Issues with a portrait center

[Erin1700]

So I took my DD9 to get her picture professionally done at a portrait studio. She was in the Wizard of Oz so we were able to borrow the costume for a night to get a picture done.

My DH was out of town so I had to take my DS3 with me. We have been there before so I know how they work. They use 4 different backgrounds, one of them is all black. I do NOT like the black background. So when I called to book, I asked them not to use it. They said ok. If you are wondering why it is a big deal, it would take up time to set up that background, take the pics, view those black background pics, all of which I knew I didnt want and all that extra time for my 3yr old who has a short shelf life!

Ok, so I get there and the photographer INSISTS I MUST use the black bground. She said it is mandatory and claims whoever told me I didnt have to was wrong. I seriously would have walked out except I only had the costume for 1 night. So I told DD just quick sit there. Then when we were viewing the pictures I told the lady I didnt want those particular shots and she can delete them. She refused...said we have to keep them (but I was able to delete any other pics I didnt like).

End of story...I told her I wanted the smallest package available (in a nice background) and I wouldnt be back. Called corporate to see what they had to say and they said I HAVE TO use the black and white ones. I made it clear that I did not ask for something else, and I just wanted those omitted. I understood instead of 40 pictures I might only get 30. They said "Well then we wont let you view your pictures". I asked them if I brought an infant in there, knew I didnt want that background and was worried about how long my child would cooperate, could they skip that part? They said NO!

What do you think?? I think I will find another picture place!!

 

[lovesmurfs]

So I took my DD9 to get her picture professionally done at a portrait studio. She was in the Wizard of Oz so we were able to borrow the costume for a night to get a picture done.

My DH was out of town so I had to take my DS3 with me. We have been there before so I know how they work. They use 4 different backgrounds, one of them is all black. I do NOT like the black background. So when I called to book, I asked them not to use it. They said ok. If you are wondering why it is a big deal, it would take up time to set up that background, take the pics, view those black background pics, all of which I knew I didnt want and all that extra time for my 3yr old who has a short shelf life!

Ok, so I get there and the photographer INSISTS I MUST use the black bground. She said it is mandatory and claims whoever told me I didnt have to was wrong. I seriously would have walked out except I only had the costume for 1 night. So I told DD just quick sit there. Then when we were viewing the pictures I told the lady I didnt want those particular shots and she can delete them. She refused...said we have to keep them (but I was able to delete any other pics I didnt like).

End of story...I told her I wanted the smallest package available (in a nice background) and I wouldnt be back. Called corporate to see what they had to say and they said I HAVE TO use the black and white ones. I made it clear that I did not ask for something else, and I just wanted those omitted. I understood instead of 40 pictures I might only get 30. They said "Well then we wont let you view your pictures". I asked them if I brought an infant in there, knew I didnt want that background and was worried about how long my child would cooperate, could they skip that part? They said NO!

What do you think?? I think I will find another picture place!!

Umm. Wow. I think the portrait center needs some lessons on who is the customer. In our "hold the pickle, hold the lettuce" generation, I can't imagine an organization so inflexible as to not take the customer's wishes into consideration. I, too, would never be back. And I would probably write a letter to corporate explaining why.

 

[CKBear]

I agree, I'd be finding another photography studio to do my pictures in the future.

 

[golfgal]

I think your first mistake is confusing a "portrait center" with "professional" photography. Find a real photographer, not someone that they pay minimum wage to snap the same pictures over and over again.

 

[Erin1700]

I think your first mistake is confusing a "portrait center" with "professional" photography. Find a real photographer, not someone that they pay minimum wage to snap the same pictures over and over again.

I agree with what you are saying, but even a place that pays minimum wage should be more cooperative!

 

[WDWorBUST]

I think your first mistake is confusing a "portrait center" with "professional" photography. Find a real photographer, not someone that they pay minimum wage to snap the same pictures over and over again.

While I see your point - sometimes that isn't an option. I had my DD's picture taken every month the first year of her life....then every couple of months and now I'm down to maybe quarterly or twice a year since we now have school pictures twice a year, dance pictures, and gymnnastics pictures thrown in the mix. I will do the same with the new baby. I know many people could pay a professional photographer for all those appointments, but there is no way I could afford that. For the most part I have had good luck with portrait centers....maybe a sitting here or there that just wasn't what it could have been....but overall good experiences. However this place sounds NUTS....why would you insist on taking a shot with a particular background the customer does not want? They are wasting everyone's time and costing themselves money because the customer isn't going to buy them obviously.

OP - can I ask what portrait center this was?

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

Well...I've gone to 'portrait centers' that are as cheap as a $5.99 package for 20 pics, and a professional photographer that charges $25 a sheet. And neither place made me use a certain background.

So i'd find a new place to get pictures done. Even Walmart's portrait studio and Sears have never forced me to do a certain background...and they were cheap and turned out nice.

And sometimes it isn't feasible to use a 'real' professional photographer. A friend at church is a professional photographer, and even with the 'church' discount he is still $25 a sheet.

So you should be able to find a new place that will work with you, regardless of the price.

 

[Erin1700]

I wasnt going to name the place...I thought maybe that would be childish of me, but I just got off the phone with a guy at corporate office for PORTRAIT INNOVATIONS and he said "You HAVE to use the black background or you can not get your pictures taken at our studio" to which I answered..."Thank you for telling me that, I will never come back and I will make sure I spread the word!"

Like I said, I am not normally like this, but they are ridiculous!!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So is it Sears, Penny's, Olan Mills???

I left the first two because they have a "formula" photo session they insist upon. Sears is the worst. They must do so many poses...specific poses. It drove me nuts.

We got a Portrait Innovations in town and I have never been more happy. We are not rushed, they do offer their expertise....but if I don't want a black background, so be it. I have literally 50-100 shots to choose fro
to find the money shot. They can do some editing like cropping or rotating or zooming in on a proof. And no clubs necessary as there are no sitting fees AND we can do multiple outfits. Sounds like I am a shill, but I'm not. I just don't like the traditional studios anymore and I feel I get bigger bang for my buck.

So yes...I'd leave your studio. I can't stand it when a vendor tells me, the customer that I MUST do things a certain way when there isn't a valid reason. I like flexibility especially when it comes to children's photography and I just wasn't getting it at those other places.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I wasnt going to name the place...I thought maybe that would be childish of me, but I just got off the phone with a guy at corporate office for PORTRAIT INNOVATIONS and he said "You HAVE to use the black background or you can not get your pictures taken at our studio" to which I answered..."Thank you for telling me that, I will never come back and I will make sure I spread the word!"

Like I said, I am not normally like this, but they are ridiculous!!!!

Oh that is funny. I just gave them a rave review. I had never been forced to do anything I didn't want. That's too bad.

I love our portrait innovations.


We are actually going today. I think I'll
ask why the black background is mandatory. Lol. We're doing 4th of July pics and new baby pics and I can't think of anything that NEEDS a black background.

 

[okeydokey]

We've always used Sears too and I always get the package. I know they have to do all the shots and put together all the collages even though I tell them up front that I will only be buying the package. It's not too bad now that my kids are older but when they were toddlers it was awful waiting around that long.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

I wasnt going to name the place...I thought maybe that would be childish of me, but I just got off the phone with a guy at corporate office for PORTRAIT INNOVATIONS and he said "You HAVE to use the black background or you can not get your pictures taken at our studio" to which I answered..."Thank you for telling me that, I will never come back and I will make sure I spread the word!"

Like I said, I am not normally like this, but they are ridiculous!!!!

That is odd...I've been to portrait innovations several times and they have never made me use a background. They sometimes suggest the black...and depending on what my kids are wearing, I might decline...but they don't don't make a big deal about it. I've always had good photographers who will cut the session short if my child (who is autistic) is having a meltdown. That is weird that corporate says it is mandatory...b/c obviously many of them don't.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Here's my take on it.

The person who answered the/booked the session probably didn't realize they had to use black for whatever reason. Annoying? Yes. It happens to me a lot and drives me nuts when I get misinformation and make decisions based on that misinformation only to find out later it was wrong.

As far as *having* to use the black, I'd guess that it had something to do with the camera settings and calibrations, etc. If the people taking pics are employees taught to "press the button" as opposed to being "real photographers", then they probably would not be able to get the photo to come out right using a different colored background. This is where you get what you pay for.

 

[TEENEE]

My dh was a photographer for many years before we met. He has told me that when a new photographer starts (at least where he worked) they were told what poses and backgrounds had to be used. Once they proved themselves they were allowed to use their own ideas but is took a long time to get to that level.

 

[Erin1700]

My dh was a photographer for many years before we met. He has told me that when a new photographer starts (at least where he worked) they were told what poses and backgrounds had to be used. Once they proved themselves they were allowed to use their own ideas but is took a long time to get to that level.

If that is what I would have been told, I certainly would not have said a word or complained! I think that is a good reason why I might have been forced to use the black background. Unfortunately, even their corporate office says "You MUST use it because they said so!"

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My dh was a photographer for many years before we met. He has told me that when a new photographer starts (at least where he worked) they were told what poses and backgrounds had to be used. Once they proved themselves they were allowed to use their own ideas but is took a long time to get to that level.

I doubt that is the case given this:

"You HAVE to use the black background or you can not get your pictures taken at our studio"

These are more "push the button" people than photographers.

 

[okeydokey]

They did use three other backgrounds though, didn't they? SO you were able to choose the pictures you wanted without the black background?

 

[Erin1700]

They did use three other backgrounds though, didn't they? SO you were able to choose the pictures you wanted without the black background?

Yes, I got a nice picture. But they wasted a lot of time insisting on the black background and then when we were previewing the pictures they wasted more time when the girl refused to skip those.

 

[NHdisneylover]

We have gotten an awful lot of nice photos at Targets (across the country) over the years. You may try them next time. I think the having to use the black background is ridiculous

 

[bumbershoot]

I told her I wanted the smallest package available (in a nice background) and I wouldnt be back. Called corporate to see what they had to say and they said I HAVE TO use the black and white ones.

Have to *use* it? Does that mean you have to have the pix taken? Or do you have to get a package using that background? If so, why use the other backgrounds? I don't understand.