Wedding Photographer Takes Two Years to Deliver Pictures
How long is TOO long to wait for your wedding memories?
Dara and Kevin Jarosz got married two years ago in 2007. They hired photographer Christian Stomsvick of "1 Love Studio" to be their wedding photographer.
They chose his studio's most expensive photo package, paying $3,500.00 for unlimited coverage, including cd/dvd, prints, albums, thank you cards, the works! They paid the full amount before the wedding and so far have only received their thank you cards.
After the wedding, they began making the usual calls to the photographer to find out when the pictures would be ready and that's when they say he began to delay things.
According to the Jarosz's claims, at first Christian had a sick relative that he had to leave the country to visit, then he became ill, then he supposedly went bankrupt due to medical issues. Then Christan told them they could have their pictures if they paid him "another" $1,000.00. They refused, insisting they had already paid $3,500.00.
Months turned to years, now two years later they are still waiting for their pictures and have to suffer the additional frustration of seeing their wedding pictures showcased on Christian's website, "1 love studio", advertising his company.
Fed up, the Jaroszes called Help Me Howard in May to see if Howard to could get Christian to hand over their wedding pictures. At first Howard's calls to the studio went unanswered, so he headed downtown to the studio in person with the Jaroszes to talk to Christian.
Sadly Christian was not there that day, so they left a message to get in touch and that's when they began getting calls from a woman named Diana Corto, claiming to be Christian's manager.
The Jaroszes had never heard of nor spoken to this woman, so they refused to speak to her. When Howard tried speaking to her, she refused to believe that he was the real "Howard Thompson".
Finally last week, the Jaroszes received their long-awaited photo cd in the mail from Christian.
It did not include the prints, albums or other items that were promised and paid for with their $3,500.00. Instead they got a cd with all their pictures that they can finally get prints made up at another photo studio and begin to enjoy their wedding memories.
People's wedding plans don't usually include disasters like this one, but it's a good idea to be ready, just in case, because a lot of money is paid out in advance for a wedding.
If you've planned an expensive wedding, you may want to protect it with what's called Weddingsurance. Underwritten by the Fireman's Fund, the policy supposedly will cover the reassemblage of the wedding party - including travel, meal and hotel expenses, as well as costs for the cake, flowers and reception hall - in the event of a photo mishap.
Another important tip to remember is to read your contract carefully and in it's entirety --before you sign it. Everything that you want should be written out in the contract "beforehand", trying to add things later just gets more expensive.
Comments: 10
That is so horrible! I was watching this on the news (only half-paying attention though) and decided to come here to finish the rest of the story, but these people who are part of the "1 Love Studio," are absolutely out of line!
Good people who have just been happily married are paying great money for something they want really bad - something that only comes once in their marriage. It is not only the studio's responsibility as a respectable business, but also Christian's for actually being the photographer and making the promise to them that they would be happy with their results. Yes, the man had a heart attack but as unfortunate as that is, it is no excuse whatsoever! Regardless of whether you had a heart attack, had to attend a funeral, had gotten hit by a car, it doesn't matter! He is still the photographer and he still has to bide to promise. Christian is still responsible for his business and if he can not do certain errands himself, he has to make sure that there are people he can rely on to do it for him in his time of despair! His excuse is completely invalid and probably a cry for some sympathy, trying to use some sort of disgusting Pathos to win over the lucky couple.
How disgusting. I can't believe people like this exist. And the studio had the nerve to ask the couple to take off their critical comments on Knot? And also to ask them for 1,000 more dollars? How despicable! They deserve those comments because other customers should know what they're getting into before they get into it, and they definitely do not deserve money after not giving the couple what they want in time. If anything, the couple deserves some money back!
And in the end, they just get some stupid cd? It helps just a little bit but it's definitely not what they deserve. How can adults be so stupid? I'm 15 years old just out of sophomore year and I seem to have more decency than these idiots...
I hope the couple no longer experiences any more idiocy when it comes to doing things together. How sad. I wish them luck.
To the person who posted the first comment, I am incredibly proud of you. At 15 years old you write so well, and the comments you made on my behalf are heartwarming. Thank you!
This is Dara Jarosz and the story was about me. There are two other couples going through the same experience and so I think it is important for people to know about One Love Studio and Christian Miles Stomsvik. The clip stated that I received my photos after two years; however I still have not gotten them. While I did receive a CD of images last Friday (finally) I am saddened to say that the files are too small. I’m lucky if I will be able to print a few 8X10's. Additionally I never got my album, parent albums, 149 prints of varying sizes and magazine style proof book.
This kind of story of not get that the wedding pictures or video is not the first time. Make sure to ask around, which company's service is trustworthy.
Why on earth are service providers, be they photographers, contractors, what have you, not required by law to either carry insurance covering the full replacement value of what they are paid in advance for, or to maintain escrow accounts for advance payments until service is rendered?
This would force out all the wise guys who run their businesses on a shoe string, taking from Paul to give to Peter. A business that needs advance payment in order to afford to complete their work ought not be allowed to conduct that business. Such a business should be required to either have the assets to cover production expense, or insurance specific to each job. To me this is common sense. Why has no legislature in this country ever thought so?
I'm having a similar problem with the photographer from my wedding. First she was in a "car accident" and said our order would be delayed, and since then ALL the phone numbers we had for her are disconnected, we found her house, but it appears as though she no longer lives there, and had emailed her repeatedly without a response. My mistake was trusting her, she had this business "on the side" but i met with her before the wedding, she showed me her portfolio and equipment, She was very professional at the wedding and we were happy with the results.. She even came to our house AFTER the wedding with all 800+ pictures printed out, for us to go through and pick out the ones we wanted "professionally" printed. At that time, we ordered and paid for the pictures, cd, bridal book and enlargements and that's when we basically never heard from her again. The three weeks she told us it would take for the pictures to be in has now turned into MONTHS and im afraid will turn into years or never if we don't do something.. Is there anything we can do, like file a police report?? we don't want our money back, we just want our pictures, we know she HAS them, we've seen them! Anyone have suggestions??
I am a former assistant of Christian Stomsvik's. He is absolutely insane. My employment (if you can call it that - I was never paid for any work I did over the course of 5 months) ended badly with him after I realized what a complete sociopath he was. He was incredibly emotionally abusive to me. I am a beautiful girl, but overweight nonetheless. My supposed "photography" internship with him became a sick boot-camp regimen; as he explained it numerous times each day, I was too fat. He would make me work out in his studio and run around his neighborhood, making me cry at some points. One instance in particular occurred at a wedding we were shooting in New Jersey. He made a comment to the extent of "I really hope they serve dinner soon." The other assistant replied "why do you care?," and Christian actually said "because Catherine can't eat after 7:00." This man is sick, I have many more examples of his abusive behavior. Oh, and I would bet my life that all his excuses, heart attack/sick family member/etc., are bullshit. He would goof off in the studio all day, being totally unproductive, all the while leaving his poor wife and 2 young children home wondering why he never spent time with them. This is a man who is almost forty years old, but who still makes his aging mother, Diana Corto, take care of his finances (he would spend thousands of dollars on unnecessary equipment when he was supposedly broke) and manage his life for him. Christian, if you are reading this: karma's a bitch.
I too used One Love Studio Wedding Photography aka Christian StomsVik. My wife and I married on 7/5/2008. Our story is identical to Dara's. This man in my opinion is a thief. He took our money and did not deliver everything we paid for and agreed upon in a legally binding contract. My wife and I did get a cd containing our images last week just as Dara did but we still have not received our proof book or prints we selected. We are going to continue to exhaust every option available to get what is owed to us. Since posting details of our experience online Christian Stomsvik has emailed me threatening legal action for defamation, libel and slander. Everything I have described online simply details the experience my wife and I have had with One Love Studio Wedding Photography (1lovestudio.com) and Christian StomsVik. We have filed reports with the BBB, NY Attorney General, NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. I strongly recommend that you do not use One Love Studio 1lovestudio.com or Christian StomsVik for any of your photography needs. He does not honor the contracts you sign and simply takes your money without delivering on the things you are owed and agreed to. I hope this information saves other couples the stress and dissatisfaction that we have experienced over an event that was supposed to be a wonderful occasion. One Love Studio Wedding Photography and Christian StomsVik have succeeded in currently making it a difficult memory.
I am pleased to say One Love Studio Wedding Photography – Christian StomsVik – Delivered and fulfilled the terms in our contract. I have our Prints, Proof book and CD of images.
Christian StomsVik of One Love Studio Wedding Photography has made good on our contract. I received everything that we paid for and agreed to under the terms of our contract. It took a year but we have all our wedding photos, the prints, the proof book and the cd containing all the images. Thank you Christian. I hope everyone else gets their items as well.
One Love Studio Wedding Photography aka Christian StomsVik has delivered and fulfilled the terms in our contract. I have recieved our Prints, Proof book and CD of images. Christian StomsVik of One Love Studio Wedding Photography has made good on our contract. I received everything that we paid for and agreed to under the terms of our contract. It took a year but we have all our wedding photos, the prints, the proof book and the cd containing all the images. Thank you Christian.
we are going thru the same think with Kevin Mawson Photography. I am going to contact Howard -hopefully he can help.
sorry about your photos -- really sad!