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Wedding photographer delivers poorly or not at all: your rights

A photo assignment, for example for a wedding, is as a rule a contract for work: you owe the fee for a defect-free work. If the photographer delivers unusable, heavily defective pictures, far too late or not at all, you have defect rights: from rectification through price reduction to reclaiming the fee.

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Your chances of getting your money back

For a defective work (blurry, unusable, incomplete pictures) you can demand subsequent performance, reduce the price or, for significant defects, withdraw and reclaim the fee (proportionally). In case of culpable failure, damages are an option.
Especially with one-time events (wedding), rectification is often impossible, then price reduction, withdrawal and damages are in the foreground. Secure the contract and the promised services as evidence.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Secure the contract and promises

    Record what was agreed (scope, number of pictures, delivery time, quality).

  2. 2

    2. Document defects

    Describe and prove the defects (blurry, missing motifs, delayed, not delivered).

  3. 3

    3. Set a deadline / reduce

    Demand, where possible, subsequent performance with a deadline; if it is pointless, reduce or reclaim the fee.

  4. 4

    4. Check damages

    For a culpable complete failure of a one-time event, damages additionally come into consideration.

How to spot the scam

  • The photographer delivers, despite a promise, not at all or extremely late.
  • The pictures are technically unusable (blurry, wrongly exposed).
  • Agreed services (number, motifs) are not provided.

Frequently asked questions

Which rights do I have with bad photos?

For a defective work you can demand subsequent performance, reduce the fee or, for significant defects, withdraw and reclaim it (proportionally). In case of culpable failure, damages additionally come into consideration. Decisive is what was agreed.

What applies to a wedding that cannot be repeated?

Since rectification cannot replace the one-time event, price reduction, withdrawal and damages are in the foreground. If the photographer delivers not at all or unusably, you can reclaim the fee and assert damage beyond that.

How do I enforce my claims?

Secure the contract and promises, document the defects concretely and call on the photographer in writing, for subsequent performance (where sensible) or reimbursement. If they do not react, you can enforce the claim in court if necessary.

Take action now

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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.