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4:07 p.m. @ 11 August 2008

1061st Entry
It's infuriating to let a photographer to make the end of a wedding an unpleasant one.

Everything was going on well and smooth until the delivery of the photos.

She has to urge the photographer to deliver and both agreed on a day to meet up. However, she waited for his response ... wait and wait till it was 2am the next day.

She went to bed and woke up to find him online and asked why didn't he get back to her as promised.

"I got a last minute shoot."

What does this show you from a consumer's point of view?

Also, there was no apology made.

Since things were getting no where, upon a suggestion made by her friend, she went to seek help at a local online forum. She didn't get any help at all, but was insinuated as a trouble maker and someone suspicious for she didn't want to mention names. She wanted to protect the company's identity and did not want to risk getting pinned for defamation. She also understand that no company/photographer wishes to see their/his name in such negative issues.

And with that, they went out to run their own errands. In the midst of settling their stuff, the photographer contacted her and wanted her to come down to Central area to meet him. Or, to meet him at his studio the next day. No... this was not right. She already told him that that weekend was not available and yet he had this insistent tone. He even added that meeting in Central is fair to him. Why? How fair is it for the couple then? They had no business in Central area and they had to put their stuff aside just to meet at his convenience? Now, who is the client?

What was even more infuriating was, he said he did additional edits to the photos and that was 'going the extra mile'. The couple did not request for such edits and if it's really indeed going the extra mile and effort, do you need to say it out loud and sound demanding in meeting the couple at your convenience?

The wife was getting very vexed and this thing was ruining her day. She decided for courier service and that she would pay for it.

His SMS came in shortly and said he would drive down personally and pass them their photos but will charge them 10 dollars.

Sheesh. Fine. 10 dollars it shall be.

They returned home in a lousy mood they came down in their car shortly after.

The girlfriend shoved the box in the husband's hands and with an aggressive tone, rejected the 10 dollars. The husband did not show any anger and was being neutral and yet was given such attitude. Now, who was in the wrong initially?

He went home, showed the wife the photos but found them average. They can print it in a better quality and color. The box that contained the album was full of dents and blotches. Do you call this quality service?

Shortly after she received a SMS from the photographer that he won't be doing their outdoor photoshoot with many dots at the end. What does this imply at that point of time? You call this being professional? No reason was given why you are not able to shoot for them.

The wife went online and checked the forum for the latest replies and people were making off-the-topic remarks, saying how demanding clients are nowadays and etc... with nothing in regards to helping to solve the question. The topic was clearly going out of hand. There was disappointment. The thread ended up being closed by the moderator and his reasons for closing it were so wrong. The mod claimed that it was a complaint when it was not. It's clear that the mod was not doing a great job and just closed off the thread in his authority.

The photographer saw the forum and MSN-ed the wife lots of words. It was clear atrocious remarks made at her.

P says:
I just got to know abt the clubsnap thing...Just to clear up any misunderstanding...in my terms and conditions it is stated that

-proofing will take 14 days and take another 30 days to be able to collect
-Any shipping costs is to be incurred by the clients

and all albums are to be self collected

proofing means...u get to see the photos after 14 days...and after confirming the photos...at least another 30 days to collection

i did not promised u abt friday too...i said i will try but cannot confirm...i kept the MSN log..if u do not have a copy i can send it to u

Nobody does editing of pimples, moles and other extensive editing unless specified by the clients which will cost a minimal sum of fees

Out of good will, i did overtime for ur ROM, further enhanced ur photos becoz u were so sad that ur rom is not so nice...and even give u such a big discount for ur pre-wed...this is wat u give back to me

First, they do not have a physical nor softcopy contract at their end. You said you treated them like friends so you did not give them one. *rolls eyes*

If they are to be self collected then why give the wife the impression that you are able to send them their photos? *Tsk*

You kept a copy of the MSN chat? That shows how 'trusting' you are on them, eh? You use them as 'evidence' against friends?

Apparently, there's some questioning ability on your comprehension skills. She stated that she did not receive a response from you on the agreed date and asked the other members for advice. She did not say you have confirmed with her on meeting. She was waiting for your answer which you never gave! And with no apology!

The wife did not insist that you do the tedious editing of pimples/moles/etc, she was asking someone else if these were considered tedious. Not at you!

You did not do any OT for the newly wedded couple. The time was right. 4 hours. Discount? What discount? They paid such a price and yet get crappy photos and service, you call this discount? A big discount on your service perhaps!

A fire won't burn without a source. If it wasn't for your un-professionalism in handling things and lousy PR-skills, the couple would not be this unhappy.

Next was this

Where is the defamation proof that you got? Were any names mentioned? Hello?

Black and white black and white... how to black and white when you did not give any black and white to the couple?

You gotta wait till something happens then you'll explain why you not doing the photoshoot for them right?

Don't give crappy excuse like you were driving in the car and that's why you SMS in that manner... then what's the girlfriend sitting beside you for? Is this called professional?

Turn the table around? Please submit your proof or she can sue you for slander!!!!

And on the next day, you called the wife on her mobile!!! Goodness gracious!!!!

You are really so persistent!!! The call took about 15min with the husband as the wife was too upset and coughing away in her bed.

What you did was to explain things on your side.

Then have you thought for your clients? Why are you so selfish and want them to listen to you but never the other way? Do you talk to your clients in this manner?

He admitted not giving them the contract. She never knew his terms and conditions.
He admitted being an amateur for messing up with the term TFCD in the past while doing a TFCD shoot for the couple as introduced by the wife's friend. (TFCD never involves money and he brought in his 'bait and switch' tactic to lure them into paying for his photos if they want to use it for their ROM. Besides, this is for his advantage, it's free advertisement, so why are they charged?)
He is very truly afraid that his name gets leaked out and his reputation marred.
He mentioned nickers from the forum whom he thinks are connected to the wife when only one is her friend.
He asked the wife to close the thread, for his sake of his company.
He claimed that coming down to the couple's place was out of his way. The husband did say he appreciate that but he's still yakking on it.

Everything that took place in the phone conversation was just to explain himself and hoping that would please the couple. Selfish?

See how kind the wife is, she even blanked out your name and avatar!! How kind she is!!!

They will definitely tell their friends about this case. But if their friends decide to tell others and in turn, many others, that's definitely not within the couple's control. If you didn't do what you did, would you fear for all this? Blame it on yourself, not them.

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