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How long do you wait for paid images?
I'm just wondering how long do you wait for paid images. Just an average time frame would be nice to know. ( yes I understand its normally whatever the client and photographer agree on but what is the average?) Photographers are more then welcome to chime in on how long they normally take before delivering final prints/images.  Currently I think I am being stiffed on my very pricey images I paid for... shoot was back in april and no images as of today....  Oct 05 12 06:57 pm Link Uh, yeah, that's way too long to wait. I'd be raising hell about that. Generally whatever you agreed on, but I'd say no longer than 6 weeks, tops. Oct 05 12 06:58 pm Link Unless you shot with one of the top 10 photographers in the world, I think most would agree that 6-7 months is too long to be considered 'reasonable'. Oct 05 12 07:00 pm Link As you say it depends on the agreement, some clients may need them the next day some a week some maybe a couple of weeks or more. It should not take as long as you have been waiting. Not sure how insistent you have been but you might want to more insistent and gather some info supporting your situation: receipts, cancelled check, emails, whatever. Oct 05 12 07:04 pm Link Yeah, that's far beyond reasonable and well into ridiculous! I would have tried to have basic lightly edited photos available for you to proof in about a week, two weeks on the outside and once you pick your favorites that get a little more post work no reason you shouldn't have the final images within 30 days. Oct 05 12 07:04 pm Link Bella la Bell wrote: At this point the shooter owes you a refund. Oct 05 12 07:11 pm Link Through Elizabeths Eyes wrote: I'm pissed. Due to a number of reasons. Oct 05 12 07:21 pm Link NewBoldPhoto wrote: This. Oct 05 12 07:23 pm Link Bella la Bell wrote: I'd point blank ask for your money back now. Maybe contact the other models that were there and see if they've gotten their images? Oct 05 12 07:25 pm Link Bella la Bell wrote: I think I know who youre talking about.... send me a message if you want. If its who im thinking of. Hes in my port if its the same person. Oct 05 12 07:26 pm Link NewBoldPhoto wrote: I have no clue how to go about that. Oct 05 12 07:27 pm Link How long should you wait? I have in the paperwork that its delivery of images within 21 days. She gets a copy of that as well. Oct 05 12 07:31 pm Link Bella la Bell wrote: Do you have a receipt? You could take that to a small claims court since you didn't get the product you paid for. Oct 05 12 07:32 pm Link Through Elizabeths Eyes wrote: I think on the day I shot was with a lot of house wife or average day ladies. I didn't see any of the regular models I normally run into on that day. But I will pm a few gals and poke around. I want to email him but don't want this to a fight or something on the lines of that. Oct 05 12 07:36 pm Link Mischa Marie wrote: Pm send. Oct 05 12 07:37 pm Link Kitty LaRose wrote: I have emails and the unedited images he gave me. Oct 05 12 07:39 pm Link This photographer is is just counting your money. Photographers with a decent workflow should be able to produce pics in less than two weeks. My clients do at least. I think it is a problem with photographers and models that they charge each other for what's supposed to be a collaborative pursuit. I never pay a model especially an untested one unless she doesn't mind me billing her for my day rate, travel expenses, equipment rental and insurance which I can do. Likewise, a model shouldn't be paying a photographer to shoot with them period because like you just found out they are unproven. Who pays then: clients that hire you for a job no one else. Stick with it, and good luck. Oct 05 12 07:42 pm Link Bella la Bell wrote:
Oct 05 12 07:42 pm Link Treat it like any other business transaction you make. If you had gone to a store and bought furniture and they said it would be delivered in 6 weeks and didn't, would you still be waiting and wondering whether to write it off 6 months later? Surely there is a consumer advocate you can take your documentation to who will make the photographer honour the terms of the business transaction? What matters to you more, getting walked all over, or having an unreputable photographer maybe tell others that you demanded you get what you were owed? But it sounds to me like you have already decided that it's all to hard to bother with. You have lots of excuses! Oct 05 12 10:01 pm Link Dark Shadows wrote: that is just too damn long!!! Oct 05 12 10:05 pm Link Bella la Bell wrote: WOW, April,,,that is way too long Oct 05 12 10:27 pm Link Bella la Bell wrote: You paid the Photographer for the shoot? You should have had your photos within a week. Oct 05 12 10:29 pm Link Yeah... that's too long to wait. Get your money back. Check your contract (I'm assuming there was one since you paid?) on time, send a certified letter to his studio asking for the return of your money or the promised photos by XXXXXX, and if he doesn't respond, talk to an attorney. You were promised goods, and he didn't provide them, so he's a thief. P.S. And shoot with me again.  Oct 05 12 10:39 pm Link Bella la Bell wrote: 1. Send a polite email (have a friend proof read it first to check for friendliness) asking how long it will now take now you've resent your selection. Oct 06 12 03:28 am Link My contract states no longer than 14 days for TFP shoots. If you can't manage to deliver a half-dozen finished images in that time you're in the wrong business, even if you have paid-work stacked-up (in which case send a polite email to the model explaining that you're terribly busy, you've not forgotten all about her and here's a couple to 'keep her going' etc.)... For PAID shoots where you pay up front (and why would you even do that?), then by not delivering the images the photographer is to my mind, guilty of fraud at the very least and should be reported to your local law enforcement. Get 'proper' legal advice, not just 'opinion-endo' from myself and others here on MM. Oct 06 12 03:55 am Link Bella la Bell wrote: Small claims court. If you paid for the shoot you are entitled to your edited prints or your money back. It is pretty simple. Send him a polite letter asking him for your photos by a specific date or a full refund of your money. If it doesn't happen, speak to the small claims clerk. There is probably a free adviser at your court. Oct 06 12 07:14 am Link That's messed up. When I'm paid, I get the images out within a week. Oct 06 12 07:25 am Link ei Total Productions wrote: +1 Oct 06 12 07:42 am Link Carthago delenda est. That was said by Cato the Elder at the conclusion of all his speeches, even on none related to Carthage. Although he may have said it slightly different, his ancient wisdom is relevant, in that Carthage, in this a case, a photographer must be destroyed. He has prevaricated. He may have even lied. That you quiver that other photographers might think badly of you, if you enforce your rights, is similar to the senators who were Cato's primary important. They didn't want to think about Carthage as they thought about lands laws, the possibility of wheat allowances for the poor, the penalties for crimes and they quivered at the thought of total war against Carthage, war that would end in the losing city being enslaved possibly. Eventually, they salted the land of the city of Carthage to make it worthless, and they had a mighty empire. And they would have liked to have used that land, but, Carthago delenda est. First, Carthago delenda est, because that's your money. He's keeping your money because he likes your money but doesn't want to give you anything for it. The Romans called that theft and when it came to the matter of reputation they considered that important and your reputation is very important and so is his. Can a photographer just rip you off? Make it clear to him that it is clear that so far he has shown you no consideration and you will let people know that he unreliable, unprofessional, and has the character of a thief. You have a great story for local television news in his area. It's very emotional. I just pounded a corporation that treated me with incompetent disdain and offered to let people know how they had treated me. Once, I charged them with the accusation that it looked like they were keeping my money for the interest, that the multiple and serious problems showed they didn't care about me, they gave me moolah beyond what was owed, because it was clear that I would create a blog, I would talk to the newspaper, to television, and so they made a gesture straight away once it become clear how they had with great incompetence messed up my life. Sometimes you have to confront people. Rich people, people who have pulled themselves up, and built their own business know this. They know that they should fight the parking ticket, and they will spend many hours on $75 or a $350 dispute. Why? Time is not money to them because when you establish a habit of rolling over, like a tame puppy, you will lose a lot of money and you will have the wrong mindset for confronting the problems of life. Oct 06 12 08:12 am Link Hi Bella, I'm sorry, I have no advice - I just wanted to say I'm sorry  something similar has happened in my life recently, (not a photographer, but something creative) and I understand how horrible it can feel being trapped by the other party's reputation. I really really hope you get your money back, Bella. Maybe you could get permission from the photographer to have the images retouched by someone else? It is a real pity that the other girls in the group aren't folks you have contact with, as it is possible they were also miss-sold a one-on-one package and have struggled to get their images. I really hope this works out for you xx Evie x Oct 06 12 08:27 am Link ei Total Productions wrote: I will look into this. I am not much for knowing all the legal things I can do but pretty sure my brother can help me some what, he is in school for his pre law. Oct 06 12 08:31 am Link MWNudes wrote: Thanks! Oct 06 12 08:51 am Link Evie_Wolfe wrote: Thank you Evie. Oct 06 12 08:53 am Link My contract says I'll have proofs up in a week, they get one week to make their choices (or I will), then three weeks they will have digital images. I generally get it done in a week, but if things are crazy, three weeks can happen. If I know I'm crazy booked, I might up that as much as six weeks, but that would be the max. Truly, I'd be surprised if anyone takes over two months, but who knows. Oct 06 12 08:55 am Link That's WAY too long. Whoa. Ask for your money back! Oct 06 12 08:57 am Link OP - assuming your agreement with the photographer was reasonably well documented, small claims court is your friend. Filing fees are usually nominal (typically $50. - 100. depending on state). I gather the photographer in question is a pro - in that case, also file a report with the local Better Business Bureau. Be a nuisance - it may well be easier for him to give you a refund than having to protect his credit rating and reputation. Oct 06 12 09:12 am Link Bella la Bell wrote: trade or paid, i deliver within 2 weeks. Oct 06 12 09:49 am Link Regardless of what each photographer uses as a reasonable delivery time - whether it's 5 days or 1 month - nobody will dispute that 6 months for receipt of images is a breach of the contract (even if there was no specific delivery date documented in the agreement). No court would consider 6 months a reasonable delivery time. Small claims is your best bet as others have said. I believe in my area it costs $35 to file a claim. No attorneys are needed. If you have all your documentation - emails, agreement, etc - organized well it should be an easy settlement. Maybe when the photographer sees you're not going to let it go and that he has to take time out of his day/income to address it you'll miraculously get your images. Whatever you do, do not wash your hands of this. The furniture analogy was an excellent one. If you were promised delivery of furniture you wouldn't have waited this long to act and you certainly wouldn't let it slide. Oct 06 12 10:05 am Link Next time agree 50/50 shoot & delivery. Shit happens some times with tests I guess, but if there's cash changing hands, then protect your interests. Sorry you found a bad apple Oct 06 12 10:28 am Link Bella la Bell wrote: For paid photos, you shouldn't have to be feel like you're on the back burner. Paid gigs are top priority. 1 week for proofs, 2-3 weeks for edited. Oct 06 12 10:33 am Link |
