To not purchase any photos even though my children sat & posed for 20 minutes

[mariemarie]

A few weeks ago one of the mums from my DC school organised for a photographer to come into the school on a Saturday (today) and handed out leaflets asking if anyone was interested in getting DCs pictures done. There were 10 places and it was £10 for the sitting which included a free 10x8 picture.

Well, today I went with my 3 DC and the photographer took some really great pictures.

The problem is this, I sat down with his assistant to browse the pictures on his pc and picked out the ones I liked. However, at this point I find out that I cannot order any prints, I can only order "chunky photos" which look like pictures on blocks/canvas, nice, but not what I want, and also v.expensive. And the only basic prints that can be ordered are put in a frame (choice of 3 only) and again, none of these are my taste.

All the time, I felt the assistant pressuring me into buying. I eventually settle on a framed picture that sits 3 pictures in and choose a picture of each of my children. Problem - two of my chosen pics are portrait and the other is landscape, I am told I have to have all matching.

I eventually settle for 3 landscape style pictures in the frame, at a cost of £145 (but these were not the best pictures of my children) and then point to a picture which has all 3 of my DC on and tell the assistant I would like that one as my free 10x8. She then tells me thats not possible because the free pic has to be the exact same as one of the ones I'm buying. I tell her thats of no use to me because I have bought 3 individual pics of my children and to choose which one of these I duplicate is pointless because I cant even give it to my mum because its only of 1 child.

In the end I tell them I'm not happy and walk out without buying anything.

All the other mums are writing cheques left right and centre and raving on about how wonderful the pics are. When I came out they were all waiting in the hallway and asked how I'd got on. I told them what had happened and they all seemed shocked that I had a problem with it.

AIBU?

Just wanted to say that we had some photos done with venture about 3 years ago. We did the free photo session offer with a free 7x5 at the end.

The session was fun for the DDs and the pictures were amazing. Yes, we did end up spending a ridiculous amount on some beautiful photos BUT we were not pressured at all. I could have any photo I liked as a free one. In fact, because our order was delayed by 2 weeks they gave us a second free 7x5 framed.

The whole experience was fun and although very expensive 3 years later I still adore my photos and always get comments on them!

In contrast 6 months after we had them done, I was sent a voucher for a free sitting with Olan Mills and a free 7x5. I thought I would have it done as it was free. They did a poor imitation of the venture style, the photographer was grumpy and not friendly to the children. I went back a week later to view the picture and the sales lady was so rude when I said I only wanted the free one, accused me of wasting time and promised I would regret not having memories of my children! She started talking about credit payments. I was livid, told her money was not the problem I just only wanted to take up the free offer they were legally obliged to give me. Horrid experience. They did send me a free 7x5 in the post but it was not that brilliant and was not framed either. Think Olan Mills have gone bust now!!

Venture was a good experience for us even if it was a little expensive!

My first experience with venture I had a hard sell lady that rolled your eyes at you each time you decided not to go ahead with a photo that you had selected a a favourite.... I couldn't look at the photos without rememdering about the awful woman.

2nd experience (don't ask) was much better, however what I noticed was that all the "creativity" of venture was not so... they only repeat the same poses with every one and put you to do the same. Considering they are not very original, I think the prices are far more expensive than they were before I noticed that, and to be honest... 3500 for a single photo? please... is not that Ansel Adams is being at the session himself...

well done for not giving in so many people would have been persuaded even if they were not happy!

I won't use Pixifoto any more regardless as last year in Dublin a woman was asked to leave for bfing. I mean, the place was in Mothercare!

Thanks everyone, am so glad I didnt give in and purchase pictures that I wasnt 100% happy with.

The general opinion on here seems to be stay away from these types of photographers. My auntie came to visit today and they have a top camera which she said I could borrow so I think I'll give that a go for now.

Ive also just remembered something else about the shoot yesterday -the photographer asked me to stand aside out of the way so that he could "direct" the children. One of my children was rather nervous and struggling to smile without it looking forced. The photographer was telling her to relax and instructing her how to put her hands on her hips and spin round to smile at the camera (she's 6!). She was really trying her best but was obviously uncomfortable and looked like she was about to start crying.

Anyway, I stepped forward and was talking to her and trying to make her feel more comfortable and was trying to make her laugh. The stupid photographer turned round and said to me "its really difficult for a child to take direction from 2 people at once so if you dont mind, could you leave it up to me please".

When I think back, I should have trod on his lovely white flooring with my trainers on and lovingly picked up my nervous daughter right there. I could kick myself.

I think its a bit mad to pay hundreds of pounds for studio pics when anyone can take a nice photo on a digi camera.

I admit I bought EVERY photo ever taken of my DD (pfb syndrome).

Gradually got less and less with DC2 and 3. I DID get pixie photo with DS3 but had no intention of buying the set. Hugely expensive and too gary for my liking.

Best pics are much more natural IMO.

Saying all that - we had a family pic done by Venture. Their style is a bit more groovy. I had a 25 pound voucher. I didnt buy anything else because REALLLLLY expensive.

Glad I have the lovely picture though as its the last family one of us with DD

You were totally reasonable.

I much prefer natural photos and absolutely hate that venture/white background look.

My DH takes fab photos of our children which are much admired and are very natural and very cheap once you've bought a decent camera.

I hate those high pressure sales situations - just too awkward.

I have a few mates who take photos of local bands as a hobby/spare cash maker, so I will be getting one of those to do a shoot when i am heavily pregnant of me, dd and dp. It'll cost me about £50 and they have all the backdrops/posh cameras etc. Plus it'll be someone I know so they will be able to express our personalities better.

For the £145 you were going to spend, you could get a really lovely digital camera (I think mine cost that much and I really like it). Then you can take thousands of photos in a more natural setting.

I steer well clear of these places - a girl in my antenatal class got given a voucher for a free photo session and she went with her baby and her DH and had some photos taken. Afterwards she picked out 3 photos that she liked and was told that they would be £800 .

I think it's a shame as when we were little, my mum got us each a photo done on our first birthdays - I remember them in the kitchen for my whole childhood. They were not expensive, but really nice.

My DD takes great pics on her cheapo mobile, all very arty and creatie, I think I should let her loose with a decent digi camera and see what she comes up with .

My friend went to Venture and didn't buy anything as they were totally unable to reflect the differing skin tones of her mixed-race family. In every shot, someone was always either in shadow or washed right out. In London too! You would think they'd be used to it.

You could consider retaining a photographer yourself. You could do it as a family portrait sitting or get your friends with their children round and have a photography session, splitting the costs.

You get to choose, who is photographed and how and with a good photographer who is flexible you can get some great candid shots too.

With the right photographer, who can give you the images on disk, you will not be pressured to buy anything and can choose what to print when and how you want.

I know a great photographer in Bristol that can provide this service and I assume there are others across the country.

Local photographer always the best bet. Avoid the chains.

Webme1 - is the said photographer in Bristol a lady with a very Scottish name?

yanbu

we had a voucher for a £100 photo - we went and had it taken but the only photo that qualified was a really rubbish one that was tiny. the nice ones were a few hundred pounds!
we didnt buy any at all and told them where to take their "canvas memory boards"

I hate the manipulation angle that many of them use ime...had free venture shoot thing years ago, actually went along naively thinking it was all a nice thing for us to enjoy - they were rude, quite short with us, then when we went back to choose, this woman showed me all the shots really fast so I couldn't get a good look, again really impatient and kept tutting at me, I chose one in the end and the fact it was free (well cheap) and I didn't fork out for the rest really pissed them off.

I was and in about equal measure. Pixifoto was the same - I ahd the usual bounty free print voucher, then she refused to jsut take one picture, had to do the stupid hats/props even though the kids hated it and i kept saying 'they have ahd enough can we stop!' but she wouldn't - them the no eye contact when you go to pick it up, the rudeness and trying to make you feel like you have upset/offended them. It's shite.

At least they will have looked better than these lot

YANBU!

but ill say one thing, ive used pixi photo a few times and had some lovely pictures and luckily had the same photographer each time whos great and stopped for a 20 min bf, not her dd lol, but felt they were pushing the prices a bit, found a local one, rave reviews etc, he took stunning photos, BUT he wouldnt give a pricelist, i should have ran then!

I use a local fella up here in NE who I would love to reccommend on here (I know I can't!) and I will keep going back to him, he gets fabulous gorgeous pics, my DD turns into a little model, she loves it!!

YANBU I thought that they are there to sell, they are not doing a good job of it are they! What poor customer service, I would have done the same thing my goodness. Well thats £145 they lost.