kaughtphotography
Senior Member
Hi,
I haven't made many posts here, but I am in quite a predicament. Anyone with experience in this type of situation is welcome to help a girl out!
I am a fairly new photographer. I've been at this for about 4 years and semi-professional for about 2. I've recently gained lots of traction in the wedding area of my business. I did a wedding in May. The groom was the older brother of a longtime friend. The bride, I had heard from the family was a little "rough around the edges" and quick to temper. I ignored all warnings and went ahead with it, giving them ridiculous deals on price because I am close with the groom's family. They paid me $2300 for my services which included the following (My retail values listed beside them) -
2 Hour Engagement Session ($200 value)
Custom 20 page Guestbook ($200 value)
200 5x5 Save the Date Cards ($400 value)
1 hour bridal session ($100 Value)
16x20 Mount Print ($85 Value)
Rehearsal Dinner Coverage (3 Hours) ($300 value)
Full wedding day coverage.
3x5 proofs of all Wedding Day images (500+ fully edited images) ($400~ value)
Online galleries for all sessions
50 page wedding Album ($500 value)
I paid a second shooter ($150) out of my own pocket when she refused my advice to add it to her package.
I am currently enrolled in college classes, and if any of you have ever taken summer courses, then you know they can be super demanding. I told her beforehand that the wedding gallery would take some time to be up, maybe a month, and that the Album would take a few months because I was in class and also because after my first month of class, I was moving 120 miles away and also starting a job in an unrelated field. She said she understood. As of August, she has all products aside from the album which I have ordered from Miller's and should be in within the next 3 or 4 days. She angrily contacted me about 2 weeks ago stating that she was very unhappy with the time frame. I told her I understood fully that she was frustrated and that for her patience, I would give her a USB drive of both the rehearsal and wedding day proofs. I told her I would be coming to town on Monday to deliver her drive. Because of work conflicts, I was unable to deliver until late this afternoon. She was very volatile during delivery and demanded a refund. I am fully aware that the length of time she has waited is a tad ridiculous. I take full responsibility and tried to patch things with the USB. Does she have grounds to sue for a refund? We did not sign a contract (I know, I know). The way I see it, I have done all I can do to make things better, if not for customer service than to protect my relationship with her Husband's family. If she receives all products paid for and there was no contract to set date of delivery, can she realistically get any money back? Because I gave them so much product, I didn't profit very much. I understood that from the beginning because they were friends, I didn't mind. Also, I need to mention they were VERY happy with the images. Any advice you can give me about this type of situation is greatly appreciated!
Thanks so much,
Krista
I haven't made many posts here, but I am in quite a predicament. Anyone with experience in this type of situation is welcome to help a girl out!
I am a fairly new photographer. I've been at this for about 4 years and semi-professional for about 2. I've recently gained lots of traction in the wedding area of my business. I did a wedding in May. The groom was the older brother of a longtime friend. The bride, I had heard from the family was a little "rough around the edges" and quick to temper. I ignored all warnings and went ahead with it, giving them ridiculous deals on price because I am close with the groom's family. They paid me $2300 for my services which included the following (My retail values listed beside them) -
2 Hour Engagement Session ($200 value)
Custom 20 page Guestbook ($200 value)
200 5x5 Save the Date Cards ($400 value)
1 hour bridal session ($100 Value)
16x20 Mount Print ($85 Value)
Rehearsal Dinner Coverage (3 Hours) ($300 value)
Full wedding day coverage.
3x5 proofs of all Wedding Day images (500+ fully edited images) ($400~ value)
Online galleries for all sessions
50 page wedding Album ($500 value)
I paid a second shooter ($150) out of my own pocket when she refused my advice to add it to her package.
I am currently enrolled in college classes, and if any of you have ever taken summer courses, then you know they can be super demanding. I told her beforehand that the wedding gallery would take some time to be up, maybe a month, and that the Album would take a few months because I was in class and also because after my first month of class, I was moving 120 miles away and also starting a job in an unrelated field. She said she understood. As of August, she has all products aside from the album which I have ordered from Miller's and should be in within the next 3 or 4 days. She angrily contacted me about 2 weeks ago stating that she was very unhappy with the time frame. I told her I understood fully that she was frustrated and that for her patience, I would give her a USB drive of both the rehearsal and wedding day proofs. I told her I would be coming to town on Monday to deliver her drive. Because of work conflicts, I was unable to deliver until late this afternoon. She was very volatile during delivery and demanded a refund. I am fully aware that the length of time she has waited is a tad ridiculous. I take full responsibility and tried to patch things with the USB. Does she have grounds to sue for a refund? We did not sign a contract (I know, I know). The way I see it, I have done all I can do to make things better, if not for customer service than to protect my relationship with her Husband's family. If she receives all products paid for and there was no contract to set date of delivery, can she realistically get any money back? Because I gave them so much product, I didn't profit very much. I understood that from the beginning because they were friends, I didn't mind. Also, I need to mention they were VERY happy with the images. Any advice you can give me about this type of situation is greatly appreciated!
Thanks so much,
Krista