Wedding photos delay?
Nov 15, 2021 08:08:12 #
genocolo
Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island
For a very high-end wedding in mid-September in the Northeast, the photos by a professional wedding photographer still have not been delivered. Is this unusual?
Nov 15, 2021 08:21:13 #
It wouldn't of taken me that long to get them to you . I would contact the photographer . I can't speak for others , Tommy
Nov 15, 2021 12:52:43 #
yes and no. Did they give you an expected delivery date?
My daughter got married last year and used a full time photographer. It took about two months before we saw any pictures.
If the photographer does it all in-house (the editing, printing and framing) it may take a little longer than you expect. They depend on the supply chain to bring them materials, and equipment might need fixing now and then. So that might take longer. And they might be working on previous jobs before they get to yours.
If they outsource the work there can be delays on third party company's.
I did my own editing. And after I uploaded the digital images to the professional lab I used my orders were usually at my house in about 3 days.
I wouldn't start to panic yet.
My daughter got married last year and used a full time photographer. It took about two months before we saw any pictures.
If the photographer does it all in-house (the editing, printing and framing) it may take a little longer than you expect. They depend on the supply chain to bring them materials, and equipment might need fixing now and then. So that might take longer. And they might be working on previous jobs before they get to yours.
If they outsource the work there can be delays on third party company's.
I did my own editing. And after I uploaded the digital images to the professional lab I used my orders were usually at my house in about 3 days.
I wouldn't start to panic yet.
Nov 15, 2021 13:21:18 #
Contact the photographer and respectfully ask for a time frame of when you can expect the images. He/She can help you better than any further speculation from you or those on this forum.
Nov 15, 2021 16:55:44 #
Does the contract address a delivery timeframe? That's the best way to determine if a committed delivery date has been missed.
Nov 15, 2021 19:12:28 #
It is best to contact your professional photograher DIRECTLY and inquire as to the expected delivery date. No one on this forum can know what your photographer's normal delivery time is, what is being produced, what stage wor is at, etc.
Have you seen the results in any form- thumbnails, proofs, etc.? Is the photograher preparing prints, and albums? Some custom wor can require several months.
Approximate delivery times shod appear in the contract?
Have you made any attempt to contact the photographer and what was the result?
Have you seen the results in any form- thumbnails, proofs, etc.? Is the photograher preparing prints, and albums? Some custom wor can require several months.
Approximate delivery times shod appear in the contract?
Have you made any attempt to contact the photographer and what was the result?
Nov 16, 2021 06:03:47 #
Nov 16, 2021 06:58:24 #
Nov 16, 2021 08:26:15 #
genocolo wrote:
For a very high-end wedding in mid-September in the Northeast, the photos by a professional wedding photographer still have not been delivered. Is this unusual?
From what I've heard, no, unfortunately. A local theater group hired a videographer. It took him almost a year to deliver. That's why you want references - and a contract. Unfortunately, the business person is the one who supplies the names of the references.
Nov 16, 2021 10:08:45 #
For reference, my son’s wedding photos took a bit over 2 months, but the results were excellent which included a complete presentation with music, not just photos, so plenty of PP work.
Nov 16, 2021 10:26:12 #
From the point of the photographer, consider that the months between May and September are peak season. The photographer may have one or even two weddings a week. The work builds up and by the fall, they can be far behind where they might want to be. October through April are then catchup time for the photographer, plus maintenance, dealing with engagement photos and contracts for next season.
A gentle inquiry to the photographer is probably in order. They will know MUCH more about the situation than anyone on UHH.
A gentle inquiry to the photographer is probably in order. They will know MUCH more about the situation than anyone on UHH.
Nov 16, 2021 11:23:00 #
I don't know how long should it be but I know a couple who didn't have their wedding pictures before they got divorced.
Nov 16, 2021 13:42:58 #
As I have complained about, on this forum, many times in the past, whenever this kind of "wedding" issue arises all the horror stores emerge where folks superimpose their regrettable encounters with wedding photography on the question or situation that is being discussed.
After over half a century in wedding photography, allow me to offer some facts to ponder:
There are no universal standards for wedding photograhy- no regulations, or quality of service qualifications or legal credentials. Masterships and other such credentials awarded by professional associations are voluntary affiliations on the part of individual photographers and are a good indication, however, professional photography is simply a business and is governed only by ordinary contract and consumer protection laws. There are lots of seriously under-qualified amateurs who offer their services so, hopefully, consumers select an experienced and highly recommended professional in their community, check out references and enter into a proper contract where all stipulations, including delivery times, are spelled out.
Oftentimes, both photographers and clients assume too many things and have serious pre-determined misconceptions that become contentious issues after the fact. The consumer should ask all the pertinent questions including expected times of delivery. More importantly, the PHOTOGRAHER as a professional and a business person should make the client aware of normal delivery times, possible delays due to seasonal workloads, production issues due to special requests or additional work such as retouching, production of prints and albums, and other unforeseen issues.
In my own business, I still encourage and produce ALBUMS for my wedding clients. I am in Canada and my custom leather-bound album supplier is in the U.S. so I explain that there are going to be seasonal workload issues in my shop as well as the bookbinder plus shipping times and custom duty brokerage. I make handcrafted custom prints, portraits are carefully retouched, etc and I need time to do my work. They will see the images, I still call them "proofs", in thumbnail form very shortly after the wedding but after that, it's gonna be between 3 and 6 months for final album delivery- AND that is from the day they make their selections- not the date of the wedding! I deliver display portraits in 4 weeks including custom framing if required. AND if there are any unforeseen delays, I (or my wife) call the cleint immediately and bring them up to date on the progress.
If photographers do not make their clients aware of all these production and delivery issues, they will be inundated with complaints and poor reviews. All of these stipulations should be written into the contract- nothing should be left to assumptions or imaginings. If everyone is on the same page, the entire project will be smooth and pleasurable to both the photograher and the client.
I don't like to play the "blame game" but some photograher do not conduct their business with professionalism and common sense. Some may be great shooters and consummate artists but their office is and contractual affairs are poorly managed or non-existent. Some customers, if they become dissatisfied with any aspect of the photographer's services, will call their lawyer, the newspaper, the consumer advocate on the local radio station, the better business bureau and the consumer protection agency- EVERYONE except the PHOTOGRAHER! They will post nasty stuff on social media which can never be retracted! All of this can be avoided if there's good communication throughout the business relationship.
I usually book in wedding anywhere for 6-months to a year in advance. So, I know that from the first telephone call to the final delivery time, I am in with each wedding client for an average of a year. Thank goodness that my lovely wife and business partner (the same) runs the office and keeps in contact with all the clients on an ongoing basis. So as my better half says, I can run around shooting like a "chicken without a head or a one-armed wallpaper hanger" while see manage the office like a Command Sargent Major! See- I THINK I am a General, however, in truth, I have been kicked upstairs long ago and she runs the joint. I just shoot and process...and take out the garbage!
After over half a century in wedding photography, allow me to offer some facts to ponder:
There are no universal standards for wedding photograhy- no regulations, or quality of service qualifications or legal credentials. Masterships and other such credentials awarded by professional associations are voluntary affiliations on the part of individual photographers and are a good indication, however, professional photography is simply a business and is governed only by ordinary contract and consumer protection laws. There are lots of seriously under-qualified amateurs who offer their services so, hopefully, consumers select an experienced and highly recommended professional in their community, check out references and enter into a proper contract where all stipulations, including delivery times, are spelled out.
Oftentimes, both photographers and clients assume too many things and have serious pre-determined misconceptions that become contentious issues after the fact. The consumer should ask all the pertinent questions including expected times of delivery. More importantly, the PHOTOGRAHER as a professional and a business person should make the client aware of normal delivery times, possible delays due to seasonal workloads, production issues due to special requests or additional work such as retouching, production of prints and albums, and other unforeseen issues.
In my own business, I still encourage and produce ALBUMS for my wedding clients. I am in Canada and my custom leather-bound album supplier is in the U.S. so I explain that there are going to be seasonal workload issues in my shop as well as the bookbinder plus shipping times and custom duty brokerage. I make handcrafted custom prints, portraits are carefully retouched, etc and I need time to do my work. They will see the images, I still call them "proofs", in thumbnail form very shortly after the wedding but after that, it's gonna be between 3 and 6 months for final album delivery- AND that is from the day they make their selections- not the date of the wedding! I deliver display portraits in 4 weeks including custom framing if required. AND if there are any unforeseen delays, I (or my wife) call the cleint immediately and bring them up to date on the progress.
If photographers do not make their clients aware of all these production and delivery issues, they will be inundated with complaints and poor reviews. All of these stipulations should be written into the contract- nothing should be left to assumptions or imaginings. If everyone is on the same page, the entire project will be smooth and pleasurable to both the photograher and the client.
I don't like to play the "blame game" but some photograher do not conduct their business with professionalism and common sense. Some may be great shooters and consummate artists but their office is and contractual affairs are poorly managed or non-existent. Some customers, if they become dissatisfied with any aspect of the photographer's services, will call their lawyer, the newspaper, the consumer advocate on the local radio station, the better business bureau and the consumer protection agency- EVERYONE except the PHOTOGRAHER! They will post nasty stuff on social media which can never be retracted! All of this can be avoided if there's good communication throughout the business relationship.
I usually book in wedding anywhere for 6-months to a year in advance. So, I know that from the first telephone call to the final delivery time, I am in with each wedding client for an average of a year. Thank goodness that my lovely wife and business partner (the same) runs the office and keeps in contact with all the clients on an ongoing basis. So as my better half says, I can run around shooting like a "chicken without a head or a one-armed wallpaper hanger" while see manage the office like a Command Sargent Major! See- I THINK I am a General, however, in truth, I have been kicked upstairs long ago and she runs the joint. I just shoot and process...and take out the garbage!
Nov 16, 2021 14:10:46 #
The answer to your question is that "usual", depends on the photographer's past history, as well has what they've written into their Contract, as has been aptly pointed out by many others here.
If you were MY client, here's what you could expect:
• Within 24-48 hours after the event, I'd email you about two dozen or more low resolution image files that I would have selected and edited showing the highlights of your wedding. You could then share these on social media and email to family and friends, thus not having to use Uncle Harry's cellphone shots.
• Within four weeks, you'd get a complete gallery of all the edited high resolution image files. You can download them directly to your computer. You can also order prints directly from there. Add another week for the lab to mail you the final product.
• This being the digital world there's really no excuse for protracted delivery times.
If you were MY client, here's what you could expect:
• Within 24-48 hours after the event, I'd email you about two dozen or more low resolution image files that I would have selected and edited showing the highlights of your wedding. You could then share these on social media and email to family and friends, thus not having to use Uncle Harry's cellphone shots.
• Within four weeks, you'd get a complete gallery of all the edited high resolution image files. You can download them directly to your computer. You can also order prints directly from there. Add another week for the lab to mail you the final product.
• This being the digital world there's really no excuse for protracted delivery times.
Nov 16, 2021 14:16:06 #
It's very unlikely, and unusual. He possibly is doctoring up the photos in Photoshop, doing that artistic photography thing like many professionals do.
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