I don't know why I'm asking for advice because I'm pretty sure I know what I'm going to do: nothing.
At a fundraiser for my sisters' school I bid on, and won, a session with a photographer in a silent auction. I was so excited, we've never had family photos done because I hate Sears-style pics and we haven't been able to afford a real photographer.
We just got our pics back today. Quality-wise, they're great. However, imho at least one of us looks like crap in every one. My son is almost never smiling, he looks angry in most of them. There isn't a single pic I want to order and hang on my wall. I'm really disappointed.
To complicate matters, this woman is my mom's friend (and my mom thinks the pics are great so she'll take her friend's side), and the photographer's daughter is friends with my sister
So, what should I do? Keeping in mind she didn't actually make any money from me, all proceeds went to the school
[Poll]
Re: stupid WWYD
I'd do this. Tell her you thought she took more and would love to see the rest. Otherwise I'd tell her none of them were what you were hoping for and thank you for her time but you won't be placing an order (she may have donated her time but you did pay for them. It's not like you took advantage of free time)
I emailed the pics to a friend and she agreed with me, that they're bad.
I'm starting to think I should say something after all. At first I didn't think it was her fault at all, but now I'm thinking, you take close to 1000 pictures and you can only find 25 you like, and your client doesn't like any? She markets herself as a kid and family photographer, she should be used to making kids smile... He's scowling in at least 20 of the 25 pics, and the few he is smiling in aren't family shots
Good for you. Let us know how she responds.
It may be that the package she was offering was for 25 photos on CD. I think that is pretty typical. But I am surprised she didn't let you pick the 25 from a larger grouping of pictures.
Wow, how disappointing!
Nothing to do with your case specifically but generally photographers will shoot hundreds and hundreds and only give 20-30 to the client because they pick (presumably) the best shots and edit them. Editing can take hours and hours, much longer than the shoot itself sometimes. They don't want to show/give you the other several hundred unedited because their name is attached to it.
I'm glad you asked her to see the rest, since that is what I would have done.
I'm very curious as to what happened! What did she say?