Kristen Steele stole my prize.

Recall me "winning" an online giveaway for the destination photographer? Recall my utter bliss at winning? and saving money?
Oh me too.
I remember the excitement over budget bliss and the sheer excitement of being chosen.
It was almost too good to be true.

Because it was too good to be true.
No, really. The rug was pulled out from under me.

Read:

See, this photographer waited until something else panned out, as in another bride with a wedding the day before ours.  Obviously that conflicts right? You can't shoot a wedding the night before and fly to DC the next morning to take my getting ready shots.  That's quick turn around.  This photographer told me she didn't think that the bride would sign the contract. Then why even give her the contract?
But she did. And she signed it. And it conflicts with this photographer coming to our rehearsal dinner.
In further email correspondence she said would take the first flight out the morning of our wedding.
She seemed to think this would work out fine.

So I asked it to be put in writing.
I wanted to see that she would take the first flight out the next morning and fly into DCA.
Because whoever offers something free and then goes and schedules something conflicting is out to make a buck.  I didn't want to get screwed over.

And then I got this email:

 

So the bridezilla in me lashes out with a "WHAT THE FRICK?!" Except it wasn't "Frick."  Followed by some more characters I can't repeat on this respectable blog.  

Wasn't SHE the one who first suggested flying in the morning of?

Didn't SHE meet with this other bride, schedule the other wedding all while KNOWING she offered me the prize for service on  June 19?

And what's this "avid blogger" crap that promotes me saying "The prize is no longer available"?

Let's say it like it is, Kristen Steele: YOU SCREWED ME OVER.  You offered me a prize and then decided not to follow through.  You devised a contest, picked a winner, and then went and scheduled something else.

Ok, yes, I had yet to sign a contract and had no real rights to her yet, but let's remember I didn't even receive a contract to look over, until after the other (paying) bride had her contract.

I can clearly see where the priorities are.

I was offered no consolation prize, nor means to reconcile her mistake.

So we need to let the people of Nashville and the world know, that this photographer they have in their midst need not be trusted.  Sure she can take pretty pictures, but at what price? If she offers you something, sign your contract before she can change her mind, especially if she offers a discount.

Because professionalism is not part of her services.

You'll pay a pretty penny for that.

If you even get it.

We're out a photographer.