Cincinnati couple gets 30% of photos after $4,000 wedding
A Cincinnati couple paid nearly $4,000 upfront for wedding photography but received only about 30% of their images, with more photos of the DJ than the
Erika and Gary Even paid nearly $4,000 in full before their August wedding at Pebble Creek Golf Course in Cincinnati. The Tri-State couple from White Oak, who were older and marrying for the first time, received only about 30% of their wedding photos after the photographer lost the rest during a file transfer.
Erika Even stated she does not have a single portrait of herself in her wedding dress. "I don’t have a single portrait of me in my dress. There are more solo pictures of our DJ," she said. The missing images include family portraits and individual photos of Erika with each bridesmaid and groomsmen. Photographers spent hours documenting their big wedding, but the couple learned afterward that many pictures were gone.
What went wrong
The couple was told there was a problem while photos were being transferred to an editor. Erika said she was told the photographer only got 30% of the pictures. An attempt was made to recover the missing files, but the recovery process resulted in them being deleted.
They were also told twice that a refund had been issued to their credit card, but the money never arrived. When contacted, the owner of the photography company said the couple's claims were false but declined to discuss the matter further. The company was not named in the report.
Industry advice for couples
Erika Even hopes sharing her experience may prevent another couple from going through the same thing. She said, “I don’t want it to happen to someone else.” Experts advise taking specific steps to protect your investment when hiring a wedding photographer.
Key advice includes getting all promises in a written contract before paying. Couples should ask specific questions about backup procedures and what happens if files are lost. Avoiding full upfront payment is also recommended.
Additional steps include keeping all contracts and receipts and considering payment methods that offer dispute protections. The bottom line is to research businesses thoroughly and ensure every detail is spelled out in writing. The couple from Cincinnati hopes their story helps others safeguard their wedding memories.
