Friday, September 23, 2011

Letter From a Reader: My Wedding Photographer is Nowhere to be Found


Image courtesy of www.people.ucsc.edu


Dear Fashion PULIS,

Congratulations for reaching close to 6 million pageviews. I am an avid fan of your blog and I visit it almost everyday. I hope you can let me share a very sad experience that has been bothering me for the past two years.

In 2009, when I got married, I got the services of this photographer whose first name and last name both begin with the letter L (I understand you don't allow names). Prior to booking him, he suggested that I should pay him in full so that I will be able to avail of the discount and freebies (e.g. photo albums, signature frames, etc.). When I decided to get him, I took his advice and wrote him a check for the full amount.

When my wedding day came, he was there to take the photos and everything turned out well. I did not have any problem with him during the wedding day itself. My predicament started when I returned to Manila from my honeymoon two months later.

My husband and I went to the USA for almost two months. Upon returning home, I got in touch with our wedding photographer because I was very excited to see the wedding photos. I got in touch with LL and he told me that he needed another month to edit the photos. A month and a half later, around December 2009, I called him and he told me to give him more time because it was a very busy month for him.

I waited for Christmas and New Year to pass. On the second week of January 2010, I tried calling his mobile phone but the subscriber cannot be reached. I tried contacting his office and no one was answering my calls. After trying to call him for a week, I decided to pass by his office. I was devastated when I learned that he already gave up his space.

It has been almost two years now and up to this day, I have not located him. I tried approaching this certain organization of professional photographers and some of the members told me that they have not seen LL for the longest time.

At this point, all I want are the raw photos he took during my wedding because I can never repeat that day. I don't need the albums and the other items  included in the package that I paid for. I just want him to give me the CDs containing all my wedding photos.

Thank you very much Fashion PULIS for posting my letter. I hope this will serve as a warning to all your readers who are planning their wedding. Please don't be too trusting.

More power to you Mr. Fashion PULIS!

Yours truly,
Bride w/o photos

56 comments:

  1. aaww ill never forgive the photog pg ala ung mga pics ndi n pde maulit yon... camera freak p nmn ako... ill pray n mkuha mo yan sister

    ReplyDelete
  2. nakakalungkot naman ito. :(
    mawalan ka lang nga ng photos sa mga birthday party imbyerna na, pano na kaya kung ung mismong kasal pa.

    sana makonsensya nman ung photog.

    ReplyDelete
  3. OMG!!! Sana Mahanap mo yang walanghiyang Photographer.. I wish you LUck!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Is LL based in another asian country? does his first name rhyme with esther? just asking. pero renowned photog naman siya. i doubt if siya yun...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aww... ang sad naman. Kung nasan man yung photog na yun, please naman magpakita ka na. :(

    ReplyDelete
  6. i suggest that you try to get in touch with their group: wedding and portrait photographers of the philippines.

    they might be able to help you get in touch with your wedding photographer.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I pity you. I hope and pray you can (still) recover your wedding photos...the photos will also remind the happiness you, your husband, families and friends felt during that special day and in the future to show your children what happen during that day. Hay naku...imagine mag 2 years na rin pala yan...hmm meron kaya sya talagang pictures nyo?

    Joj

    ReplyDelete
  8. @September 23, 2011 6:07 AM

    i think maybe the photographer lost them ..

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yeah, it's possible he accidentally deleted the photographs. And baka it was a number of clients, not just you - otherwise there's no reason for him to go MIA

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kahit na photos lang, it's still heartbreaking to not have photo keepsakes from you wedding. once in a lifetime event, tapos ganito pa... tsk tsk.. Based in singapore ba yung photographer pero love nya ang bangkok, rome, and Manila? Baka na-corrupt ung SD card ng cam nya or something... pero honest nalang sana...

    ReplyDelete
  11. wow, this is one of the worst things that could happen in an event especially sa wedding.

    agree to anonymous, 7:43. baka nga he lost your pictures + some other clients and he can't tell you the truth. he has to shut down na lang his business kasi wala na lahat. :( sana he will have the guts to see his clients and explain

    ReplyDelete
  12. you can sue him! aba breach of contract yan between client and photographer dapat di mo na pinatagal yan pinahanap mo dapat sa police or NBI..I know its not a matter of life and death but wedding pictures are lifetime memories hindi mo na yan pwedeng ulitin..poor you! Good luck sana mabawi mo pa wedding pics mo

    ReplyDelete
  13. pero curious lang... nobody saw him ever na? IS HE STILL ALIVE? baka may nangyaring masama sa kanya... or may mabigat na problema that he had to disappear like that, dba? so sana di maxado mean yung mga comments, we don't know the side nung photographer... for all we know, he might be dead/murdered or suffering a fatal disease...

    ReplyDelete
  14. well if he is the LL photographer i saw on fb.... he's still alive an kickin... check his wall post and you'll figure out where he is :) hope this helps... I LOVE FASHION PULIS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Is this LL? I've worked with him in some events, he was nice to work with naman. I dond't know he could do such thing. Sayang naman, he's a good photographer.

    ReplyDelete
  16. His Facebook says he lives in Singapore now. That is, if my LL is the same as yours. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. it's a hard lesson learned =( TIP for those who have their events covered by professional photographers/videographers, provide for backups. it may be your brother, relative, parents.. just tell them to take pics of everything. anyway, it's so easy to copy and paste files nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
  18. To Bride w/o Photos, I suggest you get the help of your friends and family members. Ask them to email you all the pics they have of your wedding. this way, you can have them compiled and maybe even make your own digital album =)

    ReplyDelete
  19. U should sue him... Cnu kayang LL ito... Must warn future brides para wala na ciang buss. Nasa Wedding at works list of suppliers ba cia? I think u can drop a note to the administrator. U need to sue this guy. I just got married myself last may and mahal sobra cost ng mga suppliers, di na mababalik ung moment n un....

    ReplyDelete
  20. Pangalanan na kase ng sender para malay mo makatulong mga FP readers para mahanap sya. Ang hirap kase nung LL lang eh.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ask W@W Benz for help, maybe she can help you :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Does he share the same last name as singer K.L.? If so, SG based na ata yun. Madami naman Pinoys in SG. Baka meron nakakakilala sa kanya dun para masabihan. Baka naman meron siya explanation sa nangyari. Sana nasa kanya pa raw file. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  23. He has a facebook and a blog that he updated just yesterday. Perhaps the bride can contact him through there?

    I hope the bride gets her photos.

    ReplyDelete
  24. i-SUE na yan! devastating!

    ReplyDelete
  25. 1st name niya parang isang karatista.

    ReplyDelete
  26. photog LL who's based in sg is not a wedding photographer... he's a travel photographer...

    ReplyDelete
  27. sarap lamas lamasin ang mukha nung photog!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Gaya nung sabi ng iba dito, mukang na delete o may nangyari sa files ng wedding mo. Kung yun ang nangyari, dapat sana sabihin niya na sa yo at magbigay na full refund. Sana marami kang kaibigan at kapamilya na maganda ang shots nung wedding, kahit sa celphone lang basta malinaw. Tapos kahit corny, mag pose na lang kayo ng husband mo ulit sa wedding clothes niyo para sa formal portraits. Kahit papano, meron ka pa rin album.

    ReplyDelete
  29. is his first name the same with a brand of clothing/jeans. or a "sea snake" in reverse? kase i know someone who works for him



    xo

    ReplyDelete
  30. oh my! ok lang sana kung nadelayed lang ng ilang months this things do happen pero kung pati photographer ay nagdisappear e ibang usapan na yan!

    have you tried contacting LL thru FB? meron naman siya sigurong FB page and i guess nagchecheck siya doon everyday...

    hay nako ang mga wedding supplier nga naman sa sobra nating magkaroon ng perfect wedding lalo pang pumapalpak!

    SHARE KO LANG: ako naman we didn't have any problems with our wedding photographer (the last name of the photographer is the name of former ms. international). he's so mabait and VERY VERY PROFESSIOINAL. nagkaproblem kami sa aming strings! hay nako! can you imagine mali yung song na tinugtog nila sa bridal march!!! i'm so pissed!!! what is the point of meeting them up and reviewing the repertoire kung mali yung song? and sa bridal march pa sila nagkamali which is so important to me! you could see their group playing on a mall somewhere in makati.

    ReplyDelete
  31. the first name has something to do with a martial arts legend, ayokong lamasin ito baka malasin e... checked out his website and it says that it will be up on april 2009... tsk tsk tsk is he a good photographer? better get the top philippine wedding photog to be sure get DL, we got him he is very good and very friendly and accomodating=)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dapat pag ganyang mga ganyan specially galing sa isa mga naloko ng manloloko dapat wala nang initials...anyway sira na credibility nung sira ulong photographer na yun...and for the people to be aware di ba..what do u think?
    -Mang Gusting

    ReplyDelete
  33. Kuha ko na kung sino si LL! Naku, good luck girl. Sana makuha mo pa ang photos mo. Sayang talaga kasi big day mo yun eh. Sana lang may back-up photog ka that day pero di na maibabalik yun e. Habulin mo nalang si LL!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sino si LL? More clues puh-lease. =)

    ReplyDelete
  35. The LL you're all posting about says he's based in Pasig (through his FB account) and has been updating his page with trainings and seminars to be held here in Manila. It doesn't say on his page that he's in Singapore.......-Love, Girl Takei

    ReplyDelete
  36. yes he has a facebook account with recent posts. i suggest you like it and post a comment

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ang kapal din naman nitong photog na 'to. Least he could do is return part of the money and apologize. Hay, dapat sa mga manloloko pinaparusahan kaagad nang magtanda at hindi na makapanloko ng iba! Good luck with that, girl! Sana magawan mo ng paraan ito.

    ReplyDelete
  38. 1:15 pm has a point. The LL in SG specializes in travel. I don't remember ever hearing of him as a wedding photographer.

    More clues, perhaps?

    ReplyDelete
  39. kilala ko yan si LL. sa Valle Verde Terraces yung office nya dati. victim din nya friend ko and hanggang ngayon wala pa din pictures and video ng wedding nila. mahal pa naman ng binayad nila! expensive kase yung mga package nya. i hope this article will be able to help them. alam ko they are planning to sue him na rin.

    ReplyDelete
  40. if its the LL guy you're referring to, i had a similar bad experience with him as well way way back. I booked him for my engagement & it was ok on the day itself. But it took over a year for my album & portraits to come out. As in constant follow ups talaga. My wedding portrait & album from a diff photographer came out pa first kaysa ung mga album nya. He really has a problem with completing his work on the set timeline. Buti nalng our agreement was 25% final payment upon deliver of all finished products kaya he's required to come up with everything kahit super tagal na.

    ReplyDelete
  41. No he is not based in Singapore. First name pareho ng actor in Enter the Dragon. Last name sounds like the Dalai LAMA. Madami na biktima yan. Sana makonsensya naman sya.

    ReplyDelete
  42. you can press charges against this person. di ko lang sure kung anong laws dito sa pinas against undelivered services. Kasi me nabasa ako sa UK news na ganito ding incident, the videographer was asked to pay a large sum of money. para din siguro matuto ang taong yan. :-(

    ReplyDelete
  43. if we are talking of the same LL, he has an FB account & a seperate FB fan page acct. goodluck girl!

    ReplyDelete
  44. how did you get in touch with LL? the LL I know is based in Singapore but does not cover weddings, alam ko purely travel siya. if your LL is in Pinas then maybe you can find him during wedding expos, im sure kilala yan ng mga wedding suppliers/photographers.

    ReplyDelete
  45. if the photographer really lost the pictures, he should have just came clean and do some extra services for the customer, he should have done it in a professional way

    ReplyDelete
  46. Agree ako with Anonynomous 23 Sept, 10:33 AM. If you are not a member of weddings@work, try mo pa rin e-mail si Benz Co-Rana. They really try to help out pag may ganitong issues between suppliers and clients e. Maybe she can help you.

    ReplyDelete
  47. sign up ka kaya sa workshop then pag-attend mo dala ka lawyer. tapos boom! wala na siguro siya kawala! haha

    ReplyDelete
  48. I know who is LL, in fact, i have already informed him about this site. He said wala daw siya na-re-recall na ganun but he will look into the matter with utmost care. Hahanapin daw niya kung sino ang hindi nabigyan ng proofs. Im also a Photographer, in my knowledge he retired from wedding photography a year ago.
    He is now engaged in other business aside from teaching photography, he also said that his company is still taking care of the post production of past clients, he also stressed that wala naman daw siyang tinaguan, all of them are mostly his FB friends.

    To Ms.Bride w/o photos and everybody concerned, you can reach LL thru his personal mobile no. 09179358976 he is mostly out of town on other business transactions so better to text him if he could not answer and he will get back to you asap.

    Guys, im not keen on taking sides, but i personally know LL, actually kumpare ko siya, he has been in the industry for almost 17yrs. now, wala naman naging major problem. He also said na maraming hazards sa pagiging wedding photographer, ni minsan hindi daw siya nawalan nang files even nung film days. Although he admitted na meron talagang nade-delay na albums pero nakaka-deliver daw siya. Minsan kasalanan din ng client kaya tumatagal, late din magbigay ng chosen images or minsan pagkabigay gusto ora-orada nandiyan na ang album, e papano naman yung mga nauna sa kanila diba? - LL

    Please just respect my opinion: i know him and he is not a walanghiya person, so please give him the benefit of the doubt.
    He is the one who gave me his personal contact number, so to Ms. Bride w/o photos, please contact him immediately so that we can clear this matter once and for all.

    Salamat po sa pagbasa
    L

    ReplyDelete
  49. baka naman na-delete na nya accidentally... No other reason to delay the pics diba?

    ReplyDelete
  50. To Mr. L of September 26 6:00PM:
    I know several other brides who are suffering the same fate, also because of LL. He's been Missing In Action for several months already. He is not answering their calls and even FB messages. Ms. Benz Rana of W@W is also informed of this. I suggest you talk to LL before it's too late, I know these ladies are planning to sue him already. Like they say "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"

    ReplyDelete
  51. If the letter writer has a credible story, I'm sure she has exhausted all known means to contact her wedding photographer. However, since she has already paid the guy in full and tapos na nag event, Hindi na nya trabaho para macontact yung photographer. Si LL na mismo dapat kusa magbigay ng proofs, albums, etc-- stuff that they have agreed upon. Si LL ang may "utang", so to speak, sa bride & groom. Wala na si bride obligations at all, ni hindi nya dapat pagkahirapan hanapin yung manlolokong LL na yun. I hope she gets her photos. That guy should go to jail for what he's putting his clients through.

    ReplyDelete
  52. if you guys know LL personally, you should know the real story about what happened to his business together with the partners. all materials were PADLOCKED with all the equipments, files etc. there are things that are beyond LL's control. he is a very good photographer. do you know what really happened? SHIT HAPPENS!

    ReplyDelete
  53. shit happens to everybody but it's still your choice to come out and explain or go into hiding. Tapos hindi lang pala ito ang incident. makakarma din yan

    ReplyDelete
  54. MY GOD!!! BAKIT NGAYON ko lang ito nabasa? Halos personal ko na rin kilala ang photog na ito -- neighbor ko sya, same floor dito sa condo sa meralco ave.! Gosh! Yes, more than a year ago, parang magulo ang standing nya dito sa condo. Nakapadlock ang room tapos parang nakita ko biglang nag-garage sale something, pati coffee mugs, may price! I didnt know na may gulo na palang nangyayari abt his business that time. I thought simpleng moving out rituals lang to let go of your old stuff and the works. Im also into photography but I never got close to this LL. Lagi syang nanlilisik ang mga mata kung makatingin. He's quite a tall guy, may itsura naman. Yun nga lang he's really not that friendly like he says on his FB account. I hope by this time your wedding pictures are with yo u already. This is SO sad!!! Good luck, sis! Funny because his first name and my last name are the same! --LL NEIGHBOR

    ReplyDelete
  55. it's already 2013, still no pictures from Mr. LL photographer. and if you see his FB profile, he's apparently back in business. nanloloko nanaman ng mga tao.

    ReplyDelete
  56. 2014 na. Ganun pa rin ba sya?

    ReplyDelete