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Wedding photographer accused of bad business speaks out

Posted at 5:43 AM, Feb 27, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-27 11:59:41-05

PONCA CITY, Okla. — The wedding photographer accused of bad business said she is doing everything she can to make it up to the bride.

Natalie Barney said she hired Queen Bee Photography for $250 in exchange for 100 photos of her wedding.

RELATED STORY: Wedding pictures become nightmare for bride

She said she provided the owner, April Keller, a list of about 40 photos she wanted from her big day. To her dismay, Barney got very few of the photos she wanted, because Keller said she was having camera issues.

"My flash wasn't working," Keller said. "My camera wouldn't focus."

The issues in Barney and Keller's agreement started before the wedding day. Barney said she was drawn to Queen Bee Photography because of their affordable prices and because of photos she had on her Facebook page. The bride's colors were pink and white and Keller had a stunning photo of a bridal party in the same color scheme.

The post said, "Wedding samples... book yours today."

During a search online, 2 Works For You Found photos that came from websites of wedding designers, like Jenny Yoo and Hayley Paige.

"Those were types of poses that could be used," Keller said. "That could be done. Not poses I had done."

When asked if she thought that message was made clear by her post, Keller said yes.

She said she feels horrible about how things went and she is working to earn money to pay Barney back. At the time Keller sat down for an interview with 2 Works For You, she had not communicated that to the bride.

"I just ask that people understand that photographers have the hardest job because they are judged no matter what they do," Keller said.

Afterward, Barney said she did hear from the photographer about getting a refund.

Months ago, Keller offered Barney a free family photo shoot to make up for the wedding photos.

Keller did not show up to the photo shoot. Barney said the photographer did not tell her she would not be able to make it. Keller said she told Barney that her husband was in the hospital and she would need to reschedule.

During a call with Keller on February 5, Keller declined an interview. The next day, she posted a message on Queen Bee's Facebook page saying that she was closing the business down to pursue other another chapter.

On February 6, Keller posted from her personal Facebook page in a group called "Investors-startups for business."

She wrote "I'm looking to start a photography studio for my company however I need an investor. For examples of my work please visit my website."

"No I said that the samples of my work were at Queen Bee Photography, but I'm not the one opening it," Keller said. "I am just trying to help a friend do it."

When asked if she planned to do something different moving forward, Keller said, "I shut down my company. I am not doing photography. I don't understand what more people want from me."

Keller is currently listed on A-Game Photography in Oklahoma as a photographer.

"Yeah and I don't do weddings," Keller said.

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