Photographer Issues

[o4_srt]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania

We recently held a vow renewal ceremony 3 weeks ago. We hired photographers to do the ceremony at an extremely discounted rate (their events package) instead of their wedding package, because it was a vow renewal and not a wedding.

Presently, (3 weeks prior to the event) they inform us that they were unaware that it was a wedding, and are demanding more money to deliver our photos.

We referred to the event as a wedding/vow renewal repeatedly. They included in a recent email that they were aware that it was a vow renewal. But they were saying that what took place was not a vow-renewal, but a wedding, and are refusing to give us the photos they took unless we pay the wedding price.

Our original wedding was may 7th, 2008, before I deployed to Iraq. Hence, we did not call it a wedding. It was originally proposed to the photographers as a welcome home/anniversary event for me, however, it was made known to them plenty of time in advance that it was a vow renewal/wedding.

The contract we signed states that it is our responsibility to inform them of any changes in the contract, however, we have written proof that we referred to this event as a wedding/vow renewal months in advance. It also states that the event was a re-uniting ceremony.

We did not pay for the wedding package, nor are we demanding wedding package treatment. All we require is what we paid for, and events package, however, they are trying to force the wedding package on us because, in their definition, it was a wedding.

This is most likely going to end up in small claims court, opinions? advice?

 

[justalayman]

they owe you for whatever your contract says they owe you. I do not see how calling it a wedding or a funeral makes any difference in the price. It is what they contracted to do and they area bound to deliver what they contracted to deliver.

 

[o4_srt]

they agreed to give us the original events package, but say it does not include traditional wedding shots, such as cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc.

Their contract is extremely open to interpretation (less than a page long), and does not mention any specifics as far as what type of photography is, and is not, included in the package.

Furthermore, it says they will provide two light sets for portraits of event guests. We had some family portraits taken under the lights, and they refuse to give them to us, because they say portraits of event guests do not include family portraits. There is no mention of a limit of guests the portraits could include.

The only clause on the contract states that the photographer bares no responsibility for miss communicated or un-communicated changes to the event or the photographing thereof besides that which is stated herein.

 

[justalayman]

without actually reading the contract, nobody can really advise you as to what you are due. Bottom line: you are do whatever is in your contract. As long as the photog offers what is in the contract, you have no gripes.

Now, if the "events package" is 200 pictures with nothing defined, then as long as the photog offers you 200 pics, you are getting what you contracted for. If he intentionally withholds pics such as cake cutting and bouquet tossing, he can do so, again, unless such a shot is spec's in the contract.

We had some family portraits taken under the lights, and they refuse to give them to us, because they say portraits of event guests do not include family portraits. There is no mention of a limit of guests the portraits could include.

I don't know any event that involves family, that would not include some form of family pic but, again, unless it is spec'd in the contract, you are not due such pics.