Feeling a tad nervous about TOG's pics!

nervous and excited, thanks pixee.

'I appreciate how busy he is but an email takes 60 seconds.' - Your words.

We're never that busy that we can't take a call.

You can be as patronising as you want it doesnt make you big - but yes you are finally catching on! Well done! An email does only take 60 seconds!

As I said before, Claire's chosen method of communication is not important. She has been emailing up until now so no reason not to continue. Also, as you pointed out once or twice, it's not Wednesday yet so she has no need to phone him.

Personally, when I am busy I would much rather someone emailed me rather than phoned me so that I could gather my thoughts and reply, rather than being caught in the middle of something and unable to give them my full attention.

^ Briiiidezillla! ^

You are not coming across so well yourself, to be honest...

Havnt you get a reputaion as a HIB to uphold? Just a thought! That it all.

Can i just say Chris as a listed supplier, your not being very professional or indeed approachable, therefore not advertising yourself very well.

You know what screw it.

Claire to her credit is concerned about not liking her photos but her underlying concern is that they are late and that the communications from the tog are lacklustre.

Myself and other togs have tried to appease her fears by saying what it is like for us but it's not really making any dent in her worries.

It's almost insulting to those who made the effort to assist her that she hasn't just picked up the phone and spoken to the tog in question.

It's an obvious solution yet one that's not been followed. Claires sarcasm in the thread has been obvious and I'm not going to sit back and let it wash over me. Not when I entered this thread with all the best intentions to assist.

Chris I hope your posts arent googeable!

Chris - you appear to be coming across as a photographer who: doesn't answer client emails, doesn't let a client know if things are going to be delayed, would answer a phonecall while shooting a wedding, would consider a bride expecting an email response as a 'bridezilla', and has a rather patronising attitude.

Not great advertising...

They sure are. I stand by what I've said.

Who the hell do you think you are Chris! How dare you presume how I feel! The only issue I have AND FOR THE LAST TIME, is that I was dissapointed to not get a call or an email or at least some form of contact that my pics were going to be late, if he had said next month I would have been a bit gutted but I owuld have known! What is your problem with me!

Having a bad day Chris??

I fully undersatand how busy you guys get! He is great at what he does, but when you have splashed out £2000 on your pictures and paid for your album upfront is not to much to ask! I dont know where you get off saying some of what you have but maybe re read your comments! Our of order!

I am sure you did mean to help.

But I think there was a clash, in that the OP perhaps didn't want all of her problems to be solved, rather just listened to and empathised with. SHe is a grown woman and has decided NOT to call her photographer - just let her let off some steam and realise that that is what forums are for, too, not just to be given a solution which you do not wish to abide by.

You've come across as unprofessional, I think, by getting upset and responding personally - if you are a HiB then surely this is almost like a workplace for you?

I believe I'm entitled to a 'signing off' thread after I've read the good luck thread - but it won't be a 'goodbye' - I will be off for a couple of weeks but will attempt to get online and at least post when the photos are ready if I can - internet signal is not very good where we are going to be so it may be when we're out and about, or when we return.

I'm afraid, as much as some members might wish, I won't be gotten rid of quite that easily...

Incidently, our tog aims to get our disc of photos to us after a week, and sending them to where we are on honeymoon, so we can pick our favourite to print out in the local Boots to stick on the front of our thankyou cards.

I find Claires responses to several comments rude and unaccomodating.

Despite 9 weddings last month I have one outstanding. The latest I've delivered a wedding is 3 weeks even is it means 8am until midnight to stay on top because if you don't take of business it takes care of you.

I never answer calls during a wedding but at the time of writing this it's midweek and unlikely the majority of togs will be working one.

I know other suppliers tend to be neutral on certain subjects but I'm kinda tired of it.

Claires solution is to phone the tog. This is the only person who can really reassure her and tell her what is going on.

Am I wrong to think this?

I was provoked by things you said! If you read back you will see. You called me a Bridezilla, how many times? I lost count! I have not alot to loose on here, you have! I suggest you think about some of things you have said You didnt have to get defensive just because you are in the profession! You didnt have to be patronising, hence me being sarcastic. End of Chris!

It does seem sensible to me. We can't help, only offer advice or empathy.

This thread is a perfect example of why I loved my tog so much!

I would just like to my two-penneth (sp) in!

From Claire's point of view she was expecting her photo's on the 3rd. She left it till 2 days after this to find out where they were (no chasing, no nagging) when she was informed that they would be with her nearly 2 weeks later than first anticipated (tomorrow). She is fine with this. She doesn't need to chase her TOG yet as it isn't Wednesday which she full well knows.

What she didn't appreciate it (and I would imagine we would all be the same boat) was that when the TOG realised that he/she wouldn't make the 3rd September deadline communication before the 3rd wouldn't have gone amiss apologising but her photo's would be delayed. Even if it was on the day (which in my eyes is not acceptable) but just something to say "I know they're meant to be with you today but x,y, z has happened and I will get them to you by x date". Simple courtesey which I am sure Chris if you were in the same position knowing you had promised a couple their photo's by x date and then realised you wouldn't meet it I am sure you would be professional and contact your client to let them know of such delay.

She is not being bridezilla-ish in the slightest and if anything I admire her calmness in her correspondence as I probably would've contacted before the 3rd...."just to see how they were getting on" (code for "I want my photo's now!")

OK, I'm going to say this again. Claire has no reason to call her tog right now. Her tog has said she will receive her disc tomorrow so there is no reason to phone. Claire has simply been a bit disappointed with the lack of communication since the wedding as she has had to chase when the original delivery date was missed with no contact from the tog.

If the latest you have delivered wedding photos is 3 weeks, why are you so incensed by Claire being a little disappointed at having to wait 8 weeks?

It is entirely up to you how you conduct your business on here but I think a few people were just trying to make you aware that you were not acting very professionally. And, after all, this is business for you.

This is just reminding me of how fab my TOG was....

Chris, clearly you're having a bad day! I'm not saying I disagree with what you're saying but if I saw my TOG being drawn in like that I would certainly raise an eyebrow...

I was provoked by things you said too.

I love weddings, I love the work I do, almost too much, it's my life and where other suppliers often try to sell services in posts I GENUINELY want to help, I really don't need this forum as a place to promote myself.

Wires, on the internet, often get crossed and you know what, I really didn't mean to offend you. Any comments were defensive as I took a lot of what you said personally as I was trying to help and felt I was being shot down.

I still think phoning your tog is the right thing to do if only to have your mind put at ease but it's your choice.

I was paranoid for a second thinking his claims of me being a bridezilla might have some substance. I then had to re read all my comments to make sure I hadnt said things that might confuse the situation! But you have summed it better than me NN! Thank you.

Ok so thanks for all the comments guys thanks to those who understood me and where I was coming from. Chris lll say it again I only counteracted your comments that were made to me. I have the right to defend myself.

Im going for a coffee!

I'm late to the game on this one, but I'll say this anyway. Regardless of how long is acceptable to take with editing wedding photos at this time of year, this tog has not managed his client's expectations very well.

I would like to wish whoever is having Chris as their tog the best of luck. You might need it, and hope your not in any rush to see your photos!!

Good grief

One thing that concerns me about 'professionals' posting on Hitched is an occasional tendency to get personally involved in threads and end up making themselves look very unattractive as a supplier to the general public. If I was a bride-to-be nosing through these threads, i would instantly cross Chris off a list of potential photographers due to his rude and sarcastic attitude when talking to an anxious bride.

If I had dared speak to any customers or potential customers like that in my workplace, I would have been in a great deal of trouble.