Massive Photography Regrets -- Need Advice

Here's an example of one of the bad photos...

So sorry that this happened to you - If it was me, I would hire a professional and have him/her take pics of me and my FH in our wedding attire. Set a place and go for it.

There's unfortunately not much you can do. Did you have a contract with her?

This is sadly on you for not doing your research. You can certainly try for a reshoot, but hire a real photographer, but getting your bridal party there may be very difficult to arrange again, and getting hair/makeup done again would be expensive as well. Good photographers are expensive.

I think you should re-take. The pic you posted looks very amateur. Don't beat yourself up though. We live and we learn.

Retake pics. In 40-plus years, you and your grand kids will be sitting around a fire while you and hubby re-tell this tale and laugh.

But please retake. Especially because it's important to you.

I am sorry that happened. I would definetly hire someone to do portraits of you and your husband. I have to say the picture isn't horrible, not professional quality though. Sorry to say maybe your expectations were too high for free wedding photos.

I would retake with a professional. Even if you can't get the full bridal party together, get some good shots of you and your husband in your wedding clothes. And try to get the rest of the pictures from your coworker, there may be a few more worth keeping. At least she got some good shots of the ceremony! Good luck.

I know a few people who have done bridals after their wedding day, so I would suggest doing that. Get your bridal party and immediate families together and either stick with your wedding location or find another fun place to get a few done.

A little extra info... I was only allowed so many characters in my first post so I couldn't fit the entire story. The pictures this photographer showed me as her examples of what she could do for me were very good quality. Of course, I have blamed myself many times - and it is my fault to a large degree. That's part of what I'm beating myself up about. So yes, there is a huge feeling of regret and self-blame going on here. But what I've come to realize is that this woman is a compulsive liar. She told me she would be bringing in a couple of people to help her, and she had all this equipment from when she used to do this professionally. But on the actual day, she showed up alone with an amateur camera.

I think it is HIGHLY possibly that the portfolio she showed me wasn't even hers. Again, my fault for not doing more research, but I genuinely thought of this person as a friend and felt like she was doing this as a favor for me. I've heard of many brides who had a friend offer to do this, and the outcome was great. I wasn't expecting professional photos, but I was at least expecting our faces to be visible (not half-covered in shadow). She didn't even get one with me and each bridesmaid individually, which is something I had stressed that I wanted - and I was too delirious the day of to realize what was happening.

I wouldn't get the entire wedding party back together - that'd be impossible. I wouldn't even have us get hair and make up done. I just want to go somewhere... a farm or somewhere pretty, get my bridesmaids and mom back in our dresses for a casual shoot. I just want something worth framing for memories' sake.

Not trying to recreate the day, just trying to make up for what this person didn't give me. It sounds dumb but she's been AWFUL to me since this happened - lying, avoiding, manipulating. She did a 180 from being a friend to being downright malicious. I've cried many tears over this.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. For me, my photography budget came first, even before a venue, and had to include an engagement shoot so I can feel out their style and ability. I'd rather elope or have a small ceremony with cake and punch than forego a professional. But you live and you learn! I understand you must be so disappointed. Have a professional retake some pictures for you! It might not be the same but you'll really be glad you did, I think.

Thanks... It is very much live and learn. I didn't think I would care about photos. My husband and I are very shy and we hate getting our pictures taken. But I realize that a professional will make you look good, even if you don't think you are photogenic. An amateur will accent all of the things about your appearance that you despise.

I will talk to my family about their willingness to do a reshoot. They've seen how distraught this whole thing has made me. The worst part is just feeling betrayed by this person. I feel, if nothing else, a fun and casual shoot with the family might be therapeutic and wash the bad taste out of my mouth that this whole situation has given me.

That stinks. I'm sorry. I would hire a good pro to do a shoot of your and FH in your wedding attire. If you can get your BM to come, great. If not, do just the two of you. I don't think you even need to pay for hair and makeup if you don't want to-- just do it yourself and pick a fun location, almost like a trash the dress where they don't trash the dress.

Sorry this happened. Do a small shoot with your BM and mom and have a blast.

I'm really sorry, and I'm not going to give the speech about hiring a professional. From now on, I suspect you'll be the one giving that speech on threads started by brides who have decided to use "a really talented hobbyist". The photo you posted is not usable -- in fact, it's awful (sorry, but I'm not telling you something you don't already know). I see a lot of shadow and blinding sun. The girl next to you is wearing a contorted expression, and even if I knew the two girls in shadow, I probably wouldn't be able to identify them from that photo. It seems like the "photographer" saw the flowering tree and thought it would make a great background without giving any consideration to the position of the sun. I'm not photographer -- far from it -- but that's what it looks like. You said she lucked out and got some good ceremony pics. Are any of those suitable for framing? How about guest shots from your reception? Are there any that you might be able to take to a photographer so that he/she could clean them up? If you really want to do a reshoot, then do it. However, I always wonder, for brides who do reshoots after the wedding -- will those recreated shots be satisfying as the years go by, or will they just serve to remind you of how upset you were by the original shots?

Also, if she's using someone else's work to advertise her own, that's illegal (and maddening...I can't tell you how many times I've had to contact other florists who have take our work, post it on their page, and say that it's their work. Usually, contacting them scares them enough to get them to remove the photos, but as soon as you stop one, you find three more the next week). Does she have this "portfolio" online anywhere (maybe a few shots from her glory days as a "professional photographer" in a FB photo album)? If she does, do a google image search on them and report her to the real photographer. That might give some small sense of satisfaction.

I am sorry that your photos didn't turn out the way you had hoped. I think it would definitely be worth it to re-take your photos so that you are happy with the end product. Best of luck!

Retake them. I'm sure it will be fun.

This happened to me too; my photographs are horrible. We thought about retaking them, but we just couldn't get excited about it; it wasn't the day.

Did any of your guests take photos that you can use or edit?

Really sorry to hear this happened to you and this was a co-worker? Honestly, DON'T blame yourself. Your "friend" definitely has some major issues, but how would you know it would play out this way? She showed you her previous work or led you to believe that it was hers and sold herself with all the experience and what to expect for your bid day.

Again, how would you know it would be completely the opposite? I wouldn't blame yourself. You were trying control your budget, as most of us are and made the best choice at the time. Many couples use friends/family or kijiji amateur photography/video teams and they are great!! (Speaking from experience as many of my friends did this!).

I'm having the opposite experience. We have a friend that is really great, although just starting and we didn't want to hire him simply because we wanted him to attend as a guest and enjoy the day without having to worry about doing the photos. We are really regretting this now because on the day of we didn't like our photographer very much.

Thank goodness our friend ended up bringing his gear and taking so many amazing photos when our photographer wasn't around or failed on that end.

Our "professional" team that we hired was pretty good for the most part, except our main photographer (we had 2 photos + 1 video guy). Everytime we had these candid moments she was standing around in the corner and looked grumpy all day (pointed out to me by family and friends). Her display was also caught in pictures in the background, she had her arms crossed and looked bored. She was only there to take pictures when she posed us. I don't know about you but I hate really pose-y pictures, they should feel natural and "in the moment". Yes, some will be more posed and traditional with the parents or the bridal party in the park, etc.

Anyhow, sorry for the long comment but wanted to let you know it's not your fault. I'm blaming myself now for going with our team because it was the best price and wanted to save some money but I guess in the end it's not always about that. I have learned from the whole wedding experience, it is a very dicey industry. You truly never know.

The best advice I can give is to ask those around you that recently got married or can recommend someone they know. At least there's that sense of knowing a bit more.

Here's a good example pic - We stopped by my parents house after doing pictures in the park since I wanted to get a few of us by the garden and the beautiful arch they decorated in the lawn. Photographer in the background, my aunt happened to have her camera handy and snapped some shots of us coming up to the house and going under the arch. It's not an amazing shot because there's so much going on the background but it was a missed opportunity.

Definitely do a reshoot, at least of yourself and your husband, if it'll make you feel better! I think I definitely would.

Echoing what Celia said, did you ask ALL your guests for pictures? Some of the best pictures my friends have from their weddings were taken by guests. Granted, you can't really enlarge an iPhone picture very much, but you can get great shots! I'm really sorry this happened to you!

Can you put out a call to some of the wedding guests and see what photos they have? I got lots of bride and groom photos from from family and friends that looked pretty good. My favorite so far is this one.

Unfortunately you get what you pay for 99% of the time. Reshoot your portraits and hope your guests have some good photos of the reception/ceremony