BEWARE!! These people are extremely unprofessional. I never even got past the negotiation point with them. I was concerned that you get what you pay for with them - and unfortunately it applies in this case.
First off - let me premise- I AM NOT a Bridezilla - more of a BrideCHILLA. I am the a sweet ,easy going person. so for me to actually sit and write this - says a lot about the negative vibe of this company.
They offer "promotions" and "discounts" that they say only apply til the end of the month, however they roll over to the next month. So they say that to get you to sign right away - take the time to research and READ the fine print!!!
Each time I was in contact with them another surprise popped up - "oh we can't do that, or offer that...because your wedding falls on a holiday" - when they had the wedding date from day 1.
I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt - but then we got the contract- it only protects them and does NOT guarantee services on their part. You are expected to pay half the balance right away - and the the remainder 2 weeks before - BEFORE services are actually rendered. There is no guarantee that they will shoot your wedding or provide you with any pictures. At least not in the fine print. When I asked Dan about it changing the contract to guarantee services and protect the customer - he said No, they won't change it. They could only promise that they will show up and provide the pictures, otherwise it could "hurt their reputation."
They also DO NOT release the negatives for at LEAST 6 months after your wedding- unless you purchase $900 of prints or albums. I was passed around from Dan, to Michelle and back and forth. I rarely received phone calls - only impersonal emails. I only spoke with them when I CALLED them.
On top of all that - they send over multiple conflicting contracts. All with different pricing. Some had initial pages with an old expired price from September - but expected me to sign a contract with 2 different prices.??? When I brought up the issue - they said it was a mistake and old pricing and to ignore it. that I was expected to pay the higher price (ok???). So when I questioned them on that - they told me basically to "F" off and go find a new photographer. I immediately - again I was the one who placed the phone call- called Dan and he stood by his decision to not work with me. he made up some bogus story about how that I am not happy with them and their dates are filling up. I said they already had a signed contract from us confirming the date. and He said that it doesn't matter because they never got my down payment. I said I would like to speak with the owner and he connected me with some guy named Tim. I am sure he was just the janitor over there because, on the Secretary of State Website - it says it is owned by a person name Michael.
Tim heard me out - and my frustration with Dan's behavior, and how he is just dismissing me and leaving me high and dry without a Photographer for my wedding. He said he wanted to "hear the staff's side of the story" and call me back - when I asked him "isn't the customer always right?" he answered: "Well, you are not a customer yet!" WHAT????
I spoke with my fiance about it , and he was like - if they are acting like this now .... how can we trust them? why would we even want to do business with them?? And they are expecting us to pay in full before they even show up to photograph the wedding?
So when I received a call back from "Tim the owner" he basically told me that he is taking the side of his sales rep and turning me away as a customer. Talk about ruining their reputation. They are doing that before they even get any payment!
I am surprised that WGN has agreed to attach their name to George Street. They are a NIGHTMARE!!
We have decided to have a personal friend flown in and put him in a hotel - in exchange for the photography, negatives, prints and albums. Take everyone above's advise - stay away!
you get what you pay for - pay a bit more or use a friend and get exactly what you want! you don't want to be left high and dry without a photographer on your wedding day!