My encounter with the photographer, Aly, for a significant event was marred by numerous disappointments and unprofessionalism, despite selecting him based on positive online reviews.
Initially, Aly projected friendliness during our phone conversation, where we meticulously shared all event details, particularly highlighting the significance of capturing key moments during the church prayer. However, on the actual event day, Aly arrived accompanied by his wife, whom he claimed to be the second photographer. To our dismay, he was unprepared, taking an excessive 30 minutes to set up his equipment, contrary to our agreed-upon 45-minute duration at that location.
Throughout the photo shoot, Aly's meticulous and sluggish approach became apparent. He spent an inordinate amount of time providing posing instructions, only to capture a fleeting shot for a brief moment. His attitude towards our videographer and family members attempting to take photos with their phones was far from accommodating.
The situation further deteriorated at the church, where Aly arrived late, causing a delay in commencing the prayer. During the prayer, his disengagement was palpable as he either watched or used his phone instead of capturing crucial moments. His lack of familiarity with the church prayer and essential shots during the priest's blessing became evident. During family pictures, his demands for specific poses led to frustration among our family members.
As the coverage time approached its end, Aly abruptly left without offering additional coverage for an extra fee. This unprofessional departure left us without coverage for the conclusion of the event, a disappointing turn of events given the occasion's significance.
Adding to the frustration, Aly took an astonishing 15 weeks to deliver the photos. Despite the contract explicitly stating 80-100 photos per coverage hour, he delivered only 40 photos per hour. This was particularly disheartening as our repeated inquiries were met with excuses about a busy season. When we confronted him about the missing photos and the delayed delivery, Aly responded rudely and unprofessionally.
In summary, my experience with Aly was characterized by unpreparedness, a sluggish pace, disengagement during crucial moments, and unprofessional conduct regarding coverage time and photo delivery. It was an unfortunate experience for an event that should have been joyous and memorable. read more