Help Me Howard: Where's my pics?

WSVN -- Tynisha Nembhard: "Gorgeous."

Derek Nembhard: "One of the best weddings they've ever been to."

That's the way everyone should talk about their wedding.

Tynisha Nembhard: "Exactly, it's once in a lifetime. It is the day that you dream of and those are our memories, and you can't replace memories."

But Derek and Tynisha can only tell you about their wedding from their memories because they have been waiting three years for their wedding pictures.

Tynisha Nembhard: "I don't understand it. It is like almost he feels like we are going to go away."

When they were on their honeymoon, the photographer did email them some of the shots that he took.

Tynisha Nembhard: "Oh, he had some proofs up, and it was just amazing. We were blown away. We were like, we can't wait to see the rest of them."

That was three years ago. Of course, like most wedding photographers, he had demanded all his money before the wedding.

Tynisha Nembhard: "Well, it's originally $2,389, but then with the additional $400 it was $2,800."

But instead of working on the album, he apparently spent his time working on excuses to not work on the album.

Tynisha Nembhard: "He was having some issues with his father. His father had fallen ill. Then he was overwhelmed at work. That was the excuse, and the stress of everything has led him to put his work to the side. Doctor advised him of that."

Back and forth, Tynisha exchanged email after email with the photographer. Of course, the entire time he had their wedding photos on his web page to advertise his business with a watermark, of course, so they could not print them.

Patrick Fraser: "What am I missing here?"

Tynisha Nembhard: "I don't know, that's what we are trying to find out. What are we missing? Why are we the couple that you are doing this to?"

Then, finally he made an offer that instead of the expensive album they had bought, he would just give them a DVD of the pictures. It's not what they paid for, but Tynisha concluded it was better than nothing.

Tynisha Nembhard: "OK, great, let me know when we can meet. That was November 24th of 2008. We are now looking at May 2009."

They have waited three years, paid nearly $3,000 and exchanged who knows how many phone calls and emails and still can't get their wedding pictures.

Howard Finkelstein: "Clearly, this is ridiculous and unreasonable. Wedding pictures should be delivered within three or four months. If you don't have them in that time frame, just give up and take the photographer to small claims court, and if Patrick can't get Tynisha's pictures, that's what she should do."

When I got the wedding photographer on the phone he blamed Tynisha and Derek, that "they didn't communicate with me." Apparently, he didn't know that Tynisha and Derek had saved all the emails they exchanged over the years. After we talked a few minutes more, he agreed to give them their DVD, and he finally delivered it. Howard says, if you plan to get married, you should have options.

Howard Finkelstein: "It's standard in the wedding industry to pay the photographer in full before the wedding, but don't do that, pay them as they go. Times are hard and photographers, like everybody else, needs business."

Tynisha finally has her wedding pictures and finally can put her wedding from 2006 into an album.

Tynisha Nembhard: "Well, it's a relief to have the pictures. The pictures are gorgeous. He's a great photographer, just horrible follow-through."

Patrick Fraser: "We do hear from a lot of couples who just can't seem to get their wedding photographer to deliver the pictures. Check around before you hire someone. Don't talk to one person who used them, talk to several people. Course, you are only going to get married once or twice."

Had a problem so long you feel like you are married to it? Need someone to groom a solution? Then picture this, we will leave you feeling like you are on a honeymoon.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD
EMAIL: helpmehoward@wsvn.com (Please include your contact phone number when emailing)
REPORTER: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
MIAMI-DADE: 305-953-WSVN
BROWARD: 954-761-WSVN