You may enter this site in the same window. Not Your Typical Photography is a documentary wedding photography studio owned and run by photographer Amin Russell. NYT Photography supplies wedding photography coverage to New Orleans, LA and Jackson, MS and its surrounding areas. NYT Photography supplies destination wedding coverage to other southern locations.
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Reviews (5)
Melina L.
Jun 22, 2022
Finally getting around to writing all of my wedding reviews. Like a couple other people have said: he's a SCAM artist. First he calls and says you've won a free shoot (I've seen other businesses do this as a way of sharing their work/spreading their name) and that you'll just have to pay for the prints. I was fine with this, so we used him as opposed to our wedding photographer for our engagement shoot.
The shoot went well and he was nice and professional throughout that. He then set up a zoom meeting for us to go over the images and choose what to purchase. Zoom meeting was set for 6 PM and we pushed it back a bit because he was running late, perfectly fine. At around 6:30 we started the process of reviewing 200+ images, giving simple 'yes' or 'no's.
After an hour of that, he asks us to choose from his packages. I stated that I only wanted to purchase the digital images as I don't hang up portraits in my house and don't have use for the books/prints/etc. He informs me the digital prints ONLY come with his most expensive package ($1200) that also includes giant canvas and acrylic portraits, a book, and an app.
I didn't want any of that and asked if I could add the digital images to a smaller package (to be clear I expected to pay at least a couple hundred dollars for the digitals) and he tells me it's not possible. Essentially, the only way to have anything more than physical prints of a handful of your engagement pictures is to spent $1200. I told him I'd need time to think about what pictures I wanted and where I could put such large prints before I picked the pictures and he told me I had 1 hour to decide because he "goes to bed early" and the deal would be expiring that night. NEVER mentioned this before.
I had to choose between completely re-taking pictures in the Louisiana summer or coughing up $1200 for pictures that I didn't even love. It took a lot of moving schedules around to even do the first shoot, so we decided just to pay for the biggest package and we could give all of the stuff away to parents, grandparents etc. I was nice via communication for fear that if I wasn't he wouldn't give me the pictures at all.
After MONTHS when he was finally ready to deliver the products, he told me I'd have to drive to the northshore to get them or pay $100 to have them shipped to me because all of the random stuff no one wants weighed so much. All of the dumb extras (huge, thick acrylic print, huge canvas print, book, app, "Amin Russell Photography" flash drive) sit unused in my storage room. DO NOT book with this man.
The shoot went well and he was nice and professional throughout that. He then set up a zoom meeting for us to go over the images and choose what to purchase. Zoom meeting was set for 6 PM and we pushed it back a bit because he was running late, perfectly fine. At around 6:30 we started the process of reviewing 200+ images, giving simple 'yes' or 'no's.
After an hour of that, he asks us to choose from his packages. I stated that I only wanted to purchase the digital images as I don't hang up portraits in my house and don't have use for the books/prints/etc. He informs me the digital prints ONLY come with his most expensive package ($1200) that also includes giant canvas and acrylic portraits, a book, and an app.
I didn't want any of that and asked if I could add the digital images to a smaller package (to be clear I expected to pay at least a couple hundred dollars for the digitals) and he tells me it's not possible. Essentially, the only way to have anything more than physical prints of a handful of your engagement pictures is to spent $1200. I told him I'd need time to think about what pictures I wanted and where I could put such large prints before I picked the pictures and he told me I had 1 hour to decide because he "goes to bed early" and the deal would be expiring that night. NEVER mentioned this before.
I had to choose between completely re-taking pictures in the Louisiana summer or coughing up $1200 for pictures that I didn't even love. It took a lot of moving schedules around to even do the first shoot, so we decided just to pay for the biggest package and we could give all of the stuff away to parents, grandparents etc. I was nice via communication for fear that if I wasn't he wouldn't give me the pictures at all.
After MONTHS when he was finally ready to deliver the products, he told me I'd have to drive to the northshore to get them or pay $100 to have them shipped to me because all of the random stuff no one wants weighed so much. All of the dumb extras (huge, thick acrylic print, huge canvas print, book, app, "Amin Russell Photography" flash drive) sit unused in my storage room. DO NOT book with this man.
Eri R.
Nov 05, 2021
Unprofessional is the nicest way to put this. A complete scam artist. He has poor communication skills. He doesn't answer phone calls or emails. He doesn't like for you to answer questions. He will take your photos and have you pay for them and the quit. He thinks he can talk to you any kind of way and not show you an oz of respect. When you confront him is little ego gets hurt like a child.
At the end of the day I am a strong believer in you never know what someone is going through, but to be a business owner with such nasty ways and be so unprofessional is top tier crap. After winning a contest photoshoot with him, I would tell no one to enter his contest or hire him. After taking the photos, he then sends you the photos packages and tells you, you have one hour to view your photos and till midnight to order any or the price goes up.
He tries to intimidate and force clients into buying from him and making quick decisions. But God is good and things happen for a reason! Brides, Grooms, and couples don't get scammed and disrespected by this photographer take my advice and find someone else. Before getting scammed and disrespected. Because of people like him this is why black people don't support black businesses. He is a prime example of a flaky scam artist.
At the end of the day I am a strong believer in you never know what someone is going through, but to be a business owner with such nasty ways and be so unprofessional is top tier crap. After winning a contest photoshoot with him, I would tell no one to enter his contest or hire him. After taking the photos, he then sends you the photos packages and tells you, you have one hour to view your photos and till midnight to order any or the price goes up.
He tries to intimidate and force clients into buying from him and making quick decisions. But God is good and things happen for a reason! Brides, Grooms, and couples don't get scammed and disrespected by this photographer take my advice and find someone else. Before getting scammed and disrespected. Because of people like him this is why black people don't support black businesses. He is a prime example of a flaky scam artist.
Brittany B.
Sep 26, 2021
Amin was such a joy to work with from my husband and I's engagement photoshoot to our actual wedding day! All of the pictures came out beautifully and Amin does what not many photographers do, which is GO BEYOND! I highly recommend Amin Russell Photography! Also the wedding album was STUNNING! He even asked what color scheme we wanted. A+ rating for sure! Thanks again Amin!
Candita T.
Mar 05, 2021
I actually discovered Amin on Thumbtack, requesting more information because I was interested in a photo shoot to mark my 50th birthday. From the first meeting to the final meeting post-portrait, he was very professional, personable and attentive. He listened to my vision of what I wanted for my photo shoot and made it happen. The pictures came out perfect! I am more than pleased with the final product. I look forward to working with him in the future! Thanks Amin!
Stephanie T.
Feb 11, 2011
This photographer was paid in advance to photograph our wedding, but we never received any photos. At first he was communicative, but eventually all communication stopped and we worried that we would never receive our photos. To this day we do not have one professional photograph from our wedding. Do yourself a favor and go with a different photographer even if it costs more.
We thought we were saving ourselves money by going with someone who was less expensive and seemed professional, but it turned out to be just an act. This guy is a morally indecent person for not providing our photographs after he was paid. This photographer is a thief- not only did he take our money but he took something from us that was priceless. It's devastating to not have photos from such an important day, a day that you can't get back. We've reached the point where we just want our pictures back, but he won't even do that for us! Beware! This guy is a fraud!
We thought we were saving ourselves money by going with someone who was less expensive and seemed professional, but it turned out to be just an act. This guy is a morally indecent person for not providing our photographs after he was paid. This photographer is a thief- not only did he take our money but he took something from us that was priceless. It's devastating to not have photos from such an important day, a day that you can't get back. We've reached the point where we just want our pictures back, but he won't even do that for us! Beware! This guy is a fraud!
