A majority of the population believes that weddings are one of the most magical events in anyone’s lifetime. Everything is supposed to be perfect on one’s wedding day. Couples do everything to make their big day a memorable one. And hiring a trusted photographer is one of the best ways to store the memories of this special day in the most spectacular way possible.

This is the story of a photographer, Andrea Polito, and the couple who hired her. The couple had an issue with Andrea which they shared on their social platforms which destroyed Andrea’s career. But later truth turned the course of events in such a manner that the entire world blamed this couple for all that had happened.

A Photographer’s Worst Nightmare

Wedding photographers earn a lot more than compared to other photographers in various fields. Once a wedding photographer gains popularity, they are offered with many packages and just two or three offers a month keeps their business going well and fine. When anyone chooses to become a good photographer, the liking towards wedding ceremonies is obvious. 

A Lover Of Celebrations

Andrea Polito always had a different place for wedding bells and ceremonies. And Andrea enjoyed her work and after many years of experience, she was now a pro in her field of work. Many of her old customers used to refer their friends to her. Certainly, life was going pretty well for her until one couple approached her.

A Referred Couple

This couple heard a lot about Andrea’s incredible work from one of their friends who recently got married. They wanted to get some memorable pictures summed up in a wedding photo album with the best shots. After researching many of Andrea’s old project, the couple was finally confident that Andrea will be the right choice to shoot their best day’s memories.

A Blogger Bride

These days, bloggers make a great impact on people through their social media accounts. When they share the products they use or the brands they prefer, it directly influences their followers. This couple who approached Andrea that day was quite active on social media. In fact, the bride-to-be was a very popular lifestyle blogger.

A Golden Opportunity

To Andrea, this wedding photography offer looked like a great way to expand her business and popularize her work. If a famous blogger will give the credit of her wedding photographs to someone, then that photographer is sure to get lots and lots of offers in the future. In short, Andrea was hoping that this project will skyrocket her profits. Sadly, the scene was actually going to become the opposite of her expectations. 

Finalizing A Deal

After a long discussion on requirements and a little bargain, both parties seemed to see this project as a beneficial deal and a wise choice. Now, there was just one more formality left before everything could finally be settled. What seemed like the end of the discussion was actually going to be the beginning of a future accusation.

A Contract

Before Andrea could start the project for the couple’s wedding, she gave them a bunch of papers to read and sign on if they agree with the terms and conditions. It was the legal contract to be signed which had all the terms and conditions of the photographer and the payment details which the couple agreed upon.

High Hopes

Andrea had high hopes with this project and she started working on it right after the contract was signed. She was planning on giving them the best shot for their album and their social media accounts. 

Bad For Business

Completely opposite to Andrea’s initial expectations, this couple actually destroyed her career to an extent that she had to close her studio. But this entire case was misrepresented and once the news came out, everyone was shocked and sorry.

A Blogger In Love

In October 2014, Neely and Andrew were eagerly waiting for their wedding photos to be delivered. Which photo will be uploaded and where was already planned by the couple. They wanted to decorate the walls with the memories of their big day.

Sadness And Disappointment

Several months passed after their wedding but they didn’t receive the photographs. Out of desperation, Neely made an online post. She shared her frustration with her followers in the post that immediately served its purpose by grabbing the attention of most of her followers.

The Media Takes Notice

As the post was being discussed by many people in the virtual world, one of the local news channels noticed this post and helped it in further going viral. This news channel approached Neely who instantly said yes for the interview.

Empty Frames

In the interview, Neely sat with empty frames trying to gain the sympathy of every viewer watching her on the TV screen. She said that all she is asking for is her wedding photographs which she had already paid for. But what was the reason that refrained Andrea from giving them the photos?

Bad Press Around The World

People were taking the story of a couple waiting for their wedding photographs pretty seriously. When The Daily Mail, U.K. published the sensational story with the headline stating: “Wedding Photographer Holds Couple’s Pictures Hostage”, it was believed by many of the sites’ audience. The main point that everyone kept missing here was the fact that this was just the couple’s side of the story.

The Photo Package

As per Neely, she paid a sum $6,000 to Andrea for their wedding shoot. The issue started when the couple was asked to pay $150 more to get the full versions of the images. Neely couldn’t remember signing up to pay for this extra money. 

The Photo Cover

After paying $6,000 for the shoots when Neely was asked to pay more sum, she just couldn’t accept that. This wedding package included countless full-resolution photographs and 80 pictures arranged in a beautiful album. That’s exactly where the issue began.

Why Pay Extra?

According to Andrea, there was a fee of $150 for getting their choice of the picture as the cover of the album. Neely was angry with this hidden charge, and she didn’t want to pay it. Her point was very simple; she had already paid $6,000 in advance. 

An Angry Husband

Neely’s husband, Andrew said in an interview, “It just didn’t make sense. An album comes with a cover. It’s a component of an album. It’s a book.” And this wasn’t all the reason behind the couple’s shock, the next email from Andrea was an even bigger shock.

Increasing Numbers

So, when the couple decided to not pay up this money, they received another email stating the increase in price if they didn’t submit the money by the last date. So, now they were supposed to pay $250 just because they missed the deadline of the initial payment.

Not About The Money

“We can pay the $150, but it’s the principle. It’s not the money to us. It’s the principle of the fact we already paid,” said the couple. They were not doing this for the money but for clearing out the doubts. The couple was curious as to who authorized Andrea to charge them something which was never on papers.

The Negative Buzz Begins

Everyone was in support of the couple and didn’t miss any chance to criticize Andrea and her photography studio. Neely’s followers were feeling sorry for her, and they took to Andrea’s social pages to share their negative views about the photographer they all found very unprofessional and mean.

Two Sides To Every Story

Andrea later recalled telling her studio manager about this contract as: “She’s a blogger. Make sure everything looks perfect. She posted those all over social media. Photographers will hand over the images and the bride disappears.”

Trying To Resolve The Matter

Soon enough, Andrea’s story was revealed and everything became clearer. She was trying to resolve this matter with the couple as she knew it will be affecting her reputation. Andrea contacted them even after the couple took this on a public level. The people were criticizing her but she was trying to solve the matter professionally.

Picture Perfect

Andrea accepted that she was working hard to make Neely’s wedding photoshoot a great success. Photos from their engagement, rehearsal dinner, and the wedding were supposed to be included in their 80- photo- album. 

Immature Behavior

Andrea found this to be a very immature decision on the couple’s end. The couple gave frequent updates to keep the people interested in their story instead of trying to resolve the matter with Andrea and thank her for the hard work.

Trying To Get An Hold

Andrea was being a professional and she was making sure to resolve this issue without affecting her work. Sadly, 12 years of her experience was of no use anymore. As she recalled: “They can’t refer a bride when this is going on.” But she couldn’t help it as the couple wasn’t ready to listen to her.

The First Cracks Appear

Neely and her husband started poking Andrea for the images after a month of their wedding. Andrea made sure that she replies to all of their emails. Andrea couldn’t understand why the couple was so anxious to have the pictures.

Ready To Go

Andrea took her time and informed the couple about the high-resolution images. She emailed Neely to select 80 out of the 4000 photos to make it a perfect album. Sadly Neely wasn’t in the mood to deal with Andrea anymore.

Months Of No Answers

Neely who must have wished to get the pictures right away waited for a couple of months before replying to Andrea’s email. Before informing Andrea about her choice, Neely first tweeted on Twitter about her selection of 80 photographs and later replied to Andrea.

The Telling Email

Neely replied on the email and said: “I’m finally getting around to filling this form out. Do we pay extra for the cover?” Neely selected the decent cover in the beginning but later on changed her mind. A cover with the picture of the bride and the groom was going to cost extra and she was informed about it clearly.