So mad I could spit

MaybeKatie10

I am so mad that I really need to vent and get it out. I apologize in advance. 

So I wanted to get my daughters 3 month old pictures taken. As a child, there are ZERO pictures of me growing up, so it was important to me that I capture all her milestones on film. My idea was to get 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and a year because they change so much during this time. 

So I called a pricey photographer. She is booked up a month in advance. My fault, I should have called sooner. Besides, she'll still be 3 months and 3 weeks old. So I make an appointment. I ask to double book another appointment for my SIL right after mine so we can get a shot of the girls together. This is an additional charge, but I am happy to pay it. I ask if she has any tips and tricks to make sure the girls stay in a good mood since our appointment fell right in the middle of naptime. She writes back "Would you like to reschedule for a different day at an earlier time?" Since I am coordinating with my SIL and she is not available, I can't do that. So I write back, "No, we'll just keep our original appoint, thanks!" 

There is no further correspondence past this point, but I wasn't really expecting anything back from her. 

I buy the outfits and props she asks me to buy. I make sure that all her outfits fit snug as requested since 'babies can sometimes get lost in clothes that are too big.' Again, I wait a MONTH for this appointment. On the day of, I show up with my SIL exactly on time. And I'm told, "Opps! I never put you on the schedule! Didn't see your last email. Now I'm all booked up. Can we reschedule? The soonest i can get you in is a month from today!" 

In a month, my daughter will almost be 5 months old! These were supposed to be her 3 month pictures!

If that wasn't bad enough, she starts giving me a bunch of "I'm sorry, but's..."

"I'm sorry, but we receive hundreds of emails a day."

"I'm sorry, but we never gave you an OFFICIAL email confirming." (How the heck am I supposed to know what an official and unofficial email looks like)

"I'm sorry, but you should have thought it was odd that I never responded to you and double checked." 

I can understand scheduling mistakes. But at least own that it was YOUR mistake. Don't try to mitigate the blame onto me. I scheduled the appointment! Just because you didn't write it down doesn't mean I didn't complete my responsibilities as a customer who is TRYING TO GIVE YOU MONEY. 

She offered to give me the rescheduled session for free. I refused. To me, this wasn't about 'scoring' a free session. I just wanted to get certain ages/milestones captured on film and if I wait another month, I will have missed that boat. (Not to mention she will have already grown out of all the 'snug' outfits I purchased for her!) 

Am I an asshole because I would rather hire a 6 year old with an Iphone than work with this photographer for free? This is Bella Mi Photography for those that live in NE Ohio. I DO NOT RECOMMEND. 

flcl

Wow, that really sucks.  I'm sorry that happened to you.  I understand how important it is to capture your LO at the times you want to since it seems like they are changing all the time and growing up way too quickly.  I, too, would have been really upset but I probably would have (unhappily) taken that free session, seen if they could move it another month so she'll be 6 months and asked what else they can do to compensate (I'm guessing the clothes and some props you've gotten either won't fit or wouldn't make sense for your 5 month shots).  Unfortunately, these things just happen sometimes.  

mcgeeva

That sucks. I would just take the free appointment considering how flipping expensive these shots are. Then use someone different after that. 

shaunessa

I would have told her, "then you need to make some time! When are your days off?"  That's crap.  Sorry, but yea....I would have been super pissed.

smushi

Uh... I had a signed contract and put down a session deposit way before our scheduled date for LO's pictures... And I emailed the photographer with several questions leading up to the date.  

Did you not think to get any kind of schedule confirmation at the very least?  That sucks you didn't get the photos you envisioned, but really?  

MaybeKatie10

Deposit and contract was not required or asked for or I would have happily paid it.

And if you read the post, you'd know that in the course of several emails, we agreed on a date and time, pricing, I was directed to buy certain clothes, and we discussed in detail how the session would go.

What more confirmation was I supposed to look for?

smushi

I just can't fathom going an entire month without any further communication about an upcoming appointment that is pricey.  I was texting my photographer up til the day before with picture ideas.  

MaybeKatie10

We discussed and agreed on everything in detail far in advance. I am a decisive person, it wasn't like I was going to change my mind. And I did literary EVERYTHING she asked of me.

I guess I can't fathom harassing someone every day for month once everything has been decided on. I'm not THAT high maintenance.

smushi

You don't have to be high maintenance to make sure you have a scheduled appointment.  I contacted my photographer two weeks before the shoot to talk about questions I had come up with since booking, and then again the day before to confirm time - you know, because things come up sometimes - and ask about something I'd seen on pinterest.  

Again, I'm sorry you didn't get the photos you wanted from her.  Hopefully you were able to find an alternate photographer.

MaybeKatie10

I guess I didn't have any questions to ask because, as I said, we had already decided on everything together. Even if i did see something on pintrest (really?), I wasn't about to change everything around.

I take clients for a living as well. So if I had a scheduled appointment with a client and they felt the need to call/text/email me every day for a month, I would only be patient for so long before I dropped them. I have other clients to take care of and the last thing I need is one dominating all my time with nonsense. And I charge WAAAYYYY more than the average photographer.

Also, if I flubbed an appointment time, I would take ownership of my mistake. I would not blame the client because they treated me like a responsible adult who was capable of handling my schedule without needing constant nagging reminders.

Luck Be A Lady

Ugh.  I'm sorry.  I don't blame you at all for not wanting to work with her, even for a free session.  What a joke! 

yeah.

Use her for the (free) 6 month session and get 3 month photos done (or do them yourself)

yeah.

smushi said:

I just can't fathom going an entire month without any further communication about an upcoming appointment that is pricey.  I was texting my photographer up til the day before with picture ideas.  

bet she loved that...

BGGP9196

How frustrating!  I agree I would have used her for the free 6 month shots but never again after that.