Feb 14, 2008 12:45 am US/Pacific
Wedding Photographer Stealing Memories?
Couples Say Photographer Failed To Deliver Photos
Some Southern California newly weds cannot spend Valentine's Day looking back on the most romantic day of their lives, because there are no photos to look at. Their photographer disappeared without delivering their wedding albums. CBS 2 Investigative reporter David Goldstein went undercover to track down the missing memories. It was the happiest day of their lives, but the memories are missing.
"These are my memories and I feel I can't move on until I have this resolved."
And they blame it all on this man-their wedding photographer.
"People say you're stealing their memories -- what are you doing man?"
These are some of the only photos these newlyweds have--years after their weddings.
"Now you're expecting your second child and you don't have your wedding album?"
"Right."
The Murphy's just celebrated their third wedding anniversary.
"You want to have that album on your cocktail table?"
"We don't have a single wedding picture in our house."
The Razookis tied the knot more than a year and a half ago. They don't have their albums or video after paying the photographer nearly $5,000!
"My mom asks me every time she talks to me, 'what's happening with the pictures?'"
And Carol Lu and Ed Cho were married two and a half years ago.
"Same with my parents. They don't ask because it get s me upset. They used to but stopped because they don't want to hurt my feelings."
They all hired Jacob Boikian.
"Jacob. Hi."
Jacob Boikian of Boikian studios promised albums within six months to our couples and many more, but after months and years of phone calls, he's never delivered.
"It's fraud. He makes a lot of promises to a lot of couples and says we're going to do this and that, but never delivers."
"How much is the album?"
With hidden cameras rolling, we set up a meeting with Boikian at a local restaurant.
"My eight-hour package is $2,000."
Our producer was posing as a bride-to-be.
"The album -- something like this -- how long would it take?"
"Realistically, it's going to be twp to three months."
"An album like this size would take two to three months?"
"Like I said, from the time we approve it, it takes four weeks. All together realistically two to three months."
He did admit couples have waited years, but blamed it on the brides!
"It depends on how long it's going to take you. Sometimes I have brides that take over two years to get their order in. Sometimes three years."
"He basically blamed it on the brides."
Our couples said it wasn't their fault.
"If he keeps doing this to other couples, how long does he think he can get away with it?"
We tried to find out.
"I've talked to a lot of couples who say they've been waiting years for their pictures. What's going on. Talk to me."
"Who you calling Jacob? I'm not Jacob."
"No? Who are you?"
Remember a few minutes earlier he didn't deny it.
"Jacob? Hi I'm Carolyn."
"You said inside you deliver in two to three months. What's going on? These people have been waiting for years. People say your stealing you memories."
With that he took off, leaving couples empty handed.
"What do you think should happen to this guy?"
"Go to jail. Give us our albums first, then go to jail."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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