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Original poster

Venture - I have 'won' 125 pound voucher...so what's the catch?

58 replies

unicorn · 08/03/2006 13:42

I imagine they try and sell expensive photos... but can you getaway with just the freebie?

OP posts:
lunavix · 08/03/2006 14:23

We were looking at this but saw some small print (that they may have since removed!) that put us off...

Dh knew a photographer from work... we took ds aged one month. Spent 40 ish minutes, he was a bit grumpy and ds wouldn't have an expression other than looking like he was filling his nappy so we were unsure.

The lady the photographer worked with came to our house, with a laptop and we looked at TONS of photos, all in colour and black and white that were delish. Even with ds's mood!

We chose 3 10x8 ones, and 11 tiny ones (5x4) that Iwas going to make a mini book for but can't decide how. They chucked in a cd (this may be cos we knew them thoguh) with all the photos on in colour and black and white!

It came to £200 and we were dead chuffed. We spent £90 on a lush frame from a specialist, with mounts that coordinate and it's got pride of place on the wall and EVERYONE comments on it. The photos aren't like the ones on the venture ads, but they're still lovely and modern and a fraction of the price.

Dh's aunt and uncle spent £400 at a venture session... I think they came away with 4 7x5 Shock

wilbur · 08/03/2006 14:23

The photographers round here have definitely got into the all white or black background, unposed stuff. My BIL and wife had one come to the house and he brought a whole studio set up with him (stunning pics of their girls playing together with a pitch black background) and also took family pics in garden, on favourite chairs etc. Cost them £200 for the session and then pics were approx £15 each for 5x7, less if you bought more.

lockets · 08/03/2006 14:27

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lockets · 08/03/2006 14:27

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MerlinsBeard · 08/03/2006 14:28

\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1700&threadid=148243&stamp=060222214142\here try again}
try this

lockets · 08/03/2006 14:29

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RnB · 08/03/2006 14:36

the problem is that the photos are so good, that it is hard to say no to them. Ours are really lovely and we all had a great time in the studio (even autistic ds who I thought would freak, but loved it). The free photo had to be one of all of us and then we chose 3 more 7x5 framed pics. Cost us £210 for 4 pics.

Expensive but def worth it in out case. ALso I didnt find it very pressurised tbh. But I'm sure all the branches are different

Original poster
unicorn · 08/03/2006 14:42

Can you choose the free photo or do they decide for you?

I am tempted to give it a go.. but only for the freebie.

OP posts:
chai18 · 08/03/2006 14:43

BTW the sealed framed are very easy to open with a stanley knife to remove the tape.

hana · 08/03/2006 14:43

you can choose

WigWamBam · 08/03/2006 14:44

Unicorn, you chose it yourself - you have free choice from all the photos they show you.

Cristina7 · 08/03/2006 14:54

You can also choose to see them in black & white or only some parts of it (they are digital, so easy enough to manipulate).

I didn't feel we were given the hard sell. If anything, I felt sorry for the photographer as I knew we'd only get the freebie and in case they are paid pro-rata of what income they bring. But then he told me he did some portraits for a woman and her dogs and she oredered about £4000 worth of photos, so they must be getting their money from others. Didn't feel so bad after all.

MaryBS · 08/03/2006 18:44

We 'won' too. It was an hour's drive away and when I really pushed to see what I got, it was one 7x5 photo. Thanks but no thanks

gemmamay · 08/03/2006 21:47

I did this about 2 years ago - I bought a £25 voucher and could have got one 7x5. I spent an extra £75 and got a slightly bigger one in addition. It was all lovely but the pictures were SOOO expensive you can't go too mad as you wouldn't/couldn't justify that much money.
We've just been to a local guy whose pics are the same and is a third of the price so always look about. We really like the canvas box type piccies and Venture wanted £600! We've just got the same and 3 7x5s from the local guy for £150. If you can resist - then go for it and leave your purse at home!

gemmamay · 08/03/2006 21:47

I did this about 2 years ago - I bought a £25 voucher and could have got one 7x5. I spent an extra £75 and got a slightly bigger one in addition. It was all lovely but the pictures were SOOO expensive you can't go too mad as you wouldn't/couldn't justify that much money.
We've just been to a local guy whose pics are the same and is a third of the price so always look about. We really like the canvas box type piccies and Venture wanted £600! We've just got the same and 3 7x5s from the local guy for £150. If you can resist - then go for it and leave your purse at home!

Bozza · 08/03/2006 21:54

It is really hard to not buy gorgeous pictures of your children.

ShaysMummy · 08/03/2006 21:57

I 'won' one of these too. So did my sil and two ladies from work.
The voucher is just to lure you into the studio then they lay the hard sell on.
They kept on and on ringing me to book my 'session' so I never answered my phone and eventually they gave up.

lockets · 08/03/2006 22:04

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blueteddy · 08/03/2006 22:09

I fell for this & came out £295 poorer! (This was after buying the second cheapest gallery picture)
The customer service was terrible & I would never, ever use them again.

lockets · 08/03/2006 22:12

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blueteddy · 08/03/2006 22:16

Hurrah! Glad they are leaving you alone now.
Did he keep phoning you at home, after you had told them you were not interested?

blueteddy · 08/03/2006 22:18

Chuffin venture!!!

hockeymum · 09/03/2006 08:44

I was dead pleased with my venture picture 3 years ago. The photographer managed to capture a really natural shot of my dd grinning away. We still managed to only get the free one, we had decided on that before we went in, although they are lovely. They are in a completely different league to the attrocious Olan Mills ones (well the Cardiff branch is terrible anyway, out of focus, out of frame and rubbish!) whereas Venture look really good. Yes, they seal the back of the picture but we still slit it open with a knife and scanned the picture in so we could do copies for family and friends.

We are going again We "won" again surprise surprise! when db is about 5 months old so we can capture both children. I was really pleased with the finished product - all the more pleased as we only got the freebie!

WideWebWitch · 09/03/2006 08:56

Unicorm, you can get away with just the 'free' (hmm) one but you'll have to be very assertive and they'll try and sell you more ANd they make you go back several times, it's a big rip off imo. Archived searches aren;t working but there have been threads. Honestly, you're better off imo going to a good photographer and asking for the effects you want - £125 would buy you a LOT of photos!

cod · 09/03/2006 09:01

whene we went she said" why is everyone so obsesssed about he bakc of the frame"

er " doh"

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