Wedding Photog Scumbags

ofer4 · 06-22-2014, 08:28 AM

I just stumbled upon this article this morning...

Photographers a no-show at weddings, and then in court - Omaha.com: OMAHA METRO

Obviously the customers didn't do their homework. But WOW are these people the lowest-of-the-low.

**monochrome** · 06-22-2014, 10:22 AM

Yikes.

abmj · 06-22-2014, 11:04 AM

I agree, this is terrible. We had a couple of similar cases in our area over the last few years. Some even showed, took photos and then never provided prints or even digital images to the customers, who didn't get any money back. Eventually they claimed the images had been "lost."

I get it, really. But I still have to wonder. Who hires a "professional" wedding photographer off of Craig's List?

Tako Kichi · 06-22-2014, 11:24 AM - **1 Like**

I'm never likely to be in this situation again but I'd never pay in full before the event. I'd want to hold at least 50% back until I saw the photographer on-site on the day of the wedding.

esrandall · 06-22-2014, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by Tako Kichi

I'm never likely to be in this situation again but I'd never pay in full before the event. I'd want to hold at least 50% back until I saw the photographer on-site on the day of the wedding.

Agreed -- and that goes for all aspects of the wedding. Food, flowers, entertainment, pictures. you don't have a leg to stand on when things go wrong - -and they have all of your money. My second wedding went exactly like that. Photographer was solid, but flowers were falling apart (they also lost our unity candle), and the caterer ran out of food (plus was rude to family members). All they offered us were "future discounts for their services" as they had already been paid in full. Our bad.

johnyates · 06-22-2014, 01:07 PM

Quote:

At that time, everyone had been seated and they did not have cameras. So I have no pictures of my wedding ceremony,” said Henley, who lives in Kansas City.

Wow! What an unusual situation! No cell phones, no iPads, no P&S competition. That would have been a great wedding for a pro to shoot.

jogiba · 06-25-2014, 05:30 AM

Quote:

One thing Oknewski does acknowledge is that he has a criminal record. He has been sent to the state penitentiary three times, convicted of robbery, theft, attempted assault and terroristic threats.

“I understand my criminal record is bad,” Oknewski said. “But I’ve never once committed a crime when I was sober.”

Winder · 06-25-2014, 05:46 AM

Book mark it and send it out to every body who says they are looking for a photographer on Craigs list, or tell you they found a guy who will shoot their wedding for cheap.

NicoleC · 06-25-2014, 12:14 PM

My fave:

Quote:

The Oknewskis said they could charge such a low rate because instead of editing the photos, they would just turn over the computer disk to the couple to make their own wedding albums.

**mattb123** · 06-25-2014, 01:38 PM

I had to take a peek at her new site. The banner on the front has an interesting mix of so-so to bad photos and some nice looking stock images.

I see she also offers "High School Senior Protos" whatever that is...

normhead · 06-25-2014, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by mattb123

I had to take a peek at her new site. The banner on the front has an interesting mix of so-so to bad photos and some nice looking stock images.

I see she also offers "High School Senior Protos" whatever that is...

What? You don't want Protos? I thought everyone wanted some.

You're not in the know if you don't have Protos

micromacro · 06-25-2014, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by mattb123

I see she also offers "High School Senior Protos" whatever that is...

And pet sittings

MRRiley · 06-27-2014, 06:37 AM

OK... first mistake... legitimate service businesses do not advertise primarily on Craigslist

SpecialK · 06-27-2014, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by mattb123

I had to take a peek at her new site. The banner on the front has an interesting mix of so-so to bad photos and some nice looking stock images.

I see she also offers "High School Senior Protos" whatever that is...

But..."We're a highly-qualified, professional photographers." She may not have a criminal record, but the drinking looks to be a possibility.

06-22-2014, 08:28 AM	#1
ofer4 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 428	Wedding Photog Scumbags I just stumbled upon this article this morning... Photographers a no-show at weddings, and then in court - Omaha.com: OMAHA METRO Obviously the customers didn't do their homework. But WOW are these people the lowest-of-the-low.

06-27-2014, 06:37 AM	#13
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	OK... first mistake... legitimate service businesses do not advertise primarily on Craigslist Last edited by MRRiley; 06-27-2014 at 07:01 AM.

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06-22-2014, 10:22 AM	#2
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Yikes.

06-22-2014, 11:04 AM	#3
abmj Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Central California Posts: 600	I agree, this is terrible. We had a couple of similar cases in our area over the last few years. Some even showed, took photos and then never provided prints or even digital images to the customers, who didn't get any money back. Eventually they claimed the images had been "lost." I get it, really. But I still have to wonder. Who hires a "professional" wedding photographer off of Craig's List?

06-22-2014, 11:24 AM - 1 Like	#4
Tako Kichi Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit) Posts: 1,296	I'm never likely to be in this situation again but I'd never pay in full before the event. I'd want to hold at least 50% back until I saw the photographer on-site on the day of the wedding.

06-22-2014, 11:30 AM	#5
esrandall Closed Account Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sumner, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 965	Originally posted by Tako Kichi I'm never likely to be in this situation again but I'd never pay in full before the event. I'd want to hold at least 50% back until I saw the photographer on-site on the day of the wedding. Agreed -- and that goes for all aspects of the wedding. Food, flowers, entertainment, pictures. you don't have a leg to stand on when things go wrong - -and they have all of your money. My second wedding went exactly like that. Photographer was solid, but flowers were falling apart (they also lost our unity candle), and the caterer ran out of food (plus was rude to family members). All they offered us were "future discounts for their services" as they had already been paid in full. Our bad.

06-22-2014, 01:07 PM	#6
johnyates Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Saskatoon, SK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,345	Quote: At that time, everyone had been seated and they did not have cameras. So I have no pictures of my wedding ceremony,” said Henley, who lives in Kansas City. Wow! What an unusual situation! No cell phones, no iPads, no P&S competition. That would have been a great wedding for a pro to shoot.

06-25-2014, 05:30 AM	#7
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	Quote: One thing Oknewski does acknowledge is that he has a criminal record. He has been sent to the state penitentiary three times, convicted of robbery, theft, attempted assault and terroristic threats. “I understand my criminal record is bad,” Oknewski said. “But I’ve never once committed a crime when I was sober.”

06-25-2014, 05:46 AM	#8
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617	Book mark it and send it out to every body who says they are looking for a photographer on Craigs list, or tell you they found a guy who will shoot their wedding for cheap.

06-25-2014, 12:14 PM	#9
NicoleC Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Madison, AL Posts: 448	My fave: Quote: The Oknewskis said they could charge such a low rate because instead of editing the photos, they would just turn over the computer disk to the couple to make their own wedding albums.

06-25-2014, 01:38 PM	#10
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,873	I had to take a peek at her new site. The banner on the front has an interesting mix of so-so to bad photos and some nice looking stock images. I see she also offers "High School Senior Protos" whatever that is...

06-25-2014, 02:46 PM	#11
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by mattb123 I had to take a peek at her new site. The banner on the front has an interesting mix of so-so to bad photos and some nice looking stock images. I see she also offers "High School Senior Protos" whatever that is... What? You don't want Protos? I thought everyone wanted some. You're not in the know if you don't have Protos

06-25-2014, 03:42 PM	#12
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722	Originally posted by mattb123 I see she also offers "High School Senior Protos" whatever that is... And pet sittings

06-27-2014, 11:55 AM	#14
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	Originally posted by mattb123 I had to take a peek at her new site. The banner on the front has an interesting mix of so-so to bad photos and some nice looking stock images. I see she also offers "High School Senior Protos" whatever that is... But..."We're a highly-qualified, professional photographers." She may not have a criminal record, but the drinking looks to be a possibility.