Glasser Images lawyer speaks with VNL

FARGO, ND (Valley News Live) – UPDATE: Just before 6 p.m. Friday, an apology from Jack Glasser, along with contact details for his new lawyer Tim O’Keeffe from Fargo, was released.

O’Keefe tells us that Jack Glasser contacted him this afternoon, and right now O’Keefe is “just trying to figure this out”.

When asked if clients and contract photographers would be reimbursed, he replied that they were trying to do everything in their power to ‘fix things’.

He said the reason he took the job is because he believes in helping small businesses that are at a standstill.

Here is Jack Glasser’s statement:

“We’ve been in business for 16 years and until Covid-19 hit we did and grew, but then things drastically changed for the worse,” Glasser said. “We pivoted and made changes, but we just couldn’t keep up with our ongoing costs, debt repayment, salaries, rent, and other business expenses. These factors caused irreparable damage to the company and forced us to make this decision quickly. Closing our doors is extremely heartbreaking for me.

Original:

Photographers, brides and grooms are speaking out tonight after a Bismarck-based photography studio dropped the bomb they were shutting down.

On October 7, hundreds of people received an email from Glasser Images founder Jack Glasser saying his business was shutting down and would not issue any refunds, leaving couples without a wedding photographer and thousands of dollars in less.

It didn’t take long for VNL’s whistleblower hotline to be inundated with phone calls and emails from dozens of couples and former contracted Glasser photographers asking for our help.

“It’s my big day too, but she’s dreamed of this day all her life, so I think when something like this happens you get caught off guard and fear that it’s not the day you have. worked so hard to get it, ”said Wil Davis.

Davis’s wedding is scheduled for October 9, but the day before he had to scramble to find a solution after Glasser Images decided to shut down just 48 hours before his wedding.

“Most people who get married are trying to start a life, and you buy a house and rock their life,” Davis said. “Something like this when you’ve sacrificed enough to pay for it to capture your special day and for it just with one email is frustrating.”

Amara Willert was an outsourced photographer for Glasser Images but said that since her debut in June, she hasn’t received a dime from Glasser.

“They will pay us. They have to pay us! Law? But now it doesn’t look like that anymore. said Willert.

While she and her husband lost nearly $ 15,000, she said she only worried about making sure the bride and groom always have a photographer on their wedding day.

“It’s one thing to lose money, but you can’t have a marriage again.” said Willert

She is just one of dozens of photographers who speak out saying they weren’t paid by Glasser, and now they’re stepping up their efforts to help.

Marissa Salberg plans to get married next September, September 30, she paid in full for a videographer from Glasser Images. In addition to the already booked photographer Glasser, she has now lost $ 4,000

“So we’re considering not even going on a honeymoon because of that, that’s also a real bummer.” said Salberg

A Facebook group has been created called “Hold Glasser Accountable” with over 1,000 members discussing how they can get their money back or get the photos that have already been taken.

“They’re not going to take their pictures and I can’t even start to think about it when photographing your day and now you don’t get your pictures at all and you don’t do that again.” says Davis

“All brides. Will they have their photos, will they get their money back? What’s going to happen ? I have a wedding tomorrow. I have a wedding on Saturday… what’s going to happen to them. said Willert

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