Frustration builds for couples as their wedding photographer disappears, leaving them with no photos and no resolution.
In a disheartening tale, Shi Hui, a civil servant in Singapore, has been left without the wedding photos she eagerly anticipated after hiring freelance photographer Alvin Yap to capture her special day. Despite paying over $2,000 for a pre-wedding and wedding photography package, she has yet to see any of the promised images from her wedding in December 2022.
Her troubles began after Mr. Yap claimed that a “storage system crash” had affected the photos. Though he initially reassured her that data recovery efforts were underway, communication soon ceased entirely. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact him, including through WhatsApp and email, Shi Hui turned to Complaint Singapore, a Facebook platform, to share her experience and warn others.
She is not alone—other couples have come forward with similar complaints, revealing that Yap had taken payments without delivering any photographs. The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) is now involved, and police have been notified.
Couples who have been affected by this situation are being advised to carefully research photographers before hiring them, checking for good credentials, experience, and a strong track record. For those who may face similar issues in the future, experts suggest exploring legal options, such as lodging claims with the Small Claims Tribunal.
