Mega Gripe

I have been friends with a girl since 9th grade. She has always ranted and raved that her aunt does photography for many weddings and events, so it comes to no surprise that I chose her to do my wedding photos and video. When speaking to her, she had told me she was doing weddings and events for many years, and that for $650, I would get a photo album with our wedding pictures that she would take (that are touched up), and a video of our wedding. This was in May, 2008 remind you, so when she told me the set would get back to me within three weeks, I figured before the end of June. After calling her about three times a week; I finally had her tell me the CD's of the pictures were available, but she did not print any out for the book yet, or get them touched up. It was about a month after that when we finally received the album. The pictures were touched up poorly (EX: the misquito bite was touched up on a picture of my feet in my shoes, but not the shoe lines or any freckles... and acne spots on all the girls were still visible... so there was not much touch-up done). So when she stopped by to give me my album, I had asked her where my video was. She was still working on it, and I had not received it until the end of February (9 months after the wedding), and when I did receive it... she dropped it off in my mailbox with no label or anything on it. We had watched it, and honestly I could not tell my two sisters (whom look very much different) apart, except for the order they walked down the isle. You could not hear but a dozen words in the whole ceremony, and he (the photographers husband) had stood back about 150 feet from the front, so you could not see anything at all. Oh... and also did not zoom in. My husband had set up a camera (which you could see every detail of everything and everyone), but her husband (whom is NOT a professional) stood in front of it. I had tried to call her at this point at least once every two days. When she finally called back two months later, she stated that people were standing around and they could have told him not to stand in front of it. Honestly!!! We really are going to set up a camera just for a pretty decoration huh??? Anyhow... When I told her that her pics and her video (especially video), was nothing close to professional, her comment was, (well, if you try to sue me, I can always tell the judge that I told you I was not a professional). That there was the first I had ever heard she has never gone to school for this, and did this on the side. She was very sly at changing words around to make it sound as if she was before all of this. Honestly, if you are not a professional; you should not charge even close to what a professional does. (Couple of my friends paid $450-$600 for a professional photographer). When I commented about how I will never have this day over again, and how she left me with no video of the wedding (which I paid for), she sarcastically stated that the video was just out of the greatness of her own heart, and she doesn't take off for the video if it doesn't turn out. Again, she told me that she is pretty much willing to lie in court if it comes to that, and there is nothing I can do. After telling her that I am a hairdresser, and if someone was that unhappy, I would offer them some money back (if not all of it), she commented that there is nothing she can do. I showed this video to many (about 15-20) of my clients, and they all said it was nothing shy of crap. One of them (whom was my backstage helper and attended it all), asked me if it was even my wedding. She did not recognize anyone in it, unless inspecting the color they were wearing. If you have any suggestions on what I can do: please help. I am so depressed and distraught about this whole thing. She still will not return my messages, and it is still eating at me. I had called law offices, and all of them told me that it will end up costing me more than I was looking to get out of her. (I figured she charged me $650.. I would be happy with $200 back.) The part that bothers me most (besides not having a wedding video that I DID PAY FOR) is that she is so uncaring and such a evil woman about this all. Please respond back to me if you have any ideas on what I can do? Thank you