Every bride's worst nightmare ...

[Shadowman]

Radu,

Yes it is a show but the underlying elements remain the same under contract law. You make or accept an offer to provide a good or service, you have an agreement to perform a service in return for monetary compensation, within a given period of time. If any of the listed elements are deviated from then a lawsuit can be the end result. If you replay the court case, you will see that the contract wasn't fulfilled to the client's satisfaction and that is all the judge was concerned with, how he handled the case for the cameras is irrelevant.

Hi,
I saw what Colin showed as an exercise of understanding spoken English.This is a show,only,which has nothing in common with reality.
A juge has to have an expert's report as a base of his jugement.
Thank You for reading.
Radu Dinu

[Radu Dinu Cordeanu]

Radu,

Yes it is a show but the underlying elements remain the same under contract law. You make or accept an offer to provide a good or service, you have an agreement to perform a service in return for monetary compensation, within a given period of time. If any of the listed elements are deviated from then a lawsuit can be the end result. If you replay the court case, you will see that the wasn't fulfilled to the client's satisfaction and that is all the judge was concerned with, how he handled the case for the cameras is irrelevant.

Hi!It is quite amazing for me how many posts about that.Here,in my country,an ex-communist one,where sellers did the low,we pay more attention to such situations.In the same time we pass easily over,saying "who doesn't opens the eyes,opens the pocket".Here we know to call a worker is a kind of punishment upon you from Heaven.The normal way of life is to pay much money for a little.
Cheers,
Radu Dinu

[Hansm]

I watched this court on you-tube. Not sure if the Court was 100% objective.
Since I do lots of wedding shoots the most important one is to prepare your self well. This photographer was surprised that no flash was allowed during the ceremony. She should have contacted the church in advance to know what limitations there are. "In advance" I mean at least a few days before.

One dangerous thing however are still the expectations of Bride and Groom. They see lovely shots from other people in the albums but it also depends how the B&G are behaving on D-Day. During the intake interview they are in for lots of fun but on the real moment it happens that people already get panicked because a fly is touching the wedding dress (no joke it happened to me once). I always try to make them clear that the pictures they see in my demo albums are an indication of the possibilities and that a part of their expectations are how cooperative they are during the day. Not everyone is willing to run, jump or doing other acrobatic exercises during this emotional day. But as a professional you cannot afford and may not mis the important moments and blame it on the light source. That is your problem and you have to be prepared for it. Technically the pictures should be 100%.

[kevinf]

Those televised Judge shows aren't real courts. They are binding arbitration and both sides will have been paid to appear.

[Colin Southern]

I always try to make them clear that the pictures they see in my demo albums are an indication of the possibilities and that a part of their expectations are how cooperative they are during the day.

I think the "crux" of the issue is that the photographer naturally showcases their best work (and only their best work) and the prospective B&G naturally assume that this is the standard of work that this photographer always attains (because they've never seen anything to the contrary). But ...

... a professional should be able to produce a high percentage of quality shots at every event, whereas the amateur is capable of producing good results, but not on a consistent basis. No problem with the former shooting weddings - BIG problem with the latter shooting weddings.

[Colin Southern]

Those televised Judge shows aren't real courts. They are binding arbitration and both sides will have been paid to appear.

I remember from "The Peoples Court" with Judge Joseph A. Wapner they had a notice that said (in words to the effect of) "Participants agree to be bound by the judges ruling, and that any costs awarded are deducted from any "appearance/participation" fee" - so I'm assuming that "Judge Joe Brown" / "Judge Judy" etc are probably the same. So "real" judge (albeit possibly retired) - selected from real suits that have already been filed - although no doubt far more theatrical than real court appearences.

Bottom line for me was the woman was not one I would like to be shooting my wedding

[Hansm]

... a professional should be able to produce a high percentage of quality shots at every event, whereas the amateur is capable of producing good results, but not on a consistent basis. No problem with the former shooting weddings - BIG problem with the latter shooting weddings.

I can only agree with that.
Lots of people think that wedding photography is easy money. Big mistake.

[rpcrowe]

Nope... Every bride's (and photographer's) worst nightmare is a marriage that breaks up during the honeymoon! This happened to a couple whose wedding I shot. I can tell you that I saw it coming when the cake eating (smashing) routine erupted into a meley between the bride's family and that of the groom. The bride and groom were in the middle of it also - on opposite sides of the darn serious food fight. I was pretty sure that this would erupt in violence and was ready to get a shot or two for the tabloids...

Anyway, especially in the days of film when the raw stock and processing plus proofing was expensive, a decent deposit saved me from a financial loss. I was luckier than the bride and groom. A pretty expensive wedding went doen the drain.

[Shadowman]

If only had the wedding party sign a model release you could have made a small fortune selling those photos to marriage counselors.

Nope... Every bride's (and photographer's) worst nightmare is a marriage that breaks up during the honeymoon! This happened to a couple whose wedding I shot. I can tell you that I saw it coming when the cake eating (smashing) routine erupted into a meley between the bride's family and that of the groom. The bride and groom were in the middle of it also - on opposite sides of the darn serious food fight. I was pretty sure that this would erupt in violence and was ready to get a shot or two for the tabloids...

Anyway, especially in the days of film when the raw stock and processing plus proofing was expensive, a decent deposit saved me from a financial loss. I was luckier than the bride and groom. A pretty expensive wedding went doen the drain.

[delboy]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3cvsImyIZA&NR

Now that's what I would call a very expensive wedding nightmare.

Delboy

[delboy]

There's an idea - DIVORCE photography I see tearful children in poignant soft-focus shots, sparring couples in the street, lawyers rubbing their hands in glee. You get the picture? Or rather they would.

Now that's thinking outside the square, photographically and well as business wise. You will make yourself a small fortune mate.

Delboy