Venture photography - are the pictures really worth it? *UPDATED*

[wilma-bride]

We got a voucher for £125, for a free photo session and a free picture worth £75 from Venture.

Went for the session today and it was great fun BUT OH MY GOD at the prices. I had heard they were expensive but I needed to sit down when the guy was going through the price list.

We are going back next Saturday to view the proofs and have to make a decision there and then as to whether we want to buy any of the pictures.

So, for anyone who has done it, are they really worth it? Can I really justify spending the cost of a fortnight in Orlando on a picture

 

[alisonbestford]

They always look so lovely but don't think I could justify such a big spend, personally

Can you be 'strong' and just take the freebie?
Often easier said than done, I know

 

[mattnkatsmum]

I say get the freebie and book another holiday! I have never been to Venture but have been to Paul Yaffe who work on the same principle as Venture. (They give you a coupon for a small fee, take photos and then take you back for a viewing where they show you your pictures on a screen which you can then order). The pictures are always fabulous and of course we are all weak-kneed where our kids our concerned.

My picture cost me £800 and I absolutely love it.......................but it wasn't worth £800!!!

 

[wilma-bride]

They always look so lovely but don't think I could justify such a big spend, personally

Can you be 'strong' and just take the freebie?
Often easier said than done, I know

I think we're gonna have to do just that Alison. With hubby's impending redundancy, I just don't think we can justify such a big spend on some pictures. The freebie we get is a 7 x 5 print (can't believe that in itself would cost £75 to buy )

 

[kristieuk]

Since you've had the pictures done already, you're in trouble!! Only joking, but we had this offer a few years back, and were so determined we would only take the free pictures - and spent over £1k, just like that!

The pictures are amazing, and that's the problem - the physical value of them isn't worth anything what they cost to buy, but the value to you will be priceless, they really do seem to capture something very special, and it is so difficult to say no when you see them. I turned up with the flu, and no make up, determined not to have my picture taken, so we compromised on black and white, and even I looked good!

I know a lot of professional photographers are following the Venture style now, but I haven't seen any that look as well done. We have a large picture of dd when she was 3, that has three separate pictures of her. I think it was £600 for that, but it has hung in the hallway for the past 3 years, and it's one of the first things I see in the morning and one of the last things I see at night, and it always makes me smile. You can't really put a price on that....

We wouldn't hurry back there, but that's because they are so good that we know we would spend a fortune again - it's a lot easier not to go!

Good luck

 

[SammieG]

I think everyone is in agreement that they are HUGELY overpriced these photos.

I honestly could have bought every single picture that they took - in fact we had to go back for another viewing session as I couldnt decide.

My mum paid half for our photos.. we bought a 3 in 1 photo.. 3 shots..
and I absolutely love it. I look at it every day and dont regret it for a moment.
Having said that I think it was hugely overpriced but they did capture a moment in time with my son which is unlike any other photo I have ever seen. Its a kind of moody/pensive photo..which was exactly him at that time.

I dont regret it, but be warned its dangerous going into that place!

 

[lynnmci]

My mum bought us a voucher when DH returned from the Gulf and the pics were fab. WHat I did notice was that the photo sizes were the same in a lot of them it was the frame that was different. We went for the 10x8 which cost us an extra £3o and we took it home and had it mounted and framed by a local guy for a drastically less cost. It hangs in our living room.

 

[Frances999]

We went just before Christmas last year after I was "persuaded" at their stand in the shopping centre! I agree with what has already been said. It is very difficult to turn them down, although we did have a slightly over-the-top and emotional salesperson.

In the end we spent just under £1500. I wish I had taken lynnmci's advice above and purchased the prints unframed and then had them framed elsewhere. Their custom framing is nice, but it's definitely overpriced and could be carried out just as well (and for much less) somewhere else. Just when we were finished, we were then offered 10 months interest free credit incase we wanted some more

They are extremely clever at not disclosing the prices of the images until after your shoot. If you go in with the knowledge that they will be very expensive, hopefully you won't be too shocked - I was horrified and DH was literally on the floor when we went back for the sitting and were slowly told the prices!

DH travels to Hong Kong frequently for business, and said he recently spotted a new brance of Venture opening over there! They must be doing well!

 

[SammieG]

I also advise getting them framed elsewhere..
their framing costs are extortionate!

 

[jns]

They always look so lovely but don't think I could justify such a big spend, personally

Can you be 'strong' and just take the freebie?
Often easier said than done, I know

Be very very strong

Just think of all the lovely photos you could get in WDW and have a holiday all for the same price

 

[Queenie]

Ouch, and I thought we spent a lot buying a few prints from Scott's sister's wedding!

 

[Minniespal]

They are expensive but IMO worth the money. I love the ones we had done and they captured us perfectly.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Cha-Ching pretty much describes Venture. We went last year and ended up getting one of the 7 picture collections where there are 3 at the top, 3 at the bottom, and a wide one accross the middle.
We went with a 4 year old during a "i dont want to have my picture taken" phase, and a 2 year old that was scared of the lad who was taking the pics. We fully expected the outcome to be a waste of time, but we were pleasantly surprised.
We ended up buying that big pictue that cost about £850, but we also got 3 of the desktype photos that were about £165 each.
The prices are absolutely obscene, but its very difficult to resist because the images themselves are so good.
We couldnt afford outright so got 6 months interest free credit on them.
Whats worse is that the credit has now been cleared, but big picture is still in its box...worr lass says she doesnt want it put up until the rooms decorated.....so I might never see it again !

 

[Madjock]

Again, yes they are very expensive but I think in the long run they are worth it. I love the photos of my girls. I have the freebie one on my desk at work and everyone comments on it. We bought one that has nine pictures all in one frame and every picture is lovely, they had great fun that day and it really shows.

That was two years ago and I feel the time is right for another session but every time I mention it DH looks like this and then does this

 

[lexie32]

Thanks for this post Joh, i have been suggesting to dh to go and get some photos done of our ds, but i think i'll hold off until after wdw next year as i don't want to put a massive dent in our spending money!!

Alex

 

[wilma-bride]

Well, we have been to view our pictures this morning. Luckily, there weren't many which really stood out for us so it wasn't as tempting as it could have been. However, we settled on a 30 x 10 group shot (from the 'Urban' range) and 3 individual 7 X 5s of the kids on their own. The individual pics of the girls came out really great - they look so grown up

The damage??? £735 so over the budget we had set ourselves of £500 but nowhere near the £2K which we could have so easily ended up spending