Photographer

[AlmostMrsForbes]

hi, all

 

here is the email that i received from Michael. I am bringing in my own photographer.

 

Hello Desiree,

 

a happy new year to you!

 

I can confirm that the fee that has to be paid to the PHOTOSHOP will be US 200 - I don´t know about other charges like daypass etc.

I don´t know where the other brides have the 150 US from - it´s absolutely not correct.

Might be that other people ( who can´t tell ...) said something like US150 but if the people have contacted me from the PHOTOSHOP, the fee was always US200...

with that there are no other requirements concerning the PHOTOSHOP.

 

Only the hotel might have further charges but I will not talk about that - that strictly hotel business!

 

Hope that could help you!

Kind regards

Michael

[geology_rocks]

So, my aunt's husband should be allowed to do the photography with no charge because he is travelling with us and staying at the resort. Hopefully that's the way things pan out cause it seems kind of silly to pay someone to do nothing. Maybe I'll have him take his 10 pictures quick then bugger off if i have to pay anyway?

[albianstar]

Micheal in his defense was a GREAT photog!

If you have someone in your party that does professional quality shots thats different - but dont just get someone in your party to take them

I had my cousin taking pics beside micheal the whole time, and he was very ok with this- with the plan of having to buy less shots from micheal- but when i look at the difference of the same pose from my cousin to micheals shots - WOW his are way better!

He is really good at what he does and is worth the fee.

[Birdie07]

I agree with you Albianstar...I gave each guest a disposable camera in hopes extra pics would be good. Almost all those turned out too dark b/c of sunset. Michael did let everyone in my party take pictures with him. He would count ready everyone..1..2...3 and they'd all take it. It was hilarious. He was amazing to work with. I did have my FI's cousin he took about 300 pics with his camera. And they were AMAZING also. (He still hasn't GIVEN us these pics GRRRR) I would just let Michael take the pictures and if you don't like them don't get them. But you are paying 150 and you get 10 pictures. Who knows you may LOVE them.

[geology_rocks]

I'm sure Michael is a great photographer, I just don't want to pay for him when my uncle has gifted his service to us. He's got a pretty wicked portfolio in my opinion! It's good to hear that if I DO have to pay him the money, at least he'll allow my uncle to do his thing too.

 

I just have to say this again, but heck, it's handy having so many people who have gone through this before me!

[Agape Gems]

No one going with me is a professional photog, but I think Michael's prices are outrageous! I'm doing the free package, so 3 hours of coverage and 100 photos would be $910! I really want high quality photos but I just think that is highway robbery. Maybe the gov't will issue those extra refund checks and I won't feel so bad about spending this money.

 

What to do....?

[jthrasher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by twelve_piece No one going with me is a professional photog, but I think Michael's prices are outrageous! I'm doing the free package, so 3 hours of coverage and 100 photos would be $910! I really want high quality photos but I just think that is highway robbery. Maybe the gov't will issue those extra refund checks and I won't feel so bad about spending this money. What to do....?

$910 is still a steal for photography! In the U.S., most photographers charge at least $2000, many are even more.

Granted, most resorts are only charging a fraction of that for their photographer but most of the time the quality could be better and the photos are more traditional.

The REAL highway robbery here is that resorts are charging you for not using their photographer. That's what is crazy.

There is NO breach of contract and you don't have to pay anyone anything. The resort is the one who has the contract with the photographer. It's not your fault they made that contract with him, and it's not your fault you don't want to use him. If the photographer wants his money, he should take it up with the resort, not you. IMHO the resort as no right to charge you a fee for a stupid idea they had.

Ladies, you have a choice, and your voice will tell these resorts they can not keep doing this. Would they be willing to drop a $150 fee if you threaten to take your business elsewhere and have them potentially lose thousands? Just tell them you aren't paying for something you don't want. It doesn't make sense. Hopefully resorts will learn not to force you to use someone you don't want to use.

[Agape Gems]

If I were getting married here I would expect to way well over $1000 for pictures, but I would also be getting way more for my money! That's my issue. He doesn't offer any appealing packages.

[jthrasher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by twelve_piece If I were getting married here I would expect to way well over $1000 for pictures, but I would also be getting way more for my money! That's my issue. He doesn't offer any appealing packages.

exactly. This is why resorts shouldn't force you to use "their" photographer. You have the right to chose who you want. There are many brides are fly in their photographer for that reason. While it may seem like an expensive option, more often than not, it's not as expensive as you might think. You have more options on who you hire. Then you know you're going to get photos you will love.

[AlmostMrsForbes]

I agree with you, Jonathan. I'm getting married at the Riu Ocho Rios, and have decided to hire an outside photog. By the way, Riu ladies, I would consider this - yes, I am paying more (about 2k) but he will be with me all day - and will come with me to my off-site reception, and he is fantastic.

 

Anyways, I guess I will be the test case because I'm telling Michael and the resort that I'm not paying a breach of contract fee. I'm an attorney - and I write/review contracts everyday. What I do know is that I am not, and have never been, a party to a contract with Michael. His contract is with the Riu - not me. To charge me a "breach of contract fee" - with the alternative being Michael's interruption and sabotaging of pictures is nothing more than extortion. I won't stand for it.

 

My guess is that when someone stands up to him/them, they'll have back off. The resort is already nickel and diming me for "included" options. There's no way I'm paying this ridiculous fee.

 

Sorry - I'll get off my soap box ... I just can't believe that they're making people do this.