somehow, but I would be so angry that he laughed at you, and apparently put off telling you for so long? How long has he known about them being lost? 1
Soulfish Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Really sorry to hear the trouble your having Luke - must be absolutely gut wrenching! Just going through the motions of planning my wedding, and I know how important having good photographs to remember the day will be. So sorry to read about this - seems that it's all to easy for a **** with a camera to start up their own business these days. As a keen amateur photographer it really annoys me that you get so-called "pros" with all the gear and absolutely no idea what they are doing. Interestingly - the faq on his website does say he has "all the relevant insurances"... Good luck! Absolutely agree with this. Trying to find a decent photographer (made all the more difficult by the fact we're getting married abroad!) is so difficult. And as has been said Luke - I'd take him to the cleaners and be expecting him to restage shots at his cost! 1
Millgate Posted October 28, 2013 Author Posted October 28, 2013 I am so sorry to hear this Luke, how upsetting for you both. I hope he can recover them somehow, but I would be so angry that he laughed at you, and apparently put off telling you for so long? How long has he known about them being lost? He said that he'd known for 3 months!!! But chose not to tell us, so he just ignored emails instead. I'll be taking him to small claims court but I havent done this before. Anyone got any experience in that?
Millgate Posted October 28, 2013 Author Posted October 28, 2013 Really sorry to hear the trouble your having Luke - must be absolutely gut wrenching! Just going through the motions of planning my wedding, and I know how important having good photographs to remember the day will be. Absolutely agree with this. Trying to find a decent photographer (made all the more difficult by the fact we're getting married abroad!) is so difficult. And as has been said Luke - I'd take him to the cleaners and be expecting him to restage shots at his cost! Congrats on your wedding I dont think I want the photos restaging (especially by him) because it wont be the same.
Soulfish Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 He said that he'd known for 3 months!!! But chose not to tell us, so he just ignored emails instead. I'll be taking him to small claims court but I havent done this before. Anyone got any experience in that? Currently going through small claims proceedings myself (Suing Thomson Airlines ) so if you want to know anything let me know. The moneyclaim online service is pretty straightforward, and the judges are very helpful when you're in court. Just make sure you ready up on each stage and know whats expected of you. 1
AMLinington Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 (edited) After a long argument, I'm getting all my money back plus the photos that he does have on a CD. He got very shirty & laughed when I mentioned compensation so I'm taking him to court. Luckily the wife is the PA to the MD of the Sheffield Star so it'll be going in there too. Plus it'll be all over FB and Twitter. Oh, and on here. ALWIN • GREYSON • PHOTOGRAPHY | Sheffield Based Studio For anyone getting married around the Sheffield area, I wouldnt touch him witha barge pole Money can't change what you've lost and the impact on your lives. Professional photographers have to have insurance don't they? Is this not something that is covered? We're friends with Tina Allingham and I do the occasional computer-related favour for her (like when she rang in a panic because the School photos were due and her PSU had packed up) and she has loads of backups. She has backups of backups. What's happened to you is terrible. Some people really are charlatans. It makes me so angry that he chose to ignore you instead of confess he's lost your pictures. That's shocking! There are a lot of terrible people in the wedding industry - Pat-a-cake of Wimbourne is one of them - worst cake I've ever tasted. I could have baked and iced something better myself. My sister was beside herself. Edited to add: Talk to Citizens Advice - they will easily point you in the right direction. Maybe phone some of those no-win-no-fee-free-consultation solicitors. Edited October 28, 2013 by AMLinington 1
teejay Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 That is such a shame, at least you'll get some photos but not really what you expected. Have you got legal cover on your house insurance as this would be something they would take on for you, other than that I would see if a solicitor would take it on as no win no fee. I wouldn't be trying to do it myself as he really needs taking to the cleaners to stop him from doing this to someone else. 1
VeryPC_Colin_M Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 After a long argument, I'm getting all my money back plus the photos that he does have on a CD. He got very shirty & laughed when I mentioned compensation so I'm taking him to court. Luckily the wife is the PA to the MD of the Sheffield Star so it'll be going in there too. Plus it'll be all over FB and Twitter. Oh, and on here. ALWIN • GREYSON • PHOTOGRAPHY | Sheffield Based Studio For anyone getting married around the Sheffield area, I wouldnt touch him witha barge pole Laughed about compensation! What a n0b! Unprofessional big time. Rince him Luke! 1
plexer Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 He said that he'd known for 3 months!!! But chose not to tell us, so he just ignored emails instead. I'll be taking him to small claims court but I havent done this before. Anyone got any experience in that? I wouldn't start small claims proceedings yet without getting some legal advise. It costs you £25 to lodge it in the first instance with the online service and is straightforward to follow they send the details to the other party and then you go from there. Ben 1
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