Wedding Photographers Leave Brides Without Photos

By Greg McGonagill, Wednesday, January 23, 2008

The State of New Jersey filed suit last week against a wedding photography company, Celebration Studios, that allegedly left nearly 600 customers without their wedding photographs. A lawyer representing the company has stated that the firm will file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. People who have concerns are urged to contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at their Web site or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (New Jersey only).

From Google's cache of the company's website (the website no longer seems to be online): "At Celebration Studios you hire more than a photographer; you hire a team! Collaborate with our Consultants, Photographers, Videographers, and Album Designers to create imagery as unique and personal as you are! (And have fun doing it!)"

What's going on?

I've noticed an increasing trend in wedding photography lately of companies acting as brokers - not actually doing the photography, but booking weddings and then hiring subcontractors to do the photography.

This is actually not a new business model - most wedding photographers that work for studios are subcontractors, not employees - and a lot of reputable studios work just this way.

What is new, though, is the vast number of wannabee photographers with adequate digital equipment that want to get into the business (or think they do), and the number of people who think that brokering inexperienced photographers to inexperienced brides is a good way to make lots of money fast.

I read an ad today on Craigslist from one looking for photographers - their main requirements seemed to be having about $6,000 worth of camera equipment and being willing to work for very little.

If something goes wrong (likely), they can point at their subcontracting "photographer" for recovery and deny any responsibility. Actually fulfilling what they promise or maintaining a business is not in their business model. They can always fold up, move, and start up again somewhere else.

If you are talking with a so-called studio that offers to book your wedding, but will not tell you who will be photographing it, or allow you to talk with them, be wary.

Photography is an art, and if you're not talking with the artist who will be working for you, you have no idea what you will be getting, regardless of all the photos they show you.

Many wedding photography start-ups have glossy, professional-looking photographs in their advertising, which they did not in fact create. There are printing companies that produce materials for photographers that will include beautiful professional-looking wedding photos along with the printing. They've been in business for many years. I know of a photographer in my area who uses them, and has for as long as I can remember. I can imagine why - I've seen his photos, and they're not nearly as good as theirs. These printers also produce advertising for other types of photography, also with beautiful photos included, but that's another story.

Be careful, and make sure you know who you are dealing with, before you sign anything.