Wedding photographs not as good as expected... help!

I do actually have the RAWS, I was sent them after I complained about the editing initially. This is another thing, there was only a couple of weeks' gap between asking for them to be edited and then them being returned to me. This was allegedly after all 800+ had been edited (and by that I mean cropping, eyes opened where possible, red eye etc) and then a select 100 given an 'art edit'. I did think that seemed quite quick - and we got the initial set back while we were still on honeymoon, which I also wasn't expecting.

I agree with your suggestion. 800+ images is of course unnecessary, but I think 200 is fair, as you say. Thanks.

Exactly! Who books a photographer and expects to pay for the kind of photos my nan would take?!

Thanks DCM ?

No problem.

The comment about overnight processing is most likely leaving the PC to batch process the RAW files in to Jpegs for release.

800 images will takes a while, even with a fast processor in the computer. Another thought about the blurring you mentioned.....it might well not be an aperture/depth of field issue, it could be simply too slow a shutter speed for the lens being used.....

Although it is very unlikely for him to give, I would negotiate for the Raw files rather than Jpegs. The raw files give you up to 9 stops of tweaking whereas jpeg is around 2-3 stops. Raw also allows you(with the right software) to adjust high key issues.

I would be interested as to who the tog is....I have been assisting a long term hitcher with some issues she had with her Essex tog(ok, I know there are hundreds of good Essex togs as well)......

Although it hurts you, this is a prime example to other brides to get contracts where all the detail is written down.

Peter

Ok....here is an offer......Sport Relief is coming up....if you and your OH donate £50 to that charity, and you and OH get dressed up again in your wedding gear, I will shoot a reprise of your day for you...........High res edited (properly) images.....

Peter

It's Ok on the Raw part Peter. The Op already has those luckily.

The offer is very kind of you.

I could, but i'm slightly concerned about tog lurking and seeing their work! I'm not out to ruin their rep, i'm more interested in getting photos I am happy with. Happy to PM or email a sample though.

Can I just say ---- this is why I love hitched ! OP I am so sorry about your bad experience but this thread has given me a smile on my face . Such helpful and lovely comments a long with some really generous offers ! Xxx

Very true! Some very kind people here! And I should reiterate, they aren't that dreadful, it's not like those horror stories you sometimes see in the papers!

This is such a lovely offer! And one I would take you up on if I could only fit in my dress now! ? Not to be ungrateful at all, but whenever you read of situations where couples have had to replicate their day to get photos I feel sad for them, it's just not be same is it? Not to mention how much brides spend on their hair and make up on the day (as I did). But I am really touched by your offer, albeit that I am now too fat to get back in my dress! <must start that January diet>

Horace, what programme are you viewing these on???? and what is the extension after each file name????

Peter

My sister has done a photography course and told me to ask for the raw files from the tog, so I did, but I haven't actually looked closely at them myself. She has the USB at the moment but she says the extension is cr2, does that sound right? Will it make a difference what I view raw files on? I'm just viewing the images on my laptop and the windows photo gallery! But, then on screen the ones I thought looked fine have come out blurry when developed.

CR2 means were shot on a Canon.

If you zoom in on the screen and the images doesn't look blurry, then it shouldn't look blurry in print. If it's blurry when zoomed in, then it is missed focus.

CR2 means were shot on a Canon.

If you zoom in on the screen and the images doesn't look blurry, then it shouldn't look blurry in print. If it's blurry when zoomed in, then it is missed focus.

So sorry you are going through this! I wouldn't mind helping where I can at all.

I also wanted to let you know of external companies that you can outsource editing too. I'm not sure the general public can send them in to most of them but I know one company they can and it's very reasonable. Just let me know if you want the details.

Did you buy wedding insurance? You might be able to claim back the cost of getting another photographer to edit them - I'm not 100% on this though, but it might be worth checking.

I just wanted to pitch in as a part time photographer and say if you decide (and get permission) to divvy out your images between people to get them edited I would be willing to help

I'm only part time but I know lightroom and photoshop well.

The only problem I can see with sharing the processing, is we all apply different amounts of adjustments to our taste. This could cause issues with consistency. Generally you want the images in a set to look fairly uniform, like they came from the same photographer etc.

Personally if I was in the Ops shoes. I would find a photographer who's processing I really liked, and ask them to process the images like they would one of their own. I think the end result would be better than trying to explain what you want to a photographer who's processing style doesn't naturally fit what you want.

I'm sorry that you didn't get what you were expecting, I had 200 edited shots on disc from my tog and I sent them back following some good advice from togs on here. I got them re-edited and they are ok now. I wish I'd spent more time researching but hey ho, what's done is done. I did however have another photoshoot after my wedding, which whilst it wasn't a recreation of the day, I got some pretty awesome photos.

Some of the togs on here are brilliant, always so helpful.

Worst idea ever.

30 spot coloured, 30 vintage hazed, 30 normal, 30 vignetted, 30 dinosaurs....

It would look like Timmy Mallets birthday party.

I don't think it's the worst idea ever. It depends.

If you can't afford to get them edited by one photographer and no photographer will do them all for cheap/free, you are left with a few options and maybe having a few pictures that don't match is better than all of them that you absolutely hate.

I guess you could always just pick a few you like and get them edited by one.

We could maybe have an 'Hitched Edit Off'... like the bake off but not so fattening...

I agree with Chris, might make it difficult to put your images together in an album.

Got it, thanks Rhys - will check out the raw files!

Horace,

You're asking about something which without seeing the full set nobody can truly advise on.

If they've done a shoot and burn number then you'll have about 400 usable files at best.

There's been a lot of offers of help over 4 pages so to get a true picture you'll need to share the love off site. You can use numerous services to upload and share the images for free, Dropbox being one and then in confidence you can share it with one or another trusted source.

Beyond that, talking about images from your perspective alone isn't going to fix anything ?

Thank you - I would really appreciate the details for the company you mentioned. I guess any cost is just what I should have spent on a good tog in the first place! Someone else mentioned wedding insurance, which we had, so will check what cover they may provide - excellent idea!

We too have gone for a budget package with a photographer. He has been used by friends before and I know he takes good quality pics. The deal is we get all photographs taken, with 6 cd copies to pass on to family etc. he said roughly 400 to 600 images will be on there, we choose 250 for editing. I thought this seemed more than fair for £380. I think I will ask about copy right, it doesn't bother me too much but I don't like the idea of our image being used in publications etc...

at the end of the day they are from a private moment spent with family and friends

Yeh the thought did cross my mind about that but I thought it a way we could all help for free and I dont think it will be quite as bad as you fear.

Anyway put me down for 30 normal ones

And nooooooo one on here does spot colour (do they)

Rhys, you get what i'm looking for. I am fortunate that with a bit of saving I am in a position to be able to afford to pay someone to edit all of my favourite images because ultimately I want a really great album that i'm proud to show off to family and friends. I clearly just should have done a bit more research and paid a bit more in the first place!

Thank you to everyone who has offered help. I will try and get the photos on a file sharing site and if you are interested in viewing and giving me an opinion on what can be done then please let me know, I don't want to be a burden! ? ?

That's what forums are for....sharing the burden!!!