WARNING: Do Not Use HBOSS or Hugo Lopez Entertainment

[AfricanVenus]

I'm just letting the future B2Bs know about this "company." The proprietor's name is Hugo Lopez and his website is www.hugolopez.ca.  He can also be found on Facebook and YouTube. According to his site, he does wedding photography and videography. I don't believe that is altogether true. Here's why:

 

Photography is extremely important to me. I had some photogs in mind, but the quality was not that great or they were way over budget. I came across Hugo during a Google search. He's from Vancouver, but now lives in Puerto Vallarta. He is by training a dancer and runs a one-stop shop event company: DJ, entertainment, graphic designs, and photography.

 

I reached out to him and asked him the usual: price, package, references, portfolio. He sends me his YouTube channel links of some videos and slideshows he claimed to have done. I fell in love wih one of the videos, but his other work was great too. In the video, he said the location was PV and the couple's name was Mary and John, date of wedding Jan. 2011. I checked his refs, they were all glowing. So, I paid the 50% deposit: we were getting all day photo and video and a 2 hr TTD for $1600. I thought it was a great deal and he seemed cool.

 

However, the video always sort of bothered me. The water in the video was very blue, very unlike PV, but very like Cancun. I let it go, but I tried to find the gazebo from the video and even made a post on here. Couldn't find it and no one recognized it. So, I let it go. On a completely unrelated search, I find the video again on another person's website (Eric is his name)! The video was longer, but it was essentially the same stuff. He had different names for the couple and said it was shot in Cancun and the hotel where it took place. I get suspicious again, but think, maybe Hugo second shot the wedding. I check to see if Eric and Hugo are friends on Facebook and nada. Neither one referenced the other on their sites. I check the hotel website for the gazebo, and it's the right hotel in Cancun.

 

I contacted Eric and he informs me the video is his and he never worked with or met Hugo. He wrote a cease and desist letter. Eric also wrote to Hugo's Canadian "partner", whose photos Hugo used also. I watched to see what Hugo would do: fight or take it down. He "privatizes" the video links instead. I asked him nonchalantly what became of the video and he says he's reorganizing his website and gives me the private link to his version of the video. I immediately let him know that I know the video isn't his and he should let me know what's going on.

 

He to this day refuses to admit he stole the work and insists the bride and Eric are making a big deal out of nothing, they're jealous, etc. He never once actually just said, the videos weren't mine. Also, the "partner" he used was contacted and he had no idea who Hugo was! Hugo claimed to have used him as a second shooter, but if one glances at the partner's site, he has more pictures than Hugo. Needless to say, Hugo removed the partner's name from the website, but continues to use the partner's photos.

 

I was willing to work with him if he just admitted he hadn't worked in weddings before and was trying to branch out, but his responses were disturbing and bizarre. People who can't admit when they're caught have issues. He got really spooked though when the bride called him and he is ready to give me my money back.

 

So, learn from me and make sure you follow up with every vendor you work with. We're taking a great risk working with foreign vendors, but share every info you can to keep foolishness at bay. It'll keep these people honest. Hope I help someone with this story!

[TammyWright]

thank you for letting us know about this.  it is true that bride referrals are very important when dealing with something as important as your destination wedding.

 

Hope everything works out.

[lisa203]

Wow. Very good detective work on your part and very nice of you to warn other brides! Good luck finding another photog. J

[TLGnhci]

Oh my!  Well, good for you for figuring all that out!

[AfricanVenus]

Just a follow-up to my post:

 

I paid $825 to HBOSS thru PayPal. He offered to refund all my money. Then he emails me and says there's a problem with his bank and PayPal disbursing the funds. So, he offered to go thru Western Union. When he found out that between the exchange rate and the transfer fees he would have to pay close to $100, he was only willing to give me $700. I told him no and to find a way to give me all my money back and suggested different option. He then flips out, calls me a "Freak Bride", and says it's $700 or $0! He also said his clients found me weird for asking about him and that I had crossed the line with him. I was "expecting perfection" and it doesn't exist, lol.

 

Now I'm saved, but that got me hot, lol. I calmed down, because I don't want to do anything rash seeing he still had my money. So I called PayPal to get my options. They inform me I can put in a request to the sender to get the whole amount back or accept his offer and dispute the remaining balance thru them. I don't respond to him angrily. Just told him to send the $700. He does and I wait for the money to be cleared into my account. Now, I've opened up a dispute for the rest of it. I don't know if anything will come of it, but at least I stood up for myself.

 

It's just so odd to me that someone can be wrong, get caught, deny it, and then have the audacity to get angry about being caught, lol. You would think that his professional reputation would be of the utmost importance to him. I am halfway expecting an angry email from him b/c of the dispute, but it's more fuel for the fire in their investigation if you ask me. I refuse to say a word to him. Well, I'll keep everyone posted about how this turns out.

[Thomasjsgirl]

Way to go! You're quite detective! It's amazing how devious some people can be. I'm so glad you caught on to him and that you were able to get most of your money back, at least.

[AfricanVenus]

Well ladies, here's the final report. After putting in a claim w/ PayPal, Hugo proceeded to threaten me by making veiled threats about coming to the hotel and if I don't remove the PayPal dispute I won't have a "perfect wedding". See the red print:

 

You have this week to take care of the paypal claim you agreed with the contract before sending the money

and im just saying you will have the perfect unforgettable wedding trip

thats all.

 

Hugo Lopez

 

After talking w/ my FI, I just decided to drop the dispute. While I don't want him thinking that his threats were what prompted my decision, I don't want to have to deal with a crazy person. It's enough to post here and everywhere how absolutely disgusting this behavior is from a "professional". I will pray for him and that's the extent of it. So, if you hear his name, I wouldn't sign on the dotted line. Over and out. ~~Your Canary in the Mine Shaft

[Kat1919]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post about this, so that other of us won't fall for it in the future. The feedback given on this website is so helpful to future brides

[Hugo Lopez]

 

 

Number one you lady got so far with this but you know you are in all your rights to say whatever you want so

as I

number 1

i have a contract and here is part of it so you can read again the red part

Contract for Photography Services

Client's Name: _____Shari-Ann Harris_____________________

Photography Locations: ___Grand Velas Nuevo Vallarta, and Bucerias, Mexico__

Photography Dates: June 25, 2011_And TTD   Start Time: _TBD_ End Time: _11:00 pm

Photographer's Fee: __$1650_(HBoss Premium Package)_  Deposit to be paid: __$825__

 

1. The deposit is not refundable if the Client cancels or changes the engagement. If the Photographer fails to appear at the place and time specified above, the deposit shall be refunded to the Client.

 

number 2

 

Shari was little over the line few of my clients contact me to letme know  Shari was herassing them with to many out the place questions of my person

 

number 3

I decided to give Shari back the deposit because she was just looking for excuses to get cheaper rates i found that after i study all her strategy and one of her mail saying she will let me still doing her photography but the deposit thats all I will get for the job

after she insult me saying all she say in this website

 

number 4

check my work with other people 

like we say in Mexico there is always going to be a black bean in the rice

so i dont think it will affect my work

 

http://www.arassayreyes.com/

http://www.danieladib.ca/ (webdesign, and some of her professional photography by hboss photography)

[Sehausle]

Originally Posted by AfricanVenus 

 

Well ladies, here's the final report. After putting in a claim w/ PayPal, Hugo proceeded to threaten me by making veiled threats about coming to the hotel and if I don't remove the PayPal dispute I won't have a "perfect wedding". See the red print:

 

You have this week to take care of the paypal claim you agreed with the contract before sending the money

and im just saying you will have the perfect unforgettable wedding trip

thats all.

 

Hugo Lopez

 

After talking w/ my FI, I just decided to drop the dispute. While I don't want him thinking that his threats were what prompted my decision, I don't want to have to deal with a crazy person. It's enough to post here and everywhere how absolutely disgusting this behavior is from a "professional". I will pray for him and that's the extent of it. So, if you hear his name, I wouldn't sign on the dotted line. Over and out. ~~Your Canary in the Mine Shaft

 

What a monster that is scary... thanks for the warning!  Hope you have better luck with everything else.