Danielle photographed both our engagement and wedding photos - both which turned out absolutely exquisite and beautiful - everything we hoped for.
However, after the wedding we wer...e extremely let down and disappointed in her communication and empty promises as to when we would finally receive our photos. A week after my wedding, where she shot for another wedding and only two days later, that couple received 43 public “sneak peaks”(Her close friend). When I commented how I couldn’t lie I was jealous, she quickly messaged me to let me know that couples who pay the highest package receive sneak peaks. I decided to go back to the packages offered to me and not one of them said anything about a sneak peak. I brushed it off and tried to not be frustrated that clearly it was just because it was for her friend. She then gave me a few photos a couple weeks later.
Fast forward to 7 weeks post event (my wedding was June 18th), I had not heard from Danielle. According to the contract we had signed, my husband and I were to receive our photos 6 weeks post event. I decided to reach out ask about it because I saw she was delivering other galleries and promoting her business regularly, but she never reached out to inform me when we would be getting ours, especially since she was late at that point. Her response was that she was running behind 1-2 weeks per couple and I would receive mine “no later than August 26” and that she was going on vacation the week before that. This was not 1-2 weeks late for me, it was actually 4 weeks.
August 26th came around and she posted that her task for the day was to deliver a branding shoot she had done. I immediately messaged her asking where my photos were/when to expect them since. She sent me many voice messages on Instagram apologizing, telling me I was her top priority and she would have them to me the next week and that she “swore on her grave” by it. A week went by and I never got my photos. She also once again never reached out to me to let me know. I at least expected due diligence when it came to communicating late timelines and false expectations of when the photos would be received. Instead I was made to be the one to continually reach out asking, feeling like a bother, when she should have taken the first step from day one, "your pictures won't be 6 weeks". Also, before signing a contract, a family friend had reached out to my mom to warn us of her late timelines and to consider looking elsewhere. I figured since it was a written contract, so, I shouldn't have to worry. I would follow my part and she would follow hers. I understand she wanted to make sure the photos were perfect (which they were!!), but she could have reached out to me and not continuously left me hanging.
As a client, I stuck to my end of the contract and paid her by the dates I agreed too, but clearly it seems as though the contract was only for her. I truly believe I deserve to get refunded in some way for her lack of communication and for breaking her end of the contract - as it is not my fault she over booked herself and did not organize her time efficiently. It’s definitely frustrating to see her constantly promoting herself for new clients, but did not take time to work on the projects for clients she already signed for.
A little over 12 weeks later, I did finally get my photos. They were beautiful and everything we had pictured in our minds. I just wish our post wedding experience was more positive to reflect on.