He contacted the couple through social media in June and showed them samples of his documentary-style work. They signed a 5,000-yuan contract and paid half upfront, Zhang, the bride, told Xiaoxiang Morning Herald.

But the photos fell far short of the samples, she said, listing a litany of complaints.

Many were out of focus, tilted or overexposed, there were few close-ups of the newlyweds, photos of guests and objects made up much of the album, some guests had their eyes closed, staff appeared in the frames, and a key part of the wedding ceremony was not photographed, she said.

A wedding photographer lines up a shot. Illustration photo by Pexels

The couple offered to pay the balance if the photographer acknowledged shortcomings in the photos, or, alternatively, end the dispute without paying.

Zhang said he rejected both options and planned to pursue the payment through the courts.

They received a court summons about two months later and were preparing a counterclaim when Zhang spoke to the newspaper.

Zhang said she complained to a local subdistrict office the afternoon she received the photos.

She said she has since struggled to sleep and lost about 5 kg.

Her medical records indicated symptoms of anxiety and depression, along with a sleep disorder.

She said disputes over wedding photography are difficult because judgments about style are subjective.

"As in our case, consumers can end up being sued first. The pressure is enormous."

Couples feeling unhappy with their wedding photos are common, and dissatisfaction that leads to legal disputes is not rare.

Another bride in Dalian, Liaoning reported a similar dispute after paying 1,000 yuan for a wedding photographer, and ended up with photos that were blurry, poorly framed, or so heavily retouched that faces looked distorted, Peninsula Morning News reported.

The wedding company refused her demands for compensation, saying it had delivered more than 300 photos and that she had challenged only a small selection.