Regarding Venture photography person in town

[Flightattendant]

I feel bad about it. We were heading into town to get some food and take back something. Walking through precinct a woman stepped up to me from a sort of mobile stall/caravan type thing advertising Venture photography.

She said 'Hello, have you heard of Venture?' at which point I smiled nicely and said 'Yes, we've done it before and we really hated it'. She said 'Oh I'm sorry' and I felt really bad about saying that, and wondered if I could have handled it better.

I do hate Venture, for various reasons, and I also hate being acosted by people with clipboards...but I felt sorry for her. I was polite a I said it, if that's not a contradiction in terms...feel like maybe I needn't have told her we hated it though.

Isn't that kind of thing a bit 90's now anyway? The whole canvas thing seems to have been and gone...

We also got a ´free´ (if you don´t count the emotional scarring) session and went - my sisters and me - because my mum had harped on for YEARS about wanting a group shot of us. The session was embarrassing and the viewing session long, boring and hard sell. We did end up buying 4 pics and spent 800 quid but my mum cried with happiness when we gave them to her and she covets them completely. For about 250 quid we felt like very good daughters indeed. And justified the expense at the thought of all those xmas presents we hadn´t bought them as broke students.

So I would steer away in future and advise people against falling for it but in our case I think the result was worth it. I do agree there are definitely cheaper and better options, but we´d never have been organised enough to look into it.. so..

Uh oh - just got a voucher yesterday after being stopped in local shopping centre. DD1 never stands still to get her picture taken and sat so nice for the photographer I was in shock - free picture of two DD's was beautifull but now regretting it. Also not told DH about it yet so I know he's going to hit the roof when I tell him about the studio pics. Was going to take my mum but dont think that will be allowed

Ah well the free pics amazing if anything lol

I've just come across them - bought a voucher outside Morrisons and went along with Mum and DD on Friday.
Had a nice time etc and the staff throughout have been really pleasant and friendly - but was massively shocked by the prices - they are really really expensive! I've decided not to even go to the preview session as I know I'm not going to buy anything and I thought I'd find it sad if they have taken some great pics.
But, I rang the studio today and had a nice chat with the girl, they didn't try and pressurise me to come at all. We had a bit of a chat about what I had been expecting - I'd been to a studio before and she agreed that they weren't able to match or compare what I'd paid before.
I don't think I've been duped - but I wish I'd asked a few more questions before I'd gone along (and I wish I'd looked at the MN threads!)
I'd agree with the posters who've used independant local photographers - they are much more flexible to meet what you want and much cheaper.

YANBU. Whenever they approach me I always say 'I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole as I think they're a rip-off,' in as loud a voice as I dare.
I fell for this about 6 years ago, just wanted the three DCs, a couple for us and maybe one each for the GPs.
The woman was pleasant enough but seemed to operate by a system of forced jollity.
I wasn't convinced in the slightest she was any sort of photographer - point and click and hope something sticks seemed to be the modus operandi.
Went back for the hard sell and spent £600 on 3 pics.
DH dropped a plate when I told him - huge row with me too embarrased to admit I'd cocked up - phoned next day and they let me cancel but we ended up with one print of the DCs looking okay but no better than in many of our pics. Cost £225.
Thing is, their promo shots are obviously very carefully staged and taken by decent photographers, and look impressive, even if you don't like that style. But you don't get a David Bailey when you turn up to your session, and it's pure luck if anything decent comes out of it.

I found the shoot OK - but rushed - and the selling quite horrible - we were willing to spend on one or two (only one or two came out OK anyhow) but as I am terribly spatically unaware and she was shouting out the sizes I asked if she had a tape measure so I could see physically what the size would be - she got really bitchy - so I got bitchier back.

Yep, I'd be happy to shout loudly to all and sundry in a shopping centre about how crappo they are.

I got approached in Tescos by a local photographer and got a £20 free voucher. We was told we would have the session and then go back to view the pics, we had a good day although when we got there DS2 got a Nose bleed for the first time ever. We had our pics done and on some of the pic there was blood on DS2 nose, the photographer was good at what he did and he said he would touch up the pics.
We went back a month later as he had been away and they were fabulous. We went for a special package of 7 pics. We chose a 16x12, 2 x 10x8 2 x 6x8 & 3 x 5x7 although we couldnt decide on the last 5 he gave us an extra 2 5x7 for free all for £250 and they are good pics.

We have used them a couple of times and have found them great for young children and responsive to our taste. It sounds as if we've been lucky and we've never been pressured to spend loads ( they are horrendously expensive) but then we always know what we're going to spend and can't bear enormous pictures.

If the Dc were older we'd probably go for something a bit more formal, but we've been happy with them so far.

My husband is starting up a business as a portrait photographer. He takes beautiful naturalistic portraits, no forced poses. Plus all his prices will be on the website to see beforehand.

I urge you to use local professional photographers not these McPhotographers who are hired on the basis that they don't have any photography experience!

I hate venture. My sis bought us a photographic experience for christmas when dd was 6mths, went along loved the photos but was at the ridiculousness of the prices. I will never ever go back and I would urge everyone never to go there.

I have to say when they approach me in town I laugh and say no thanks far too expensive!

I agree about using a local professional person. I went to the aunt and uncle of a work colleague recently, got lovely photos taken of my 2 dc and my neices and nephews. They took loads of photos, session cost £20 which included 1 8x6 print and all other prints were reasonably priced. I will use them again and have recommended them to other people

AH cr*p, I just bought one of those "special offer" vouchers for my SIL who is due her second baby in June!! I hope she has a better time than most of the above posters did.

In 2 minds whether to give her it now!!

I was accosted by one outside sainsbury's the other week. She was really pushy.

I gave her fake details.