Photographers

Original post by coselige

Mar 29, 2002 03:06 PM

Hello - I am a bride planning my LI wedding from Boston. I am planning to make a trip down next weekend to speak with some photographers (my FI has to work so it is a solo mission). I have read a lot of things on this board about various photographers. I was wondering who you are using and what made you decide to choose a certain photographer.
Also - did you meet with any photographers that completely turned you off?
This board has been so helpful to me thus far, so thanks in advance for your help with my next planning task!

NIHA Posted: Apr 09, 2002 07:27 PM

Aren....your husband's name is Brett??????? NM

Liz Posted: Apr 09, 2002 10:02 PM

Photographers

Aren,

First, I am simply a bride who was taken advantage of and treated poorly. Instead of attempting to insult me, maybe you should have some empathy. What kind of person are you? Second, none of what you said in your email is remotely true about my dealings with their studio. Perhaps B rett M atthews is referring to ANOTHER UNHAPPY CUSTOMER (I wouldn't be suprised). Like I said, I've seen bad posts on other wedding web sites as well. I am not the type of person to complain when no complaint is warrented. I just have never been treated so poorly by someone I paid money to provide a service and want to help other brides if I can. Isn't that what this site is for? I find nothing wrong with sharing my experiences while I am on here. Maybe someone can benefit from it. As I mentioned, I am glad you had a good experience. Congratulations. I wish I did.

jpsgirl Posted: Apr 09, 2002 10:10 PM

Photographers

Liz, really, this Aren is definitely ass'd with Bret Matthews which is sneaky and not too smart. As was said above, she has posted 3 times only on here in a whole year, and all defending B.M. Thanks for being honest, hopefully you saved a lot of people unnecessary aggravation. I went with Duval and am keeping my fingers crossed. Good luck!

Marcela1654 Posted: Apr 09, 2002 10:12 PM

Liz

I just wanted to say thanks for your feedback on the photgrapher. This is why I come to this board everday, to get opinions and help. And by 'Aren' saying what he/she did proved your point. She/He and Bret Matthews photgraphy are the ones that looks like a total idiots and a*sses!!

Liz Posted: Apr 09, 2002 10:21 PM

Photographers

JPS -- I hope so. That is my intent. Good luck to you and everyone else who is being supportive. I love this site! My wedding was magnificent...everything except my photographer worked out perfectly! I wish you the same (but with a photographer you love working with who will make you feel special on your special day)! Good luck.

Liz Posted: Apr 09, 2002 10:36 PM

Aren....you must think we are all stupid

I know. It's such a shame. Four people in my bridal party were newly engaged around the time I got married, and two of my office friends. That alone is six weddings B rett M atthews will definitely NOT be photographing. The funny thing is, they act like they don't care and don't need the business. One time I actually said something about the amount of money I was spending and their response was something to the effect of: (You are NOT spending a lot of money. We have customers who spend between $10,000 and $20,000 for their pictures.) I don't know, I thought $4,400 was a decent amount to spend, don't you, especially because the parent albums are these tiny little 5X5 albums. And the kicker is that they are only slip-in albums, not even bound and sprayed for fingerprints...and they don't even tell you that up front (at least they didn't tell me).

jpsgirl Posted: Apr 09, 2002 10:59 PM

Aren....you must think we are all stupid

that's the type of album I'm getting from duval - but they told me that up front. Now that I think about it, I should have just made my own parent albums, if that's the case!! And somehow, thank-you photo's are not in my deal, which I didn't realize right away....so frustrating!

Liz Posted: Apr 09, 2002 11:14 PM

Aren....you must think we are all stupid

Sorry, didn't mean to dis your parent albums...I was just trying to illustrate that B rett M atthews wasn't up to par with what I had seen at their direct competitors or even from other photographers that were much cheaper and was not up front about it. Planning is frustrating...and these wedding vendors have you by the balls and they know it. But just know that it will all lead to something wonderful in the end! And afterwards, you will look back and laugh at how stressed you let yourself get. When is your wedding?

Valenia Posted: Apr 10, 2002 10:12 AM

FYI - Brett Matthews is not the name of the owner...

The owner is a woman. Brett and Matthew are the names of her sons.

I agree with how many of you have responded to Aren's post, with one additional comment to make...

I have a lot of trouble believing that 'several hundred weddings they do each year, you are
the only one who was unhappy'. I don't think any company in the world could make that claim.

DeniseMang Posted: Apr 10, 2002 01:16 PM

Aren, put your money where your mouth is

and show me your wedding pictures, then, if you are a real bride! Email them to me at [email protected].

NJ Posted: Apr 10, 2002 04:41 PM

Aren, put your money where your mouth is

'Aren' will probably just send you pictures of some wedding that B rett M atthews photographed.

DeniseMang Posted: Apr 10, 2002 04:46 PM

NJ

Yeah, you are right. How would I know if they are 'real'. Oh well. He or She sounds like a real jerk anyway, so why waste our time.

Liz Posted: Apr 10, 2002 09:40 PM

FYI - Brett Matthews is not the name of the owner...

Valenia - I agree. They are so full of it. I've seen other complaints about them in other wedding chat rooms so I know I'm not the only one. They are very full of themselves. I love how 'Aren' said that her friend who was a fashion editor used them and that they MUST be good because she pays such close attention to detail and she had no complaints. Well, I am an account manager at a sales promotion firm so I pay very close attention to client service. AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT CLIENT SERVICE MEANS. They just don't care.

babeyblu16 Posted: Apr 10, 2002 10:33 PM

FYI - Brett Matthews is not the name of the owner...

Liz you are the second person that i know that had a bad experience with B rett M atthews so that is not true that you are the ONLY unhappy customer! I would never give them the time of day!!! There are a lot of photographers out there that work to make THE BRIDE as happy as can be and appreciate all the money you put into it!

Marcela1654 Posted: Apr 10, 2002 11:22 PM

NJ

I'm curious..Did 'Aren' ever e-mail you? Oh and I looked at your profile and saw that you're getting married at St. Paul's Cathedral! Me too!! The church is beautiful. Where is your reception? Are you taking pics on the church grounds? Sorry to ask so many question.

NJ Posted: Apr 11, 2002 01:44 PM

Marcela

I think it was someone else who asked Aren to e-mail the pictures, I just commented that the pictures would be fake anyway. I agree that St. Paul's is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be allowed to take pictures on the grounds- our wedding is the first of 4 that day, and I think they'll make us leave right after. We're doing pictures at Old Westbury Gardens and our reception is at Jericho Terrace. I only have 59 days left--I can't wait!!!

Marcela1654 Posted: Apr 11, 2002 02:23 PM

NJ

OMG I didn't even realize that!! Our wedding is at 3pm on a Sunday. We didn't want to pay so much money for Westbury Gardens so we thought we could just take pics on the church grounds and then take pics in the little park with the gazebo across the street from the Garden City Hotel and then go to Floral Terrace!!! I have to talk to them! What time is your ceremony?

Wow, I can't believe you're only 59 days away. I have around 760 days.heheheh.

angie3 Posted: Apr 12, 2002 04:42 PM

Aren... Brett Matthews...

What a nasty hurtful person you are! I personally know Liz and I can say that she is one of the easiest people to get along with and a total sweetheart. The whole time during and after her wedding the only thing that made her upset was her experience with B rett M atthews. I couldn't believe the experience she had with them. I WAS AT HER WEDDING. The photographer even acted rude and obnoxious to her and her family and her videographer in front of her guests (I was one of them)! I wanted to yell at the photographer myself! So it is either one of two things: (A) you (and your husband 'Brett' - name is such a coincidence!) are from B rett M atthews and are a making a pathetic, cruel attempt to save your rep or (B) You are an actual bride and the fact that B rett M atthews would divulge anyone's information like that and talk so horribly about anyone to another customer is unfathomable! I would never in a million years use them even for free! I have never heard of anything so deplorable. And one more thing, Liz is a person who is beautiful inside and out.. unlike some who are mean and spiteful. Thank god she is as pretty as she is because that was her only saving grace in her photos. No thanks to B rett M atthews.