On March 28, I met with Michelle Riesland at Starbucks on Capital Blvd located in Raleigh, NC. Michelle came with her assistant (can't remember her name but can give a description of her) and portfolio of pictures for my sister and I to view of her work.
She was very convincing during the meeting stating, "she is a freelance photographer offering affordable photograpy services for individuals on a budget." Michelle stated she had over 8 years of experience in the industry and showed us some beautiful pictures of brides.
She claimed she traveled as far as Michigan to take photos at a wedding. During our meeting she asked me what I was looking for in a photographer and what my photography budget was. I answered $500.00 she then began to create a 'special' package for me within my budget.
Michelle created a package which consisted of 6 hours on the day of my wedding, bridal portraits (16x20,8x10,5x7, and 5 4x6s), travel, 400 pics day of (pics 4x6 edits), CD and copy rights to reprint pictures. All this for a lovely $475.00.
Needless, to say since I was on a tight budget and her work looked highly professional I went ahead and secured her services. She presented me with a contract to sign for the photography services for my wedding scheduled on June 20. I went ahead and paid the deposit required and requested a receipt. Michelle stated she didn't have any with her but would be glad to write out what my package includes and sign the document as proof of a receipt.
Per the signed contract, I contacted Michelle a month prior to my wedding to pay the remaining balance owed. I live in Charlotte, NC but my wedding was in RDU area. I had my sister meet with Michelle at Morrisville Outlet Mall parking lot located off exit 284. (I transferred funds into my sister's account for her to pay Michelle by check since I was in Charlotte)
Prior to Michelle meeting my sister placed them both on a conference call to discuss when and where to meet. Michelle told my sister she would be in a pink Jeep Cherokee. My sister in a cream Mitshubitsu Galant. Thank God we both paid by check and can get copies of the signed/cashed checks by Michelle Riesland.
Michelle Riesland had booked my bridal portrait for the weekend of Memorial day (Sat). Unfortunately, I was not able to meet the appointment due to my gown not being back in time. I contacted Michelle well in advance of this time line and explained the situation with my wedding gown. She was very accommodating and stated she would work with me and not to worry.
Once I received the gown and had scheduled my final fitting I contacted Michelle to schedule my bridal portrait. Michelle and I agreed to a date and I thought it odd that she never called me to confirm the date. I took the time to email her to confirm we were still on for that Saturday at WRAL Gardens and she said she had booked someone else in my spot because I never got back to her. I told her this wasn't true our last phone conversation (which was the day of the conference call to schedule her meeting my sister) we had agreed on the date and time.
In that conversation over the phone I asked her if she knew of any indoor places I could utilize to take the portraits. She said she would email me a list of places and if I decided to go with an indoor site to let her know. I received an email from her several days later if not week later with the indoor sites.
After this conversation with Michelle I was really displease with her double booking my spot. She of course made herself more than available by saying I could schedule for earlier that Saturday (June 13) morning or later that evening. I told her I would have to get back with her. I eventually decided to wait until the week of my wedding since this alternate date was the Sat. (June 13) prior to my wedding on June 20. I would be in the RDU area starting on Monday 15.
Michelle was fine with scheduling the portraits for Wednesday, June 17 at 12pm. We had confirmed we were meeting at WRAL Gardens entrance where there was bench. Unfortunately, the weather was not great it was raining the day before on that Tuesday, June 16. I contacted Michelle to see how she wanted to proceed.
Michelle was pretty confident we would still be able to have a successful shoot. I went ahead and kept my hair appointment which was in Goldsboro, NC. Keep in mind I had to drive from Raleigh to Goldsboro back to Raleigh and she ended up saying due to the weather we would not be able to proceed with the session.
This was totally understandable however she emailed me that if she drove to the site and the weather wasnt clear she was going to charge me $25.00 for her time. I immediately called her and told her I was NOT going to pay her anything more than what she had already received per our contractual agreement travel was included. She then rebutted and stated she didn't mean it like that she was just make a general statement as this is what she normally charges.
We agreed to meet the following day at 11am in WRAL Gardens for the session. Well on Thursday June 18 it was a bit cloudy Michelle made several calls to me while I was of course having my hair and make up done. When I finally checked my messages Michelle stated she didn't think the weather was clear enough to do the portraits. She gave me some mumbo jumbo about the cloudiness would make the pictures dreary and ruin them. Of course no one wants to have a horrible portrait.
Michelle suggested we just take the portraits on my wedding day either prior to the ceremony or after. I agreed to this since the wedding was only 2 days away. After leaving my make up artist at the MAC stand located in Belk at Crabtree mall my mom became very disturbed when we left the mall. Why you might ask, well the sky was not as dreary as Michelle had claimed.
Keep in mind, while I was on the phone with her we were in the store and no where near any windows. After we got in the car and drove for about 5mins we both made comments that the sky was not as dark as Michelle had proclaimed. Michelle was located in Durham and I told her when we drove to the mall the sky was a bit cloudy. However, I had been in the mall for about 2 hours when I talked to Michelle.
During my conversation with Michelle I confirmed with her she would be at the church on Saturday at 11am as planned. She confirmed this with me and we hung up. My mom and I went ahead and finished some last minute shopping details for the wedding.
The day of my wedding Saturday, June 20 Michelle Riesland showed up to the church on time in a red Dodge Ram truck. I was still at my parents home finishing up some last minute make up details when my dad called to tell me she had arrived. Michelle had also called me and I told her I would be at the church within 15-20mins.
I quickly finished what I was doing and headed over to the church. When I walked in Michelle was walking out of the sanctuary and asked if I wanted her to take pictures of me getting dressed. I responded by telling her not really and that I would like for her to take pictures of the wedding decorations inside the sanctuary.
I also requested she take pictures of some of the guests entering as well. She abliged and went back to the sanctuary to take pictures with her camera in hand.
Michelle took pictures throughout the ceremony and even took my portraits after the ceremony as promised. While at the reception prior to her leaving I asked how long before we would receive our pictures. Michelle stated we would get them in 4 weeks.
I contacted Michelle via email on July 16 at 5:50p requesting an update on the status of the pictures. At this point, it had been 4 weeks and I wanted to make sure everything was still on schedule. Of course, being a new bride I was excited to see the pictures.
Michelle emailed back the next day July 17th stating, ' They are coming along fine, as I stated they will be done in 4-5 weeks. 4 weeks is the shortest 5 weeks is the longest.' I responded with thanks for the update.
On July 24th, I received an email from Michelle that my pictures were ready and 'she would mail my cd out later that day or the following day and I should get them early next week.' When she said she would mail my cd out that was a red flag for me. During our consultation she never said prints were not included. So I questioned her about the prints. She stated my package only came with a cd it would cost her $900.00 to print 400 pictures.
I was disturbed by her comment but didn't want to argue with her at this point. We were well over the timeframe she had originally quoted and I just wanted whatever she was going to send. Keep in mind I have a bunch of emails from our communication in regards to my pictures.
Well after waiting anxiously for a week the pics/cd never showed up. I had my husband contact Michelle to see what was going on. Michelle's story was a bit fuzzy at first she told my huband she mailed them at the post office.
Then she recanted and stated she needed to call UPS with the tracking number to see what was going on - maybe she mispelled the address. She asked my husband how she should contact him back by phone or email. He told her it didn't matter whatever she prefers.
Michelle proceeded to email me and asked for my address again. I forwarded the email to my husband to respond at this point I didn't want to deal with her because I was highly upset. On July 30th my husband emailed Michelle Riesland our home address and she stated she gave UPS the updated information and we would receive it within 48hrs.
After waiting 48hrs we never received any packages from UPS or the postal service. I then emailed Michelle on Aug 3 requesting the tracking number because we still had not received the package. Michelle emailed my husband with the following response.'They have the address right now sorry for the mix up, they say it should be to you by Wednesday or Thursday at the VERY latest.'
Based on this information we should have received the package by Thursday, August 6. Today's date is Friday, August 7 and we have not received anything from Mrs Riesland. I called and left a message today and of course she is not responding to my call.
My gut feeling after the first episode of the package not arriving told me she was not going to do the right thing and give us our pictures. I decided to google her name and found this site and my heart dropped. I looked at my husband and tears fell from my eyes. She has lied and perpetrated to be a professional photographer and took something from us we will never get back. I'm devastated by this experience and will not stop until Michelle Riesland has repaid me my money including punitive damages for ruining my wedding memories.
I'm still in disbelief and can't believe she has done this to me. I have the majority of the email communications between Michelle and myself and will be more than glad to share them. I would love to speak with the other young lady who has sought out legal assistance. I would like for Michelle to be prosecuted by the law as well. I'm not sure if this would constitutes as 'FRAUD' but in my opinion it is.
Any assistance or suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated. Again I'm physically located in Charlotte, NC but was married in the Eastern, NC area.
Michelle Riesland is now utilizing a new signature on her emails with the following information. As stated previously from another user her prime elegance site is down and her cell phone is off. She claimed she was upgrading the site and that her best friend had her cell phone. Nothing but lies from this individual.
An Everlasting Affair Wedding Planning & Wedding Photography
http://www.aneverlastingaffair.com/
Truly devastated by this ordeal!
Sherry
Charlotte, North Carolina
U.S.A.
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