It seems common these days for people to lash out on social media when things don’t go their way. With phrases like “the customer is always right” thrust in our faces daily, it’s no surprise. A few have a sense of entitlement beyond contracts and agreements. But this kind of action can easily backfire, as this couple discovered.

When wedding clients Andrew and Neely Moldovan balked at photographer Andrea Polito’s $150 photo album cover fee, they were hoping to get a freebie. Two and a half years later, the whole ordeal has cost them $1.08 million, a Dallas County ruled on Friday.

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UPDATE: this story is now under trial, you can read the latest update here.

Remember that couple – the Moldovans – who said that their photographer – Andrea Polito – made them pay extra for an album cover? The photographer since came forward with her version of the story showing evidence that she suggested the couple a free cover (and actually went above and beyond for the couple). Many news outlets, though, did not follow up on the story to vindicate Polito. And sadly, even if they did, telling a story about a photographer that is doing good is not as exciting as a photographer who is mistreating their clients and the follow up did not get as much attention.

Obviously Polito’s business took a major hit during those event and now she is seeking justice with the Moldovans. In a filing made to Dallas county Polito is asking for a jury trial for a sum between $200,000 and $1,000,000.

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UPDATE: this story is now under trial, you can read the latest update here.

A few days ago we covered a story about a couple in dispute with a photographer over ‘Album Cover Fees’. The story went incredibly viral getting coverage on around the blogosphere (dailymail, NBC 5, Petapixel, dpreview and DIYP were among the outlets who covered the story). In all this coverage (us included) there was no deep response from the photographer mentioned. Recently she posted an open letter which we are sharing here with her permission.

This is a classic he-said-she-said story and we are not taking any sides. We do think that it is important not to have the (serious) allegations unanswered, and for the sake of balance and giving Polito a fair chance to comment. We are also sharing the letter that came from Polito prior to the thing going viral that one of the commenter’s to the original story uploaded. [Read More…]

UPDATE: This story went under trial, which has now ended. Polito won and The court ordered the Moldovans to pay Polito $1.08 million. you can read the latest update here.

Imagine getting a coffee at Starbucks, paying at the cashier and then when coming to pick it up, being asked for an extra buck as cup fees. A similar situation is at the heart of a dispute between newlyweds: Andrew and Neely Moldovan and wedding photographer Andrea Polito.

The couple got married in October and apparently had a pleasant wedding. They told NBC 5 that they signed a $6,000 contract with Andrea Polito which included a “40 page 8.5×12 Storybook Album with up to 80 images“. Surprisingly when asking for their photos, the photographer requested an additional photo-album-cover-fee with the cheapest one costing $150.

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