I hired Ivan Apfel photography to take photographs of my destination wedding in Key Largo, Florida on 4/28/18. I would NEVER recommend this photographer to anyone ever. Although he takes great photographs, his customer relation skills are less than desirable and honesty is not his primary policy. He was over a month late in providing me my the link to "unfinished" online gallery just about two months after my wedding in late June 2018, did not provide me with the "final" finished digital photos and link to proof my album until mid-September 2018 all the while he continuous ignored my telephone messages, emails and text messages and did not respond to me until I had to get my wedding planner involved. After he provided the finial digital photos and link to approve the photo album, I emailed him in mid-October, 2018 advising that I had approved the photo album and asked for an ETA on when it would be ready. I had to continuously email him because he ignored all of my emails for status. It was not until the beginning of December 2018 that he responded, after advising him that as a lawyer, I always get back to my clients within 24 hours. He must not have realized I was a lawyer because he immediately responded and on 12/18/18 told us the album was being shipped out and that I would have it the following week. He also told us that the additional photos in the layout were an additional $276.00 and asked us to pay by Zelle through our bank account. By accident my husband misread his email and sent him too much money, by sending $450.00 via Zelle instead of $276.00. I just discovered this information and brought it to Ivan's attention that we need a refund and he hasn't responded.
When my photo album did not come after the holidays, I continued to call, text and email Ivan as to the status of the album and tracking information. He did not respond to any of my emails, calls or texts. I even warned him that I would not hesitate to file my own lawsuit against him for breach of contract, fraud, and Florida UDAP, but he still not respond. Being at my wits end, I finally asked my wedding planner to intervene last week and she reached out to Ivan who told her that the album had been shipped. What a liar! He did not provide her with tracking information when she asked for it. Miraculously last night we did receive our wedding photo album via UPS ground and when I checked the tracking number, the shipping label wasn't even created until 1/15/19 which further substantiates his dishonesty when he told me my album was shipped on 12/18/18 a month earlier. This also shows he lied to my wedding planner when he told her it was already shipped. Now that I have my album I've decided to write this negative to review to warn ALL people, whether you are a bride or in the Corporate World using him for Corporate Photography, that he is not to be trusted. He is non-responsive and dishonest. To this day he has not refunded the overpayment of the difference between $450 and the $276.00 that we were invoiced and he was paid over a month ago. He should have known when the money came in via Zelle that it was an overpayment, but he failed to alert me. We've paid him close to $4000.00 total for nothing but aggravation. I would rather have had an honest, trustworthy photographer and paid more than deal with Ivan Apfel. I cannot stress enough how aggravated I've been over the last few months. To think my wedding was almost a year ago 4/28/18, and I didn't receive my album until 1/18/19 is such a disgrace. Please use him at your own risk knowing what you might be getting yourself into. read more
