SLIME AND SHADINESS! Don't cut corners on price and go with this guy like I did. This photographer for is the worst possible person you can pick. I went off of a recommendation from my friend who used him, and boy am I regretful that I did. First off, they are classic slimy salesmen that tells you everything is going to be OK and you don't need to worry about anything. All he was concerned about was getting his check in the mail. Mistake one was paying him all the money before we got the pictures. Our wedding was in April 2016 and we planned a small Indian ceremony in a little over 90 days. My mistake was not going with the person that was a little bit more money. Anyway, two days before the wedding and this slimy guy tries to get me to pay for his hotel to stay in Chicago for the wedding! The audacity. Of course I didn't. We used this guy for two events- mehndi and Indian / western ceremony. At the mehndi, he kept asking if he can leave early! At the Indian ceremony, they were not discrete at all. As a matter of fact they stood in front of the audience view, rudely taking pictures, and blocking the view of our guests the entire time. Following the ceremony, I had given him specific instructions for us to take family pictures. What do these fools do, they sit down and eat lunch knowing we have a very packed schedule to prepare for a Western ceremony that evening. Missed photo opps. As the bride, I had to tell him what shots to take! It gets worse. We asked them to meet us in Chicago where the next ceremony was at a very specific time. They were 45 minutes late. Imagine being a bride and knowing you have to be somewhere and your photographer is nowhere to be found. He didn't even have the decency to call and let us know he was late. At the evening ceremony, I sent them home early because I was so irritated at their level of service and couldn't stand it any longer. The results? Less pictures of our special day. Oh and of course I'm going to add that six months later all we've gotten our two unedited CDs of pictures - no digital link, nothing. No album yet, no video yet, and Ive emailed the guy multiple times. I've never been so disgusted with someone's level of service. The guy's getting a few more weeks for me and then it's off to legal action. What a waste, what a joke, and what a mistake. I'm smearing this guys reputation all over the Internet and Indian community. This guy is gonna be sued and sent to better business bureau soon. What a joke.
Ravi P.
Mar 2016
We used Shivam for our wedding on Sept 2015. Still have not received photos or albums. Do not use this guy.
Archana P. Patel
Nov 2015
This photographer is a fraud. I had my event on sept 27th 2014. It's been well over a year and I still do not have my album or video. Every time I contact him, he comes up with a lie or an excuse about giving my product. He went as far as telling me that he sent the videos but when I asked for tracking number or evidence, he never responded. He is not trustworthy at all.
Ruby M.
Nov 2015
Don't trust this guy, Get to the choperr!!! I am a photographer for this guy and he hasn't paid me my money. He has also stole money and pictures from his customers. I prefer to not trust this guy and please don't give him any programs to do.
Jessica Purohit
Sep 2015
This guy is horrible! He was rude and unprofessional. He wouldn't do his job and more time absent from all the events. It has been forever since we hired him and I have yet to see any pictures! He also changed the termss of our agreement in the middle of my wedding reception and would not capture any of my moments until I paid him.
Raj R.
Aug 2015
Run as far away from this guy as you can! My wife and I got married in June 2012 and we still do not have our wedding albums or videos! We have been reaching out to Ashvin on a consistent basis for years and we have been told at least twice that our albums are in the mail. Needless to say the albums have never reached us.. The most recent excuse was that the albums broke in the mail so he had to re order them. He claimed about two years ago that the videos were complete and he was going to drop them off for us.. Of course that never happened. We have called him and emailed him so many times with either no response or minimal response. Please everyone, do not rely on this type of a person for your wedding or anything of any importance to you! Based on our experience we wouldn't be surprised if he'd take your money, make excuses to you for years to come, and not give you anything you've paid for. He has shown us an utter lack of respect, professionalism, and integrity. We are now getting lawyers involved. Contacted the Better Business Bureau, Google, yelp. Etc. We hope that everyone can learn from our mistake and steer clear of this person/business.
Mugdha S.
Jul 2015
Do not use them! My husband and I got married over a year ago and these guys still haven't delivered our wedding album. We got married in May 2014. In November of last year, we finally got proofs to look at for the album. Within 2 weeks, we sent back the 165 pictures we were told could be in the album. Since then - not a word. NO album / No response / NOTHING. I called him twice. He picked up the 1st time and then decided like the coward he is - to not pick up again. I will keep calling as I either want a refund or want him to deliver my wedding album. They also did our videos and rather than editing the video - sent us entire 12 hours of tape. As we had multiple events - the videos amounted to that many hours. No editing - just the entire wedding weekend videos. And oh yeah, they focused on the bride and groom and didn't bother to focus on the crowd. In a wedding video, what people are looking for is the highlights (edited version) of the wedding. Not the entire wedding.
Snehal Patel
Jul 2015
This photographer is terrible. He came late to everything, he drank and started crying at one of my functions. It's been almost a year and I am extremely nervous that I will not receive my videos and pictures. He has not picked up or returned my calls.
Fate O.
Mar 2014
The price for passport photo is better here than CVS and Walgreens: $7.99. The store hour is not regular though so you have to call and make sure they are there before you go (even if yelp said they are open). I think the passport photo will be approved. We went today and they questioned one of the photo but that's just the post office. I will see if the passport agency accept them but hopefully they'll get back to me asap so I can get back to you asap, too. :)
Cogi T.
Jan 2014
I never write bad about anyone or anything. But I couldn't accept what I got. Maybe i wasn't lucky to read the reviews else I wouldn't have contacted Shivam Photography. The photography is - meaning less - sense less - aimless, colorless and lifeless I have never seen or hired a photographer who shoots people's backs. Photography is meant to make an event a memory. Shivam photography DO NOT have this basic sense. When the photographer came to my place, he said he has to leave by time because police have asked him to close his store early. God knows what else they do apart from weird photography. This is what they are good at - photograph people's backs - photograph unrelated and senseless stuff like iron bars, rods, hanging wire, falling ice, thrash cans and junk like that WTF. YES, the photos I received have them. - photograph food multiple times, that make 100 jamoons look like 200 or 300. Whom are you fooling. - improper camera settings. I can shoot 1000 times better with my D5000. May be I should have done it myself than hiring them. - They are good at making people invisible in the photos. Total white. Stick to auto mode or ask me how to do indoor photography. - The guy I guess Shiva took about 300 photos Of them 100 are junk, 50 are people's behinds, 50 are white and bright. 60 are i don't know what they are... 39 are people out of focus and what not. I gave one star because after 299 trials, he got one perfect shot. By the by they are expensive and busy, YET they can be at your place in 15mins notice. DON'T HIRE THEM.DON'T DARE TO!!! If you still hire them, then you're the most courageous ones living in schaumburg and its neighborhood.
Rad H.
SLIME AND SHADINESS! Don't cut corners on price and go with this guy like I did. This photographer for is the worst possible person you can pick. I went off of a recommendation from my friend who used him, and boy am I regretful that I did. First off, they are classic slimy salesmen that tells you everything is going to be OK and you don't need to worry about anything. All he was concerned about was getting his check in the mail. Mistake one was paying him all the money before we got the pictures. Our wedding was in April 2016 and we planned a small Indian ceremony in a little over 90 days. My mistake was not going with the person that was a little bit more money. Anyway, two days before the wedding and this slimy guy tries to get me to pay for his hotel to stay in Chicago for the wedding! The audacity. Of course I didn't. We used this guy for two events- mehndi and Indian / western ceremony. At the mehndi, he kept asking if he can leave early! At the Indian ceremony, they were not discrete at all. As a matter of fact they stood in front of the audience view, rudely taking pictures, and blocking the view of our guests the entire time. Following the ceremony, I had given him specific instructions for us to take family pictures. What do these fools do, they sit down and eat lunch knowing we have a very packed schedule to prepare for a Western ceremony that evening. Missed photo opps. As the bride, I had to tell him what shots to take! It gets worse. We asked them to meet us in Chicago where the next ceremony was at a very specific time. They were 45 minutes late. Imagine being a bride and knowing you have to be somewhere and your photographer is nowhere to be found. He didn't even have the decency to call and let us know he was late. At the evening ceremony, I sent them home early because I was so irritated at their level of service and couldn't stand it any longer. The results? Less pictures of our special day. Oh and of course I'm going to add that six months later all we've gotten our two unedited CDs of pictures - no digital link, nothing. No album yet, no video yet, and Ive emailed the guy multiple times. I've never been so disgusted with someone's level of service. The guy's getting a few more weeks for me and then it's off to legal action. What a waste, what a joke, and what a mistake. I'm smearing this guys reputation all over the Internet and Indian community. This guy is gonna be sued and sent to better business bureau soon. What a joke.
Ravi P.
We used Shivam for our wedding on Sept 2015. Still have not received photos or albums. Do not use this guy.
Archana P. Patel
This photographer is a fraud. I had my event on sept 27th 2014. It's been well over a year and I still do not have my album or video. Every time I contact him, he comes up with a lie or an excuse about giving my product. He went as far as telling me that he sent the videos but when I asked for tracking number or evidence, he never responded. He is not trustworthy at all.
Ruby M.
Don't trust this guy, Get to the choperr!!! I am a photographer for this guy and he hasn't paid me my money. He has also stole money and pictures from his customers. I prefer to not trust this guy and please don't give him any programs to do.
Jessica Purohit
This guy is horrible! He was rude and unprofessional. He wouldn't do his job and more time absent from all the events. It has been forever since we hired him and I have yet to see any pictures! He also changed the termss of our agreement in the middle of my wedding reception and would not capture any of my moments until I paid him.
Raj R.
Run as far away from this guy as you can! My wife and I got married in June 2012 and we still do not have our wedding albums or videos! We have been reaching out to Ashvin on a consistent basis for years and we have been told at least twice that our albums are in the mail. Needless to say the albums have never reached us.. The most recent excuse was that the albums broke in the mail so he had to re order them. He claimed about two years ago that the videos were complete and he was going to drop them off for us.. Of course that never happened. We have called him and emailed him so many times with either no response or minimal response. Please everyone, do not rely on this type of a person for your wedding or anything of any importance to you! Based on our experience we wouldn't be surprised if he'd take your money, make excuses to you for years to come, and not give you anything you've paid for. He has shown us an utter lack of respect, professionalism, and integrity. We are now getting lawyers involved. Contacted the Better Business Bureau, Google, yelp. Etc. We hope that everyone can learn from our mistake and steer clear of this person/business.
Mugdha S.
Do not use them! My husband and I got married over a year ago and these guys still haven't delivered our wedding album. We got married in May 2014. In November of last year, we finally got proofs to look at for the album. Within 2 weeks, we sent back the 165 pictures we were told could be in the album. Since then - not a word. NO album / No response / NOTHING. I called him twice. He picked up the 1st time and then decided like the coward he is - to not pick up again. I will keep calling as I either want a refund or want him to deliver my wedding album. They also did our videos and rather than editing the video - sent us entire 12 hours of tape. As we had multiple events - the videos amounted to that many hours. No editing - just the entire wedding weekend videos. And oh yeah, they focused on the bride and groom and didn't bother to focus on the crowd. In a wedding video, what people are looking for is the highlights (edited version) of the wedding. Not the entire wedding.
Snehal Patel
This photographer is terrible. He came late to everything, he drank and started crying at one of my functions. It's been almost a year and I am extremely nervous that I will not receive my videos and pictures. He has not picked up or returned my calls.
Fate O.
The price for passport photo is better here than CVS and Walgreens: $7.99. The store hour is not regular though so you have to call and make sure they are there before you go (even if yelp said they are open). I think the passport photo will be approved. We went today and they questioned one of the photo but that's just the post office. I will see if the passport agency accept them but hopefully they'll get back to me asap so I can get back to you asap, too. :)
Cogi T.
I never write bad about anyone or anything. But I couldn't accept what I got. Maybe i wasn't lucky to read the reviews else I wouldn't have contacted Shivam Photography. The photography is - meaning less - sense less - aimless, colorless and lifeless I have never seen or hired a photographer who shoots people's backs. Photography is meant to make an event a memory. Shivam photography DO NOT have this basic sense. When the photographer came to my place, he said he has to leave by time because police have asked him to close his store early. God knows what else they do apart from weird photography. This is what they are good at - photograph people's backs - photograph unrelated and senseless stuff like iron bars, rods, hanging wire, falling ice, thrash cans and junk like that WTF. YES, the photos I received have them. - photograph food multiple times, that make 100 jamoons look like 200 or 300. Whom are you fooling. - improper camera settings. I can shoot 1000 times better with my D5000. May be I should have done it myself than hiring them. - They are good at making people invisible in the photos. Total white. Stick to auto mode or ask me how to do indoor photography. - The guy I guess Shiva took about 300 photos Of them 100 are junk, 50 are people's behinds, 50 are white and bright. 60 are i don't know what they are... 39 are people out of focus and what not. I gave one star because after 299 trials, he got one perfect shot. By the by they are expensive and busy, YET they can be at your place in 15mins notice. DON'T HIRE THEM.DON'T DARE TO!!! If you still hire them, then you're the most courageous ones living in schaumburg and its neighborhood.