Wedding Pics are Here (and there's loads of problems)

[Queenie]

On Friday we received a package in the mail that was our wedding prints finally arriving. Unwrapped them and I'm really unhappy. The colours are atrocious - DH looks like he's in a brown suit and I look like I'm either in a dark shade of cream or in stark white. The details on the dress are all lost because the contrast has been messed with and washed it all out. The brown-ness is all over too, in the pics we had in the garden it looks like we've had a major heatwave and the grass and bushes are dying

The proofs were a mixture of b&w and colour and we ordered assuming that's what we'd get. They've all come back colour and some need to be b&w. In the ceremony the photgrapher couldn't use flash so those shots are terribly grainy, not an issue in b&w but now it's colour it's horrendous, patchy and awful. One of those shots I ordered at a huge size too so it could go on the wall, that's over $30 for a single print that looks terrible.

I'm really unhappy as the photographer is DH's cousin so I'm dreading having to turn around and say, these are terrible - fix them. He did SIL's wedding and this didn't happen, her prints are fantastic which is why we asked him. I was hoping it's just a printing issue but he also sent a disc and I've checked that, the pics on the disc have the same problems (they're clearly post photoshop as the pylons and cars in the background on the proofs are missing.) They're all also brown-y so it looks like an actual issue with the pics which makes no sense as it's not there in the printed proofs. I have no idea what to say to him without really offending him and causing a family rift!

DH is unhappy with them too, as is MIL. FIL admits he struggles to see a problem but also says it would have to be so glaringly obvious for him to notice that we'd never have received it anyway! We've looked through and found other problems this weekend. A number of shots that were portrait on the proofs have come back landscape so they don't fit in the frames people have bought. This was mainly an issue with pics of us signing the register, instead of a nice closeup portrait shot as in the proofs we've got a wide one with loads of empty desk on either side of us. There's also one DH found of the ceremony where the contrast is up so high a reflection on his cheek looks like someone has thrown a bag of flour over his face.

MIL put her large pic into a frame beside the large framed pic from her daughter's wedding (same photographer) and immediately realised just how dark our looks in comparison. DH showed her the proofs and she is in agreement that they are nothing like what was delivered today.

We will get this sorted one way or another, just wish it wasn't this tricky!

 

[New England Eeyore]

That totally stinks! I'm sorry the situation is awkward because it's family. I hope you can get it sorted out without too much difficultly.

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

I'm sorry - maybe you should post on the photography board and see if they can help. Since you have the pictures, maybe you could fix or do something with them. Especially if you don't want to talk to the cousin about them.

We're the proofs that brown?

The only piece of advice I can give is maybe a way to get rid of the graininess. On the photography board they discuss a free software program named Noiseware. It is AWESOME!!!! I can take the most grainy pics (usually inside sports, no flash inside, or too fast of motion) and this smooths it all out in seconds. Search for it on the Photography board and google it. It is very natural looking and is just a lifesaver.

Good luck to you.

 

[tyniknate]

Just one big reason never to have family involved in something like this. I hope your pictures can be saved without causing a family struggle. Just remember it's not all about the pictures, it's about the life you are sharing. I'm sure it will all work out in the end.

 

[MazdaUK]

That is so awful!

Do other guests have good pics you could use instead? (Doesn't solve the confrontation you need to have but does mean you'd get some nice photos).

Try not to stress - its bad for bean. Let DH do the negotiating if you can.

 

[tinkbutt]

did he do it digital?? if so ask for the cd of the originals as well as his edits.....if you know someone who can edit have them do it.

I have a BFA in photography would love to help in any way I can!!!

 

[Queenie]

Hiya,

I emailed him and got a reply last week. He's agreed to fully reprint the batch after looking at the ones he sent out to us, so yesterday we posted our prints back. I included a list (as I'd done on the email) listing the problem/s with each print. I know his studio is very busy and he's asked us if we could have some patience which we're more than happy with if we'll get better photos at the end of it. He's a very good photographer and a really nice guy - the shoot was his wedding gift to us - so I know he won't mess us about with this, it will have been a genuine mistake somewhere.

I'll keep you all informed, hopefully the prints are back at the studio now as we sent them special delivery so we could have them insured in transit.

tinkbutt - thanks for your offer, I'll PM you if need be. I've asked him for the original 'straight-out-of-the-camera' shots on disc rather than anything photoshopped, simply as I prefer to edit my own pics normally. I'm not that good but I can usually sort out any issues I really don't like.

Xxx

 

[tinkbutt]

I'm always here to help in any way I can

glad you could sort it out!!