Photographer didnt show up - how to deal with him?

What an absolute wedding nightmare!

Firstly I think I wouldn't mention you have some pictures. I think I would want a full refund, a complimentary shoot when he's recovered, him to cover any travel, hair do expenses to do so.

He may genuinely be extremely ill but I find it strange they left it to two hours before and he has no arrangements for anyone to cover in an emergency.

I also think others need to know this is the situation you were left in. How that goes with a free shoot I don't know.

I'm shocked this has happened. It's made me realise a one man company who has an accident or illness beforehand is simply not there leaving you with nothing.

Will be following this with interest to see how you go on. I would definately keep nagging for a quick refund.

Did you have a written agreement?

Have you heard anything at all?

Hi. Havnt heard a sound from his wife since Thursday when she texted he'd been taken into hospital with appendicitis. I don't know how long to leave it before either texting / ringing them or even just filling in the small claims paperwork, want to appear reasonable but at the same time totally fed up and out if pocket having paid someone else!

I think I would text saying that although you're sympathetic it is now x long since your wedding, you paid for a service you didn't receive and you expect a full refund quickly.

In fairness my OH is self employed although in a completely business but I would be capable of finding his check book and writing you a cheque which I could then get him to sign when I visited him in the hospital. I would also say it's all I can do at the moment but as soon as he is out of hospital he will be in touch with you personally. Anything else could be sorted out later.

He may have needed an op but he's not at deaths door. Am I mean? I don't think it's unreasonable.

Thanks for all your replies folks

We have no insurance (ours was a very small wedding and we didn't think it necessary), and stupidly it didn't even cross my mind to ask the photographer what his contingency plans were - he has other photographers working with him and we assumed they would cover him in the event he couldn't attend. We havnt even got a contract, only receipts for the monies paid which give the date the shoot was booked for.

He has contacted me this morning promising a refund/compensation but no indication of when, im fed up with the whole sorry story and just wish id asked more questions when I made the booking. Fortunately we have our friends photos to fall back on, so it could have been a lot worse. As my now husband said at the time, the important bit had already been done (the ceremony)

I'm glad you have at least heard from him now and he obviously realises some sort of compensation is in order. Would you be able to dress up again and have some pics taken? What a nightmare.

I think you're being completely reasonable - yes, it's not his fault he was ill, but if you run a small business you have to have contingency. He should have had a system in place for this. I would give him a deadline and say that whilst sympathetic you are distressed that there was no contingency and will be seeking legal advice if you do not get it settled by that date.

There is no excuse at all for your photographer arranging for another wedding photographer to be at your venue as agreed. As a professional wedding photographer myself, I always ensure that I keep in close contact with other wedding photographers in my local area and know that whatever happens, I will have a photographer at a wedding that I have been booked to photograph, regardless of the situation.

I don't feel you are being unreasonable at all, the photographer (or his wife) should have refunded you already, what an awful thing to happen on the day of your wedding. I really hope you get this situation sorted out! ❤️

We were very lucky that a good friend who is actually a wildlife photographer agreed to meet us two days later and take some photos for us at our honeymoon venue which was the most gorgeous boathouse set on a lake in Norfolk. He did is proud and although the photos weren't taken om the day itself we are very happy with the results and he's now considering branching out into wedding photography himself. He is on Facebook if any wants to have a look, Amber Light wedding photography. My husband and uI have been so stressed out by this awful experience that having received a refund we have decided to put it behind us and let it go.

I just wanted to share our story in the hope that anyone else making a booking asks the questions we didn't and avoids having to go through a similar experience.

Thank you all for your comments and all the best for your future weddings!

Invoice him for the balance you are owed with a 14 day deadline on it. Send it with an email expressing your best wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery. Call him to ensure the email was received. Should get things moving. If not you may want to go to a small claims court, not ideal but you need your money back. x

I'm so sorry to hear this. Things like this happens all too often. I always recommend couples get written guarantees from their wedding vendors. My wedding agreement has a line in it that simply says "If you're not happy with your photographs or the service you receive then you can ask for all your money back". I want clients to know they can trust me and that I'll give them everything I've got. When couples are shopping around I give them a little card that outlines the things you should ask wedding photographers before you hire them. Here's what's on it:

- Do they offer a written and signed guarantee that they'll give you all your money back if you're not happy?

- Ask to see all the photographs from a couple of weddings, not just their portfolio. You want to see they're consistent.

- How soon will you receive your phootgraphs after wedding? Do they put that in writing?

- How many photographs will you receive in your album?

- How many cameras and lenses do they have? They'll need backups because equipment WILL fail eventually.

- Will they visit the venue a week or two before the wedding to scout it out with you? This helps plan what you're going to do and where so the big day runs more smoothly.

- Do they have any testimonials from happy clients. It's worth checking their Facebook page to see what they're like as a person too.

- Do they have public liability and professional indemnity insurance? Many venues won't let photographers on site without public liability insurance. National Trust venues require insurance coverage of £5 million.

- What will the photographer do if they can't make the wedding? Is it in writing?

I'm sorry this doesn't help you, but hopefully it will help someone else. Fingers crossed you get your money back soon.

Yup, no real excuse for it.

The mark of a good business is not if they have issues, everyone does, but how they deal with them when they do.