Bill Would Tie Down Runaway Photographers

Runaway bridal photographers would be forced to pay fines and damages to their clients if legislation being debated in the City Council tomorrow becomes law.

"The wedding services industry is not well-regulated, and this legislation was created to protect those residents who have spent a lot of time and money to celebrate one of the most momentous occasions in their lives from being victims of fraud," the bill's sponsor, Council Member Michael McMahon, said yesterday in a statement. Mr. McMahon said the bill was written in response to an incident in Staten Island in which a photographer took a young couple's engagement pictures and pocketed the fee without sending the photos. The incident was reported in the Staten Island Advance.

Under the legislation, wedding photographers and bridal shops would have to register with the city and post with the Department of Consumer Affairs a $5,000 bond against which customers could claim damages. Violators would pay fines ranging between $1,000 and $5,000.

A Manhattan-based wedding photographer of more than 15 years, Teri Bloom, said yesterday she opposes the legislation.

"It's extremely prejudiced to single out wedding photographers when every single industry has unethical people. There are scams among builders, florists, and architects as well," Ms. Bloom said in an interview.

She said the bill comes at a difficult time for the photography business, as digital cameras and Internet photo sharing sites have lowered demand for wedding photographers' services and forced them to cut their rates.

"It would be burdensome to have us comply because we're not a high-income profession; we're generally small businesses," she said. "We're not doctors, lawyers, or bankers, and to ask all photographers to give $5,000 and have it tied up, it's a real lot of money."