((Story time: this is Mel Rae Smith. Mel was suggested to me as a photographer by someone back before Sakura Con 2018. Her work looked great, and I was happy to hire someone who seemed so professional.
For two shoots, where I was to receive 20-25 photos each, it would cost $120, but she made me a deal to do both shoots for $100. I made a down payment of $20 to secure the shoot, and told her I would feel more comfortable paying the remaining $80 once we met for the photoshoots. She agreed to these terms, we took some photos, and I delivered the money.
I was told it would take no longer than a month to get my edited photos back. The con ended on April 1st, and I still have nothing. My first attempt at contacting her came with the excuse that she had contracted strep throat, and was too ill to work on photos. I forgave this, as it was towards the end of April. I have made multiple attempts to contact her, each a month apart in May and June. The messages from these months have not been read, despite Facebook showing her to be active at the time they were sent.
When a friend confronted her on FB about her blatant theft and unprofessional ways, going so far as to threaten legal action, my friend was promptly blocked, and the list of Mel’s friends has mysteriously vanished from being viewable to the public. She’s scared, and she’s running away with her tail between her legs, because she knows she’s in hot water now.
I paid $100 for photos of cosplays I was proud to display (Varian and Autumn Jack Frost), and for that price and supposed quality, I should have my finished product by now. I invite you all to pay her a visit on Facebook and say:
“On behalf of your client, Devon Wilson, please deliver the photos that were promised, unedited if need be. You have stolen his money, and the cosplay community will hear about this.”
Perhaps if enough people spam this crook, we can drill it into her corrupt head that this will not be tolerated. In the future, I will be writing up official contracts to be signed by photographers for my safety, and I urge all cosplay models to do the same. Protect yourself from these con artists (pun intended.)
Please share this post, and thank you to those who support me in getting my pictures back. Below is a link to her website with further contact information.))
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The-Lounge 