Initially, I was hesitant to write this review, because Vuong and Sophie seemed like nice people when we first met. However, being nice is not a correlation of professionalism, or in this case, the lack thereof. I feel that this issue needs to be addressed in honesty and as a constructive criticism for the sake of their future clients. You can read further for details, but the gist of the disaster is double-booking, left me with no bridal photos after our church ceremony, made me cry on my wedding day - intentionally of not, it happened.
When I was looking around for a wedding photographer, I really liked Vuong's work on his website. Vuong is undoubtedly talented, and that was why we signed the contract with 1abpro in early January. We asked to have Vuong take our wedding pictures. Our mistake for not realizing that Sophie had put 2 other photographer names in the contract; I guess because they had already booked with someone else that day.
Sophie also suggested we would take our engagement photos around the Pasadena area, or the Walt Disney building in LA because it matches with our wedding theme. She said that Vuong would contact us to take care of all that planning. A few days before our engagement shoot, our videographers (coming from SD) asked where we were going for the shoot. We contacted Sophie and she finally responded only to tell us to meet at 1pm in their office the day of our photoshoot, then they would let us know where we are going. This sounded weird to me because heading to LA at 1pm would be too late for a shoot. I messaged Sophie back to ask exactly where we were going. I was then told that it would be at a flower field in Costa Mesa. I did not want to make a big deal out of this even though we were not going to LA. I ended up asking if we could at least go somewhere that would match our theme, like the Cerritos Library. They agreed to that.
Fast forward to July, the month of my wedding, I messaged Sophie to ask if they would still be at my wedding, Sophie confirmed that a total of 3 workers will be there (2 photographers, 1 assistant). Then Sophie messaged me at 9:15am the day before my wedding, and said that she would "try" to make it to mine. She never came and we had ordered an extra dinner for her because she initially said 3 people.
On my wedding day, the two photographers they sent were very nice and genuine. I do like them a lot, and so did my family. However, there was a huge problem: They came unprepared.
After our church ceremony, I asked one of the photographers where we would be going for the bridal shoot. He told me "I don't really know this area." How could you come to shoot a wedding without having a plan of where to go? After thinking about it, he suggested Crystal Cathedral, then CSULB, then we ended up going to Shoreline Aquarium because it was close by. When we arrived, there was an event going on, so he suggested to go to Huntington Beach Library. This was during heavy traffic hour and we had been driving around for nearly 2 hours without having a single bridal photo taken. Then Sophie called me when we were waiting at the HB library. Sophie said "According to the contract, you were supposed to be done at 2:30pm. We need the photographers to be back in the lab." I told her it was not our fault that we had to drive around, looking for a place to take pictures. Without an apology, she kept repeating "According to contract you need to be done by 2:30pm."
If your team made a mistake, at least be lenient enough to let them take my pictures. If not, send someone else to take my pictures. You did not try to resolve this problem with me and cold-heartedly left me. I was already at the location, waiting for your photographers, but you made them cancel with me. You gave me the ONLY option of going to the restaurant at 5pm to take these pictures. I did not pay more than 2 grands only to have pictures taken in front of a restaurant. Additionally, my schedule was to be done with pictures by 5pm because I have many other things to take care of before the reception begins. The 2 photographers you sent made a mistake of not coming prepared, but they were willing to take my pictures. However, you did not allow them to do so, and made them cancel the entire bridal shoot with me. This was the part that left me utterly speechless and broke down crying in the car on my wedding day.
So, I was left with no photographers and wasted hours driving around for NOTHING. Thank God when our videographers (from a different company) stepped in and offered to take these photos for us. They said to me "Let us take these pictures for you, because you will regret not having these."
Consider yourself lucky if this company doesn't abandon you on your big day. I am sad that I even had to write this, because I truly liked you guys at first. The emotional stress you put me through was unquestionably inconsiderate, not cool, and utterly MEAN to make a bride deal with on her wedding day. read more