Need wedding photos re-done

Chilliflake

Hi all.

Well, to cut a long story short, our wedding photographer was a wedding present that we couldn't refuse due to various reasons. He made a shocking job of our photos as he was only an amateur and presented us with our wedding album less than a month after the wedding, with the photos he chose in it. The photos are terrible and in a lot of cases, they don't even fit the page of the album so are filled in with strange backgrounds. There was no consultation with us or no proofs shown to us beforehand.

We are still pretty upset over this but have resolved to try to look ahead and get it remedied. Is there any way a professional photographer or studio would take the disks with the digital prints on them and re-do them for us properly? Some need some work with photoshop (ie closed eyes in the only decent photo of us) and others would be better in B&W and/or cropped in some way. We would love to have some mounted for the wall as we don't have one wedding photo at home in a frame and none to give to family. We would obviously be prepared to pay a fair price for this work - we have a very nice album (that is just full of terrible photos) that can be re-used for the new prints.

I have done a search for this service but to be honest, we don't know where to look or how to go about it. It's a very upsetting issue for us and we really need to have it done. I am aware that names cannot be given over the Boards but any steer would be very much appreciated.

Thanks all.

CF

stcstc

I can help you, can rework, pint, mount etc

BUT

you need to get permission from the photog to rework them

otherwise your breaking copyright laws etc

stcstc

stcstc wrote: »

you need to get permission from the photog to rework them

otherwise your breaking copyright laws etc

Surely that's not true...?


He didn't take photos of an product or event that was sponsored by a company or anything. It's a wedding and the photographer was there on the understanding that his photographs would become the property of the married couple after the wedding was done...?







Chilliflake, whilst i can't speak from first-hand experience (I know nothing abut this kinda thing) a guy I know was in a smilar situation before. I'm not entirely sure what he did or where he went, but he got a lot of the photos fixed up and done again, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. I'm sure someone can help you.

AnCatDubh

Deleted User wrote: »

Surely that's not true...?

<snip> It's a wedding and the photographer was there on the understanding that his photographs would become the property of the married couple after the wedding was done...?

The original photographer will retain the copyright of all images taken unless the contrary is explicitly stated in a contract between the OP and the photographer. This is irrespective of whether the photographer expects it or not - simply the default situation with the law. The OP hasn't stated if they have secured transfer of copyright so stcstc is quite correct in his approach as if he hadn't performed this check and worked on the images, he himself would be in breech of the original photographers copyright.

The task being sought is doable - the results will vary depending on how bad the originals are but 'miracles' have been worked before.

AnCatDubh

AnCatDubh wrote: »

The original photographer will retain the copyright of all images taken unless the contrary is explicitly stated in a contract between the OP and the photographer. This is irrespective of whether the photographer expects it or not - simply the default situation with the law. The OP hasn't stated if they have secured transfer of copyright so stcstc is quite correct in his approach as if he hadn't performed this check and worked on the images, he himself would be in breech of the original photographers copyright.

On a realistic scale though, would anything ever really be done about it?

If such a thing were to go to court, I can hardly imagine a judge entertaining such a thing?

stcstc

thats not the point, would you want someone messing with your images or something without your permission

AnCatDubh

Deleted User wrote: »

On a realistic scale though, would anything ever really be done about it?

If such a thing were to go to court, I can hardly imagine a judge entertaining such a thing?

That's not really the point although i'd expect in a civilized society for a judge to uphold the laws of the state.

It is a matter of do what is right. Simple as that. We don't know if the OP owns the copyright of the images.

The broader discussion on the topic has been discussed many times previously on forum. A quick search will yield lots of results if you would like to find out more.

Cheers, I'll take a look into it.

Sorry for dragging this off-topic

Chilliflake

Hi - thanks for your replies. It's comforting at least to know that something CAN be done about it. We never discussed ownership of the images with the photographer, but I am sure it won't be a problem with him for us to re-work some. He's a decent enough bloke. Mind you, you never know with this sort of stuff. I don't fancy telling him that we're not happy with his photos though, we might have to come up with another story such as we're thinking of making a contemporary second album..

stcstc - if I get written permission from him, what next?

CF

Paulw

Deleted User wrote: »

On a realistic scale though, would anything ever really be done about it?

If such a thing were to go to court, I can hardly imagine a judge entertaining such a thing?

When such things do get to court, it's a very easy decision for the judge - it's a clear breach of copyright, and the photographer wins.

In Ireland, unless there is a specific contract that states that the couple have the right to use/manipulate the images, then the photographer owns the copyright, and his/her permission must be sought.

Most photographers are decent people, and a quick call/email/letter can resolve any potential misunderstandings. Permission can be easy to get and can save problems later.

Hopefully the OP can get the permission needed, and then get the results they want.

stcstc

Chilli

send me a PM and we can arrange to meet up and look through things and decide what you want etc

CabanSail

You will need to get the permission and I would suggest a story to avoid upset if he is the sort that cannot handle the truth.

When you say he is a Photographer, does this just mean he owns a DSLR Camera (I am assuming it was a DSLR he used) & thinks he's a Photographer or does he produce good work but not Weddings?

If he is a Photographer, then he should have shot your wedding in RAW, but it would be likely that he would have then supplied you with Jpeg files. If you can get hold of the RAW files it would give someone doing some post production work for you a better chance to retrieve something from what you have.

Good luck with it & let us know how you get on.

Chilliflake

CabanSail - he has won various local awards but is not a professional photographer. He seemed to have all the gear as my friend who was at the wedding and who is also a photographer said he had decent equipment. He has done loads of weddings in the area so wasn't new to them. He supplied us with two DVDs of around 700 photos which I have saved onto my hard drive but I'm not sure if they are fully extractable for maniuplation purposes as I'm not much of a techie. The file sizes seem to be quite large as well mind you. I think he sent the originals off to someone for printing so maybe all he got back was the DVDs and the prints that he asked for..? Should he have the RAW files?

CF

CabanSail

It sounds like he should have the RAW Files. If you can get a copy of them it will give someone a good chance to get a better result (well the best possible from what you have)

Good luck

mikeanywhere

CabanSail wrote: »

It sounds like he should have the RAW Files. If you can get a copy of them it will give someone a good chance to get a better result (well the best possible from what you have)

Good luck

If he shot in RAW then you need to get those off the photography but he may not be so eager to release those. If he didn't shoot in RAW but shot in JPG then again you need to ensure you have the original files off him.

Same as Caban, hope you manage to sort it out!!

broker2008

I know of a couple whose photographer had their cameras stolen before downlaoding the photos. They were very very upset. They went to the bother of dressing up in their wedding gear after their honeymoon and got their photographs taken again outside the church & St Stephen's Green, just themselves though. Just an idea.