How to complain against a wedding photographer
You may have read or heard of photographer stories that just make you angry. Well, you can’t help it, but there are still photographers out there who bring out the worst in you —- not being able to deliver photographs on time or not being able to provide them at all, to promises that were left empty that’s way too low than what you have expected.
Nevertheless, these photographers can be dodgy most of the time. They may not reply to your queries and follow up, or might even block you as well. Yet, If you’ve already paid your wedding photographer and would like to raise a complaint to them, might as well do these steps to demand what you’re due.
If you’re at crossroads and don’t know what to do, consider following these steps to catch the culprit:
1. Secure your Contract
Contracts are the best counterattack against sneaky wedding photographers. Contracts are legally binding, wherein it ensures your security given the terms and conditions incorporated therewith. You must have a contract that shows the turnaround time of picture production, the name of the wedding photographer/ team, and even the number of photos that are promised to you. This contract is your easiest access to file a complaint against your photographer, that is if even an inch of the contract isn’t followed at all. Still, there may be individuals out there who weren’t able to secure one; don’t worry, you can still collect other files to support your claim.
2. Gather Receipts
Receipts don’t only come in paper but in digital form as well. If the photographer were not able to give you a contract, you may gather screenshots of your convo, in chat and in email, and print them out to show as evidence to the authorities. These screenshots are also binding, in a way to show proof that there is an actual transaction going on with or without any contract.
3. Go to authorities
Every region in Australia has accompanying bodies of government agencies where you can raise your complaint against your wedding photographer. Hence, after securing all the documents for stronger evidence, you may go to these consumer departments and file your complaint:
Department of Fair Trading
For people living in New South Wales, the NSW Fair Trading lets you file your complaints online by uploading references that support your claim. With this, they will be able to contact you and also find a way to contact your photographer, in a way that you get to settle your complaints. To do this, you can go to their site and click on Make a Complaint > Buying Products and Services.
Consumer Affairs Victoria
If you are from Victoria, you can file a complaint on their website as well by going to their Products and Services Menu > Problem with a Service. You’ll have a list of complaint tabs like Services not done with due skill and care, services took too long, and Cancelling a Contract for Services.
Consumer and Business Services
Lodge a service complaint when you’re in South Australia and go to their Consumer Complaints menu. By then you’ll be redirected to a form to further detail what happened to the service and file a complaint about it.
Consumer, Building, and Occupational Services
If you’re in the island state of Tasmania and want to make a complaint with your photographer, you can go to the Consumer, Building, and Occupational Services site. There you may browse through their Buying Products and Services Tab > Problems with Products or Service > Problems with Service.
Consumer Protection
In Western Australia? There’s also a department for your matter. You may go to their Lodge a consumer complaint about goods and services purchased and start filing your complaint there.
Consumer Affairs
The Northern Territory also has an open door for consumer complaints about the services you avail. They assist consumer protection, in a way that you’ll have security from dodgy photographers that just fail to keep their promises.
With these departments, you’re always guaranteed that your rights are protected against wedding photographers who are getting into your nerves. Just make sure to keep your receipts on hand; you’ll know when you’ll need them.
