It was up to me to choose the photographer for our wedding. All of which was new for me to do.
If I knew then, what I know now, I would have had Judith Ann write and sign everything she was offering to me at the time.
1st mistake:
She told me the index photo imprinted magazine was going to be mine to keep instead of buying the proofs, when we first discussed what I wanted and how much I was willing to put towards our Professional Photography service.
When we went to go look at the photos and order she asked for the imprinted magazine back, so she can us it for her ordering process. I felt uneasy about giving it back to her. I have never been able to see it again.
2nd mistake:
Most of all the photos she took using her professional lighting left horrible shadows.
The pictures of Colby and I in her studio with a black background, Colby sitting in front, low to the side of me. Her lighting caused a dark shadow of Colby's head on me. Making that side of me look much darker than the other side.
The other times were with the group shots during the wedding reception of my bridal party and family close to the wall. We all look like we have mullets do to the shadows caused by her professional light. She blames the shadows on the lighting the building and other flashing their cameras next to her. That was not true. The others were not flashing their camera when she was. The photo taken with the disposables didn't show us having mullets. Plus I had a friend whos a photographer look at the photos and she claims it was done by her prof. Lights.
At the time we were looking at the photos to order them we didn't notice it until my mother recieved the photos she paid for. When we did, I called and complained to JudithAnn. At first she said it was going to cost extra to have them fixed. I told her if that was going to be so, then I wouldn't buy them from her. With that said, she offered to only fix the shadows once I pay for my order in full.
3rd mistake:
Her photos are outrageously priced.
In order for me to be able to have all the photos I desired it was going to cost about $3100. Each 4x6 photo cost $20-25 at them time, afterwards it would be about $40 a piece.
Of course she wasn't going to print them out until I paid for it, which I don't blame her.
4th mistake:
At the time we placed the order, in the back of the imprinted magazine she stated that she understands the financial problems newlyweds go through and would allow them 5 years to pay for the photos. Since that was in the imprinted magazine, I didn't get to keep a copy of all her offers and her full contract.
The only thing she left with us was an order/invoice paper we signed.
5th mistake:
Jan. She sent a letter to my mother and I regarding that I haven't made any payments on the order yet. My reason for not doing so is becuase we didn't have the money for it at the time and I knew we had 5 years to pay for it. She also stated in the letter that I had until mid Feb. 2006 to pay for the photos and that I have been taking too long to make any payments on them; the photos were no less than great; the shadows were not caused by her; the shadows in the photo my mom bought will not get fixed unless I bought my order in full.
My parents discussed the letter she sent. They didn't want us to go with out any photo from my wedding reception. She was going to offer me $500 to get the photos I wanted and avoid the ones that have shadows in them.
I called JudithAnn and explained the whole situation to her politely, apologized for not making any payments, and asked if I could cancel that big order and getting something smaller, pay up front with the money my parents were offering me.
She refused it all. I held my tongue as long as I could. Finally I told her I regreted ever having her as a photography and her customer service is bull*.
I related the whole experience to my same friend photographer, she said to go to her studio and demand a copy of the contracts. I went and asked to see the imprinted magazine and a copy of the contracts and apologized for blowing up at her on the phone, hopeing to put her on ped-stole and she will do the same. She didn't. She said the invoice order was the contract, which didn't have a one year time frame mentioned on it to pay for the order and she won't show me the imprinted magazine.
My mistake, I wish I knew about this website sooner, to report her and kept that invoice/order and the letter she sent. But what I do have are photos showing the shadows she created.
I hope no one else have to go through the same trouble I went through and never take someones word for anything these days.
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