Karen Pretorius Photography
1.8|5 reviews
MR
Meagan R
1 reviews | Active since Member
05 Sept 2024, 09:53
Do not recommend this photographer!
The wedding photos she delivered were not of the promised and advertised quality, they were infact a very low standard quality. She declines to allow photos to be removed and substituted. She declines to edit photos in a way she had promised to do before even taking the photos. She also does not allow me as a client to have a say in which photos I prefer or not. Since there were few photographs of my son taken at my wedding, I requested for a non-essential photo to be replaced with more photos of my son, even if it is the same photo but his hand only moved a centimetre. She voiced her protest. Because I requested replacement images instead of extra ones, I think that because I paid her a large sum, I should have been allowed to ask for at least a few more photos of my baby. Majority of the pictures are of very poor quality, they are either distorted, fuzzy, or completely blurry, or they have been excessively edited to the extent that individuals in the background have unnatural-looking eyes, not even to speak of the persons in the foreground. After making several efforts to solve the issues, there was a growing number of refusals.
She refuses to schedule in-person meetings after I as the the client voiced my concerns. She also refuses to answer a telephonic call after raising such concerns.
She is highly unprofessional when being confronted with an issue regarding her work.
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Replies (53)0
Replies (53)Karen Pretorius Photography's replyOfficial
21 Jul 2025, 13:13Hi Meagan,
Though some time has passed, I believe it’s important to respond — not to argue, but to offer clarity for anyone who may come across this review and the ones that followed it.
Your full wedding gallery was delivered on time and in line with the editing style, contract, and expectations agreed upon before the day. I remained in open communication for weeks after delivery, answering every concern and request — even when many of those requests became unrealistic, including:
Removing one of your bridesmaids from every photo
Erasing all background guests
Retouching others’ appearances to “look prettier”
Replacing delivered images with different moments not captured
I also addressed your concerns about the number of photos featuring your child. He was beautifully captured during the ceremony, with seven dedicated photos, but unfortunately, he was asleep for the rest of the day. As a documentary-style photographer, I can only capture what is present.
When I could no longer meet the demands being made without compromising my ethics or mental wellbeing, I disengaged communication and sought legal support. That decision was not made lightly.
The most damaging part, however, came after:
Following our final interaction, I noticed a sudden flood of negative reviews across different platforms — written by individuals who were not present at your wedding and had no direct interaction with me. These were clearly coordinated and incredibly hurtful, especially as a small business owner who puts heart and soul into my work.
This has been an incredibly painful experience — not just professionally, but personally. I’ve remained quiet for a long time to protect my peace, but it’s important for others to see the full picture.
I stand by the work I delivered, and by the way I handled this situation — with integrity, patience, and professionalism. I am still incredibly proud of the images as some bridal blogs including Mooi Troues wanted to feature these images. A preview can be viewed here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14Lv35PBWkB/ and, for full transparency, I am happy to provide a sample of the gallery privately to any prospective client.
Wishing you peace and closure,
— Karen Pretorius Photography
Though some time has passed, I believe it’s important to respond — not to argue, but to offer clarity for anyone who may come across this review and the ones that followed it.
Your full wedding gallery was delivered on time and in line with the editing style, contract, and expectations agreed upon before the day. I remained in open communication for weeks after delivery, answering every concern and request — even when many of those requests became unrealistic, including:
Removing one of your bridesmaids from every photo
Erasing all background guests
Retouching others’ appearances to “look prettier”
Replacing delivered images with different moments not captured
I also addressed your concerns about the number of photos featuring your child. He was beautifully captured during the ceremony, with seven dedicated photos, but unfortunately, he was asleep for the rest of the day. As a documentary-style photographer, I can only capture what is present.
When I could no longer meet the demands being made without compromising my ethics or mental wellbeing, I disengaged communication and sought legal support. That decision was not made lightly.
The most damaging part, however, came after:
Following our final interaction, I noticed a sudden flood of negative reviews across different platforms — written by individuals who were not present at your wedding and had no direct interaction with me. These were clearly coordinated and incredibly hurtful, especially as a small business owner who puts heart and soul into my work.
This has been an incredibly painful experience — not just professionally, but personally. I’ve remained quiet for a long time to protect my peace, but it’s important for others to see the full picture.
I stand by the work I delivered, and by the way I handled this situation — with integrity, patience, and professionalism. I am still incredibly proud of the images as some bridal blogs including Mooi Troues wanted to feature these images. A preview can be viewed here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14Lv35PBWkB/ and, for full transparency, I am happy to provide a sample of the gallery privately to any prospective client.
Wishing you peace and closure,
— Karen Pretorius Photography
Best regards,
Karen Pretorius Photography's reply21 Jul 2025, 13:13
Official
Hi Meagan,
Though some time has passed, I believe it’s important to respond — not to argue, but to offer clarity for anyone who may come across this review and the ones that followed it.
Your full wedding gallery was delivered on time and in line with the editing style, contract, and expectations agreed upon before the day. I remained in open communication for weeks after delivery, answering every concern and request — even when many of those requests became unrealistic, including:
Removing one of your bridesmaids from every photo
Erasing all background guests
Retouching others’ appearances to “look prettier”
Replacing delivered images with different moments not captured
I also addressed your concerns about the number of photos featuring your child. He was beautifully captured during the ceremony, with seven dedicated photos, but unfortunately, he was asleep for the rest of the day. As a documentary-style photographer, I can only capture what is present.
When I could no longer meet the demands being made without compromising my ethics or mental wellbeing, I disengaged communication and sought legal support. That decision was not made lightly.
The most damaging part, however, came after:
Following our final interaction, I noticed a sudden flood of negative reviews across different platforms — written by individuals who were not present at your wedding and had no direct interaction with me. These were clearly coordinated and incredibly hurtful, especially as a small business owner who puts heart and soul into my work.
This has been an incredibly painful experience — not just professionally, but personally. I’ve remained quiet for a long time to protect my peace, but it’s important for others to see the full picture.
I stand by the work I delivered, and by the way I handled this situation — with integrity, patience, and professionalism. I am still incredibly proud of the images as some bridal blogs including Mooi Troues wanted to feature these images. A preview can be viewed here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14Lv35PBWkB/ and, for full transparency, I am happy to provide a sample of the gallery privately to any prospective client.
Wishing you peace and closure,
— Karen Pretorius Photography
Though some time has passed, I believe it’s important to respond — not to argue, but to offer clarity for anyone who may come across this review and the ones that followed it.
Your full wedding gallery was delivered on time and in line with the editing style, contract, and expectations agreed upon before the day. I remained in open communication for weeks after delivery, answering every concern and request — even when many of those requests became unrealistic, including:
Removing one of your bridesmaids from every photo
Erasing all background guests
Retouching others’ appearances to “look prettier”
Replacing delivered images with different moments not captured
I also addressed your concerns about the number of photos featuring your child. He was beautifully captured during the ceremony, with seven dedicated photos, but unfortunately, he was asleep for the rest of the day. As a documentary-style photographer, I can only capture what is present.
When I could no longer meet the demands being made without compromising my ethics or mental wellbeing, I disengaged communication and sought legal support. That decision was not made lightly.
The most damaging part, however, came after:
Following our final interaction, I noticed a sudden flood of negative reviews across different platforms — written by individuals who were not present at your wedding and had no direct interaction with me. These were clearly coordinated and incredibly hurtful, especially as a small business owner who puts heart and soul into my work.
This has been an incredibly painful experience — not just professionally, but personally. I’ve remained quiet for a long time to protect my peace, but it’s important for others to see the full picture.
I stand by the work I delivered, and by the way I handled this situation — with integrity, patience, and professionalism. I am still incredibly proud of the images as some bridal blogs including Mooi Troues wanted to feature these images. A preview can be viewed here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14Lv35PBWkB/ and, for full transparency, I am happy to provide a sample of the gallery privately to any prospective client.
Wishing you peace and closure,
— Karen Pretorius Photography
Best regards,