Opinions please!

[bhippy]

Hi All,

Interested to hear your collective thoughts on the attached pictures, which were done by a professional photographer recently. My son and daughter had them done of the grandchildren as a surprise for me. When they contacted the photographer to say they weren't happy, she stopped responding to them!

These are a small random sample, and by no means the worst....

Can they be saved? De-noise for instance? (I think I already know the answer!) What would you do? Review/post them on her social media?

Any thoughts/comments appreciated!

[sociopath]

The first could be edited, but WTF have they done with the other two?

To do anything reasonable with the other two, you'd need the original shots.

[Simpo Two]

The top one gets big enough to see terrible noise, but the other two won't enlarge so I can't tell.

Top one, other than noise (unacceptable) the lighting is flat and dull, not enough contrast, and not a great photo anyway.

The other two are better as far as the subject is concerned, but they've failed to separate the background from the subject either by distance or lighting, so have bodged it with software.

I wouldn't be happy with any of them. Desperately amateur.

How was the photographer chosen? Were examples of work seen before booking?

[bhippy]

Apparently the photographer was local and had great reviews on their facebook page.... I did look at their page this morning after they sent me a link. These are nothing like the pictures used to promote them on there - although the one's on there aren't a patch on the work of some on here....

I can't help thinking a full refund is in order. If a refund isn't forthcoming, or copies of the unedited originals so that I can work on them in Affinity, I reckon they should put a review with the pics attached to warn others.

Thanks Guys.

[Tony1963]

Without exaggerating at all, I and most here could've done better with our smartphones and a minute's editing. Those 'photographs' are just awful.

[C n C]

Tony1963 said:

Without exaggerating at all, I and most here could've done better with our smartphones and a minute's editing. Those 'photographs' are just awful.

I'd say you were understating rather than exaggerating.

Pretty much anyone on here could have done better with a 10 year old smartphone and no editing.

Those are not good enough even to call snaps, and the idea that someone would actually look to charge for them is quite frankly shocking.

If I'd taken them, they would have instantly been deleted, and I'd be extremely embarrassed to show them to anyone at all.

[Simpo Two]

bhippy said:

Apparently the photographer was local and had great reviews on their facebook page.... I did look at their page this morning after they sent me a link. These are nothing like the pictures used to promote them on there....

I suppose you could post the link so we can compare promise v. product... or would that be N&S?

[Turn7]

No way is that invoicable material.

Shocked that someone has the front to ask for payment for that.

[kestral]

There was not enough light to start with.


5000 ISO at 320th of a second for a baby asleep is completely the wrong settings in that light.

The person taking the photos has no idea what they are doing. The settings should have been more like 1000 ISO 60th of a second.

They need to refund any money you paid apologies an go and learn basic photography.

[C n C]

kestral said:

There was not enough light to start with.


5000 ISO at 320th of a second for a baby asleep is completely the wrong settings in that light.

The person taking the photos has no idea what they are doing. The settings should have been more like 1000 ISO 60th of a second.

They need to refund any money you paid, apologise and go and learn basic photography.

Completely agree - 5000 ISO on an APS-C sensor camera over 10 years old (Canon 650D) is a definite fail to start with. I still try to stay under 3200 ISO if at all possible for all shots, and would aim for under 1600 ISO for this type of photo, and that's on a modern full frame camera (Canon R5).

Also the fact that the exposure mode was set to "Action program" - program mode geared towards high shutter speed also indicated the "photographer" doesn't know what they are doing.

Firstly, they really ought to be using aperture priority or manual rather than a program mode, and secondly, even if using a program mode, go more for the portrait rather than sports program option.


Exif data:

Camera make :
Canon
Camera model :
Canon EOS 650D
Date/Time :
2022/10/01 14:19:39
Resolution :
3700 x 2857
Flash used :
No
Focal length :
24.0mm
Exposure time :
0.0031 s (1/320)
Aperture :
f/4.0
ISO equiv. :
5000
Metering Mode :
pattern
Exposure :
Action program (based towards fast shutter speed)
JPEG Quality :
76

[Simpo Two]

Good summary CnC; I hadn't seen the EXIF data but it's shocking. Everything is wrong.

[bhippy]

Thanks Guys.

The photographer is still not responding to them following being told they were unhappy with them. I've advised them to post a couple of samples, as I have here, onto their social media and place an honest review.

They paid over £50 (not sure how much over...) and received about 40 images on a memory stick, all of this quality!

[Simpo Two]

bhippy said:

The photographer is still not responding to them following being told they were unhappy with them.

I hate suppliers who hide when there's a problem.

Have they tried phoning to sort it out?

bhippy said:

I've advised them to post a couple of samples, as I have here, onto their social media and place an honest review.

They paid over £50 (not sure how much over...) and received about 40 images on a memory stick, all of this quality!

What's the objective, money back or a reshoot to the standard advertised?

For £50 I'd accept 40 like the lower two BUT not with that bodgery round the edges which is horrendous.

[bhippy]

Phone calls and emails are both unanswered so far... Daughter just told me she's emailed again this morning, so we'll see.

I think at this stage a full refund is what they're seeking. The second two images were amongst the best of the bunch - most were worse than the first image!

I think the problem with a re-shoot is, as has clearly been pointed out by you guys, the photographer is clearly someone who's purchased a camera and decided that makes them a photographer.... We question now whether it's actually worth travelling to their place with everyone and the upheaval that entails when there's clearly a risk that the result will be the same....

I do very much appreciate the input from you all here!

[Simpo Two]

bhippy said:

Phone calls and emails are both unanswered so far... Daughter just told me she's emailed again this morning, so we'll see.

I think at this stage a full refund is what they're seeking....

Then a letter is the thing, sent 'signed' for if you want to look serious. Detail what's been said here, point out the standard is well below that advertised and ask for the money back.

bhippy said:

I think the problem with a re-shoot is, as has clearly been pointed out by you guys, the photographer is clearly someone who's purchased a camera and decided that makes them a photographer....

It looks very much like it.

bhippy said:

We question now whether it's actually worth travelling to their place with everyone and the upheaval that entails when there's clearly a risk that the result will be the same....

So you visited them? What was the set-up like? From the photos I thought they did it in your dining room with an old blanket gaffer-taped to the wall...

bhippy said:

I do very much appreciate the input from you all here!

As a veteran of many weddings and assorted studio work it's actually quite enjoyable!

[bhippy]

Thanks for the responses. My daughter got a reply this morning but the "photographer" feels the images are clear and that she's sent the original files and you can't get any more clear than that....

I've suggested she ask for a refund, which she has, but no response yet.

I understand the "shoot" took place at the "photographers" house.

I think in the absence of a refund, a review on her social media with examples should be placed - at least it might save some other new parents from shelling out their cash on rubbish like that!!

Thanks again!

[Simpo Two]

bhippy said:

I think in the absence of a refund, a review on her social media with examples should be placed - at least it might save some other new parents from shelling out their cash on rubbish like that!!

One doesn't like to use blackmail, but... last year I bought a Jaguar by 'click and collect'. No sooner was the car here than they e-mailed me asking for a review. Sadly the car turned to be a basket case, and after 40 miles the engine blew up so I rejected it. After trying to tell me it just needed some petrol (!), the dealer collected the car and refunded the purchase price, but not before I'd spent £120 taxing and insuring it. So I asked if they would reimburse this expense. They said 'We are unable to refund this money'. I replied 'By the way I haven't done the review you asked for yet'. By return they e-mailed 'We have sent £120 to your account'.

PM me the FB page, let's see what it says.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 3rd November 14:19

[bhippy]

If/when a refund isn't forthcoming, I'll send you a link to their FB review when placed.

Currently all the reviews on there are very positive, but the examples of her work are - at least to my eyes - very amateurish and often out of focus...

[Simpo Two]

bhippy said:

If/when a refund isn't forthcoming, I'll send you a link to their FB review when placed.

Currently all the reviews on there are very positive, but the examples of her work are - at least to my eyes - very amateurish and often out of focus...

Your eyes are working fine Bill. Having now had the opportunity to review the aforementioned FB page, I can confirm that the photos on it are, to use the technical term, utter ste.