This is my first time posting so apologies if I don’t get the format right or if I’m missing anything. Also sorry for the clickbait-y title but I didn’t know how else to phrase it…
TLDR: I booked a 3rd party wedding photography service that included translator/driving to and from makeup/hair/dresses/photo studio and a video of our day (extra charge that we paid for) in April 2023 and after a couple delays (on my part) and many, many follow ups due to lack of communication (on his part) I am still missing the video part and he won’t reply me.
Disclaimer aside, I booked this wedding photographer last year and we took the photos in April. It was a 3rd party with a studio kind of thing where translator was included in addition to being driven to and from the studio/makeup/hair/dresses. I paid a deposit over PayPal and then paid the rest in cash in person once we started and the whole photoshoot lasted for an entire day. The details of the contract included the dress rentals, makeup and hair, a translator, driving to and from all these places and the studio, and a video of the whole process. So to clarify he doesn’t take the actual wedding photos – it’s the studio. He just provides the rides, the translator, and an edited video of us during the process (that we paid extra for).
So the timeline is as follows:
2023 April – we flew over and took photos
mid May – the studio is done the raws of the photos and we’re supposed to choose 30 photos for them to edit
end of June – I reply because life got in the way
early July – one week later he replies and there was some back and forth
mid August – due to a misunderstanding (mostly on his part) it got delayed until I followed up
end of November – he sends me the file with the edited photos and asks me to double check to see if any additional edits are required (this was expected since he told us editing would take 3 months) Since year end is busy season for me at work I wasn’t able to take a look until later and replied mid Jan
2024 mid January – He doesn’t reply. Followed up again a week later and still no reply.
mid Feb – finally says he would check and I send over TWO tiny edit requests.
early April – I follow up again and no reply (note it’s been a year since we’ve taken the photos and at this point I acknowledge that I was the reason for half of the delay so I was still very cordial) Followed up a week later to no reply. Followed up another week later and he replies that he hasn’t heard back from the studio.
beginning of May – I ask for another update and it has been 2 weeks since the last message. No reply. Followed up again a week later – no reply. Another week later – no reply until I call him. He says there’s backlog and he’ll ask the studio to rush it. At this point it’s been 3 months since I sent the edits and I definitely wouldn’t have been this annoyed if he replied me within 3-5 business days or if he updated me or followed up with me here and there. So when he replied I asked if he could give me a rough timeline of when I could expect the edits to be done. He said he would update me the next day. Next day comes and no message so I follow up the day after. No reply. I follow up for the next couple days and when he finally replies he says it’s because Monday is his day off but he was supposed to reply me the Thursday the week before so that literally made no sense. He said the album will be shipped in June.
end of June – I follow up again to see if it has shipped. No reply. Keep following up until July when he finally replies and says it will be shipped that day.
mid July- We FINALLY get our stuff but it’s missing the video that we paid to be included (it was an extra charge) so I followed up again. No reply until end of July so I follow up again. No reply. Followed up every other week
end of August – the only way he would reply is if I called him. He says he made a mistake and would send the video by Sept 1.
September – of course you guessed it Sept 1st comes and goes with no reply. A week later after another follow up he says things are delayed so I ask how long he would need. He said would be done that week. ONE WEEK from when he said it I follow up – no reply. Keep following up to no avail
end of Sept – I called and he said he’ll contact me later that day since he was busy. And again – no reply. Followed up next day he says he’ll “definitely” get it to me Thursday that week. Thursday that week (beginning of Oct) it’s a ghost town here and following up all the way until now there’s still no reply.
I want to clarify that since we’re different time zones I have always been respectful of that and only called during working hours in Korea despite not being shown any professionalism from his end past Jan of this year. I never expected a reply right away in most cases but it was due to a lack of communication on his part and total frustration that I spam followed up. I think a week (5 business days) is sufficient time to allow for a reply VIA text just to say “let me get back to you” or acknowledge my message. Also to clarify that he does frequently use WhatsApp because it shows when the person last used the app and he’s always been using it but not reading my messages. He’s also NEVER been on time with any of his promises to reply by a certain time/ship by a certain time/etc. I have all the receipts if anybody is curious.
So now I’m still missing the video that we paid for and short of buying a flight to Korea I don’t know what else I can do??? I totally understand it was my fault for delaying sending him the photos I wanted and the backlog that resulted because of it since it would disrupt the flow of things and that’s not his fault at all. I’m just frustrated that it takes him on average 2-3 weeks of constant following up for him to reply me and that he’s defaulted on ever single deadline he himself provided… He also never followed up with me about anything like “did you get a chance to look at the photos?” or anything. I’m just glad he didn’t block me yet???? Also if anybody wants the name of this place so they can avoid it like the plague or warn their friends let me know cuz he’s apparently still too busy to reply me.
And if any amazing individual who had the patience to read through the whole thing has any advice I would really love to hear it because it’s been a year and a half since I took the photos and I’m at my wits end.
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