Very Disappointed About Professional Pictures

Dear Mericanna

You need to get a lawyer on this matter. If he is making money off your pics, and you have still have rights. Your pictures are worth value to you.
That is why I don't like do to personal IT work for friends or providers because of the possible emotional issues. I don't mind doing few minor things or showing you some tricks I know. I dread that I spent hrs on the system, and you are not happy at the end.
Always separate the business from the emotion.
First, find options to get your pictures back to you.
Second, get another set made with someone.
Third, Don't let the stress of this take over your life.

Your pics look great to me.....

Contact MM and they'll make him pull the photos if he can't provide a release and depending on what they find - they may ban him.

Ouch. I think those ended uP in his personal folder. That really sucks big time. I don't do pro pics, for that very reason. I'm scared they will end up on my crazy ex girlfriend.com or something! Originally Posted by LittleMiss

I agree Little Miss. I never get pics done by anyone in this business. I may get professional ones every other year.... Originally Posted by RyansFun

i'm sure there are some sketchy dudes out there, but please don't believe all of us are like that. first and foremost, a professional will NOT work with you unless there's a contract and/or licensing agreement in place. can it be violated? sure, but it's a better start than simply "hey, give me money, i'll shoot your pics."

it's also just like the provider game...talk to other girls a shooter has worked with before you commit to anything. you might also ask to see their other work. there may be exceptions, but it's unlikely any real pro is making a complete living doing this type of work. if their other work is top notch and they clearly have a real business, they're less likely to screw you over.

I only get my pictures done by one person someone I have known almost a decade. I don't roll the dice in this line of work. Bad things can happen like with Mercianna!

I don't get it, even if he put them in his "personal folder" as stated above, there would be no harm in giving them to you.

Maybe he's embarrassed because he screwed them up? I just can't come up with any other reason. Even if he hasn't had the time to do final cropping/sharpening etc., there's no reason not to let you know that's the case.

Those rare times when I had the private time to photograph providers I started emailing results to them the same day, mainly because I was so anxious to share them and see what they thought. So this situation seems really odd to me.

Did he shoot film perhaps? That could account for some delays.

It's not the professional photographs ladies, it's who she dealt with. Don't put all photographers in that boat and once you get into these shoot for trade or shoot for discounted session scenarios you remove the professionalism out of the shoot. There are some very talented and very professional photographers that offer their services to you all here and it never ceases to amaze me that you deal with "semi-pros" or "amateur want to turn pros" and then when something goes wrong you blame it on "professional photographers". It typically comes down to you not wanting to pay what the real professionals charge but I know a number of them personally and I see what they charge you all here and I KNOW what they charge the non-providers and you all don't realize how big of a deal you are getting but instead you jump on free or trade or whatever and end up with stuff like this. Don't blame the professional photographers, blame the guy that took your photos. Don't be afraid to get real photos done - it's a marketing tool and for many it increases their income but if you do get real photos done then by all means use a reputable photographer not someone who will shoot you for pussy cause in the end you get what you pay for and the hassle you all deal with over these damn free or trade shoots is ridiculous...I see it in Houston also and I say the same thing there - use the professionals, that's what they are there for, and if you don't then don't complain when you are not treated with professionalism.

I would ask some of the other provider that have had professional photos done who they used. If it worked out for them, it should work out for you.

I believe that Poppy71 is correct. It was the guy, not the profession.

Just an idea, but you could always get your own camera and have clients take photos of you until you have a few that you like. You can also get a few floodlights and tripods to help with the light. I have taken a few photos and the light is what makes it all work.

Best of luck.

Just an idea, but you could always get your own camera and have clients take photos of you until you have a few that you like. You can also get a few floodlights and tripods to help with the light. I have taken a few photos and the light is what makes it all work. Originally Posted by rcg001

if you want to look like a work of art, hire an artist. if you want to look like a professional, hire one. if you're ok looking like an amateur...

if you want to look like a work of art, hire an artist. if you want to look like a professional, hire one. if you're ok looking like an amateur... Originally Posted by john_deere

+100

You must separate the business from the emotion.
I am IT contractor, and I must reinvest my money into tools and supplies to do various jobs and service calls. You must invest money into pictures and clothes to promote yourself. You must do research and check persons out.
I have been getting deals on new test tools from local place like at 50% off. First, I know the price whether I get it on eBay or from online company. Those test tools have sitting around his shop for over 6 months, and he is not making any money. He made good deal with new test tools have warranty.

It's not the professional photographs ladies, it's who she dealt with. Don't put all photographers in that boat and once you get into these shoot for trade or shoot for discounted session scenarios you remove the professionalism out of the shoot. There are some very talented and very professional photographers that offer their services to you all here and it never ceases to amaze me that you deal with "semi-pros" or "amateur want to turn pros" and then when something goes wrong you blame it on "professional photographers". It typically comes down to you not wanting to pay what the real professionals charge but I know a number of them personally and I see what they charge you all here and I KNOW what they charge the non-providers and you all don't realize how big of a deal you are getting but instead you jump on free or trade or whatever and end up with stuff like this. Don't blame the professional photographers, blame the guy that took your photos. Don't be afraid to get real photos done - it's a marketing tool and for many it increases their income but if you do get real photos done then by all means use a reputable photographer not someone who will shoot you for pussy cause in the end you get what you pay for and the hassle you all deal with over these damn free or trade shoots is ridiculous...I see it in Houston also and I say the same thing there - use the professionals, that's what they are there for, and if you don't then don't complain when you are not treated with professionalism. Originally Posted by poppy71

You were supposed to have a computer with you and have him download the pics to YOUR computer especially when you're working without a professional contract.

Mercianna, your other pics look great. I need to come by sometime and cheer you up!

Mercianna, sorry to hear that. I'm a pro photographer and will be glad to shoot photos for you and even download them to your laptop on-site or give you a cd. Let me know if I can help. Originally Posted by Drlovefw

Me too. I will shoot some photos for you and I even have a good location that will be of no cost to you.

Thank you for all the support. Iaintlien... I believe he was shooting film as you speculated. I agree that it is odd. I seriously think that he was just too lazy to put any effort into giving me my pictures. He kept complaining about that the files were huge and they had to be resized. That's all I know except for the fact that I still have not heard from him or received any of my pictures. He is still using my photo as his profile pic on model mayhem.
Tiffani, aka Ms Know it All, your opinion is worth about 2 cents. You don't know everything.
Stallion, I wish you would!!