By Dreamcatcher1229 - 04/09/2013 07:23 - United States - Long Beach

Today, I got my wedding photos back from my sister, a "professional" photographer who offered to do our wedding as a gift. It turns out that not only did she not catch most of the ceremony or reception, but all of the outdoor photos feature a large garbage bag in the background. FML
I agree, your life sucks 37 636
You deserved it 5 110

Dreamcatcher1229 tells us more.

That's fair. The back story is that I said yes to her offer because her other work is actually quite good. Her other wedding photos for previous instances looked beautiful, and that's how I assumed mine would turn out. I take responsibility, my husband and I shouldn't have assumed anything. I found out after the wedding that she doesn't like him much to begin with, soooooo I guess putting two and two together I can reasonably say that her distaste has something to do with the shotty and neglectful work. To answer a previous question here, forgive me for not answering the asker directly, the shots we ened up with for the ceremony itself were one of the first kiss, one of our intro as a married couple, and several blurred shots of mostly the audience with a hint of ceremony at the background. She did get my brother walking me down, but not of the beidesmaids and groomsmen. And mind you, she and I DID discuss in advance what events and who in the party we wanted pictured, as well as my request to catch as much of the reception as possible. We had a lot of friends and family travel from far away, and I had asked for more pictures of everyone together, mingling, and enjoying themselves. And thank you to whomever suggested we retouch some of the pictures, we've actually been working on that project and it's going well so far. So all in all I'd like to say that while I was disappointed in the outcome and the sad realization that my sister and I don't have the best of relationships, My husband and I are happy regardless and, thanks to other guests, still ended up with some good pictures. Also, a friend filmed the ceremony itself from beginning to end, so we're going to try to get some stills from that. This is a good lesson in perspective, I guess. Yeah, the situation ended in an FML for one particular detail, albeit an important one, but hey, at least my husband didn't bail out at the altar, or I didn't throw up or something. :-P Okay, sorry for that novel. lol Carry on!

Top comments

Your sister is still a bitch for low balling you like that

She doesn't have to like your husband but that doesn't give her the right to screw you over on your wedding day. That was really childish of her to do that.

Comments

And this my fellow F - My Lifers is why the photography / photojournalism industry is in the tank. Did she show you a portfolio? Give a person a digital camera and they think they are a professional photographer.

TheyCallMeDamien 17

This is the second wedding I've heard about being ruined by "professional" family members. You need your family for life so don't use them because if they fail every time you see them you'll be pissed off.

Personally, I would sue the groom's sister for the cost of the photoshopping. If she would have met the minimum standards of a wedding photographer, she wouldn't have had so many garbage cans in the background. But she purposefully did a crap job, while she was on the clock doing that very job. Or, if you don't feel like starting a family feud, just cut her out and never trust her again. Not to watch the dog, not to pick up the dry cleaning, not to make your morning coffee...not for anything.

What did the groom's sister do to deserve being sued?

As someone who photographs weddings for a living, this is one seriously amusing thread. The perception that people have is astounding. Family always changes the dynamic and for everyone hating, you should try and photograph a wedding in your family, I've done it and it's a bitch to do. TO the OP, bummer for you, hope that some heavy PS work will help, but I'd turn to the loads of guests that always barrage the bride with camera phones and see what you can salvage from there.

I agree. I never do any shooting for family or friends. It becomes a nightmare. I learned that the hard way. They expect way too much for free, and then they start giving advice, because hey, they know you and think that their advice is needed. And it's more stressful to begin with. No thanks!

Since the pictures were a gift, I'm not sure that a suit would actually make it to court.

Hope you didn't pay her. I definitely wouldn't have.

Wouldn't it be common sense to check the credentials of any wedding photographer. YDI for not having common sense.

Again, the photographer is my sister. I've seen her work, which includes weddings. All of what I saw was beautiful and professional work. She was just taking some if her issues out on me and my husband. So it's not an issue of lacking common sense, just of unprofessionalism.

Chellybelly92 14

67 You didn't see the "after the wedding" part of the response...

destineepanic 5

Well I guess you get what you pay for... Sorry OP!