Complaint Review: Gallery B Photography

Brooke Tarvin is the most unprofessional "self proclaimed professional" that I have ever met in my whole life. I should have gone with my gut instincts from the very beginning when she showed up 1 hour late for our appoinent and looked like she had just rolled out of bed. My now husband's best friend went to Brooke's husband for Chiropractic care gave me the information, that is a whole different story. BUT I had a million other things to plan for my wedding and didn't want to try and find another photographer. That was my first mistake. My second mistake was not making her prove her boasting statements. She had story after story of all these famous people that she had been hired to photograph and that are now part of her portofolio. I asked her to show me, she had promised to bring her portfolio but stammered and stuttered when I kept asking to see the photos. My third mistake was not simply looking on the internet and reading all of the negative reports and lawsuits that have been filed against her. There a so many that I wanted to shoot myself for not seeing the nightmare before hand. This is just one of them but this one was reported by KSLA News 12 - google search Brooke Tarvin Photography or Bellapictoria Photography or Brook Tarvin Photography or Gallery B Studios for the negative reports:

KSLA NEWS 12 - A couple says they had to wait several months before the photographer they hired would deliver their wedding pictures. Kodi and Passionate Craft were married back in March of 2007. In November they came to KSLA News 12 to help get their pictures from the photographer, Brooke Tarvin. Broke Tarvin, who owns Brook Tarvin Photography was hired to do the work. The couple says Tarvin was late for their wedding, wanted to leave early and then never delivered on the photos. Almost ten months later, after repeated calls by KSLA News 12 the Crafts finally got their pictures.

In a KSLA News 12 investigation, we discovered Tarvin had at least eight lawsuits filed against her and dozens of complaints were also filed with the Better Business Bureau.

For months KSLA News 12 called Tarvin asking her to respond to the allegations, she faxed a statement which said in part that "some of these complaints were made by individuals that were not even my clients, but friends and family members of these people" and she went on to say "I have done hundreds of weddings over the last several years. The vast majority are extremely happy with their results." Tarvin would not comment on the lawsuits and when asked to provide contact information for any "extremely happy individuals" could not do so. Story by Tania Francois KSLA News 12

All of the other complaints are nearly identical to mine. She demanded full payment upfront and like an idiot I paid upfront for the services, this is not something that I usually do because good businesses and true professionals do not ask for payment before providing service. After my research it is obvious that this is the standard practice for Brooke Tarvin and it is a sure way for her to get paid by simply stealing from others. I did it because she is a member of the same church that I am a member of but she definitely does not live the same values that I have been taught to live. I wonder if she pays her tithing with the money she steals from people?

She showed up 90 minutes late for our engagement photo appointment, she was completely unprofessional, seemed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and gave us 20 minutes of the 60 minutes we had paid for and just left after I had asked her not to and reminded her that we had paid for a full hour. She said that she had something important to do. My fiance/husband wanted to give her a ride, he didn't think she should be driving while she was under the influence. That should have been it but I had prepaid for the services and we could not afford to pay for another photographer or find one at such late notice BUT It gets worse!! She showed up 75 minutes late for the bridal photos, she was clearly under the influence of meth or some other amphetamine and was acting completely crazy. She went into the bathroom serveral times during the appointment to do only what the good lord knows and got crazier after each trip to the bathroom. Once again she left after only 25 minutes of the 60 minutes I had paid for.

I still do not have engagement photos or bridal photos. We sent out our invitation without the planned picture.

Brooke showed up late for the wedding, once again looking completely unprofessional like she had just crawled out of bed but what was worse is she smelled like dog urine and feces and was once again under the influence of something. She kept disappearing into the bathroom over and over, she couldn't focus, couldn't put together coherent sentences and was crazy for lack of a better word. When it was time for the father daughter dance she was no where to be found, when we cut the cake she was no where to be found and after frantic searching we realized that she had just left without saying a word. She was scheduled and I paid for her to stay the entire time and finish photographing with us leaving the wedding.

I still have no pictures, none, zero! I have filed a lawsuit just like many others and just like the others will likely have no luck collecting on the judgement. Brooke Tarvin did not ruin my engagement or wedding day, they were absolutely wonderful but I have no pictures to remember that special day and I will never be able to share that day with my future children or my futuer grandchildren. Brooke Tarvin literally robbed me of these things.

Brooke Tarvin is a theif, a liar and the lowest form of scum on this earth. She steals from people at a time when she knows that it is easy to do because they are focused on many other things. She plans to steal from them and she follows through with her plan. On top of that she has zero remorse and absolutely no conscience even though she professes to be a worthy and religious individual.    

Obviously I would never recommend this photographer but I strongly recommend staying far away from her as well.