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Original poster

Okay, so i've trawled through the archives, and it's not looking good for VENTURE... anyone got any positive stories? I really want to go!

52 replies

Bodkin · 21/03/2008 20:55

Been given a session as a gift (I think it's the £25 inc. one free 7 x 5 and I'd like to give it a shot... are they really going to take us for every penny we've got, or is it fairly easy to take the freebie and run, or better still, haggle on the more expensive offers?

OP posts:

barbamama · 21/03/2008 21:33

It kind of bugs me that they own the copyright to your images too - I was toying with the idea of trying to sneak a USB stick in while dp distracted them ......

Icantbelieveitsnotdragonbutter · 21/03/2008 21:37

We took the freebie and walked, head held high. We had no money at the time so had absolutely no choice. to make them and you feel better tell them you have no money right now but will come back in six months to order some. then don't.
I feel proud of myself when i go round other peoples houses and it's obvious they fell for all the emotional blackmail.

Flamesparrow · 21/03/2008 22:03

i don't believe any photos are worth that much money

redadmiral · 21/03/2008 22:17

Second Peasoup's post. (Hello Peasoup.)

It is a bit of a factory. If you want a more personal service with less hard sell and probably better value for money have a look at other children's photographers in your area. (A lot will travel, too.) Often photographers will come to your home or local park to take the pictures, and come back again for the viewing session.

SueW · 21/03/2008 22:32

Just go and do it.

The alternative is - since it was given to you as a gift - that you do nothing and eventually the person will ask where your freebie shot is.... and you will have to explain.

I bought a session for DD with an alternative; I felt sorry for the girl on the stand next to me at a baby show trying to flog photo sessions and when she dropped the price from £25 to £15 I bought.

It was heartbreaking cutting out pics from 35 even down to 5. And WORSE because DD was there. Imagine what that could do a child's self-esteem 'No we like that pic better than that one', etc. Eventually we took the freebie and ran but I wish we could have afforded to buy more.

Eight months on, I still love even the thumbprints we have of our final selection and I LOVE our small freebie. But she looks v different now and I'm glad we didn't commit to spending 100s of pounds on photos.

peasoup · 21/03/2008 22:34

Redadmiral

redadmiral · 21/03/2008 22:55

Hijack for a moment..

Hi Peasoup - If you ever want to meet up or email any time feel free to CAT me. There are some shows I keep meaning to go to and never get around to, and I'm always up for a chat.

ohnoherewego · 22/03/2008 00:04

We walked away with just one photo. Went for a family shot and they agreed to take the cost of the 7x5 of the cost of larger photo we wanted. The shoot was fun.

peasoup · 22/03/2008 11:57

Redadmiral-sorry went to bed before your last posting so missed it. I know I've come accross you on other threads but haven't got the MN technical knowledge to know how to go back and check! Remind me! Are you also a photographer? I've got the memory of a goldfish so I can never remember who anyone is on these Mumsnet things! Were you and I chatting in a self employed thread before? Sorry to be so dense.

redadmiral · 22/03/2008 12:08

Yes - it was the self-employed thread. You were trying to persuade me that the adrenaline rush of wedding photography was what I needed.

I'm a children's portrait photographer based in London. I was interested in the possible meet-up, but I think it died a death...

wheresthehamster · 22/03/2008 12:10

Shoot was fun. At the viewing you can feel the vibes changing when they realise you are not going to spend a fortune. At the end when you say you just want the freebie they can't wait to get rid of you. Very bad customer relations.

My sil had some done recently (can't remember who with) with the same sort of shoot but at the viewing, provided you spent about £150, they gave you a CD with about 50 shots on for you to print off yourself. Take note Venture!

peasoup · 22/03/2008 12:16

Wheresthehamster-yes that's what my mates said about the vibe changing-they had the tea and biscuits whisked away from them so quickly it made their heads spin! The folks doing the hard sell must be on commision only or something so they get nothing if they don't get you to cough up.
Redamiral- I thought so but couldn't find that thread when I tried to do a search. I'm going back to try and reread it now- back in a minute!

cerys · 22/03/2008 12:18

my friend had 2 fabulous photos done by Venture, but they cost about what my DH earns in a month

peasoup · 22/03/2008 12:34

Found it! Yes I was hoping self employed Mums would get together for a meet up too. It's a lonely life!
What shows are you interested in?

redadmiral · 22/03/2008 21:18

Well I think I've missed quite a few. I wouldn't mind seeing the one at the Photographers' Gallery, and I keep meaning to go back to the National Portrait gallery without 2 bored children in tow...

Any way, no pressure - feel free to get in touch if you do ever want to swap notes...

peasoup · 22/03/2008 21:26

Just putting finishing touches to my website!!! I do recall that when we had that self employed thread back in Jan I was predicting my new website would be up and running within three weeks. Meanwhile two months later...! I've only just got it done. Am giving all the last little bits to my web design mate on Tue and he thinks he'll have it up onlne by the following week! V. exciting. I should CAT you; never done it before though so not entirely sure how. Are you studio portraits or outdoorsy ones?

redadmiral · 22/03/2008 21:38

Would love to see the website. Mine hasn't progressed much - finding it hard to finalise the writing, etc.

I generally do portraits at the client's home or in a local park.

I think you click on the message symbol next to the poster's name to CAT them. I'll try to send you one now.

TotalChaos · 22/03/2008 21:41

Make sure you only take £25 in cash and NO chequebooks/credit cards, so you can't be tempted to buy any more. I think the photo I got of DS was a venture one - and the lady made a token attempt to persuade me to spend hundreds but when I said no thanks, can't afford it, she was absolutely fine, no pressure at all.

Janni · 22/03/2008 21:59

Lovely photos but they cost an absolute fortune!

peasoup · 22/03/2008 23:04

Redadmiral-didn't get an email from you; maybe it takes a while to get through. Have you given any more thought to branching out into weddings? Are you South London?

Clary · 22/03/2008 23:29

I know a few people who have had the big pictures done and are very pleased with them, if that is any help.

Am I the only person who doesn't really like the pictures? The ones I have seen in friends' houses have the children held upside down at an odd angle or grimacing at the camera of hardly seen

JaamyBunny · 23/03/2008 00:21

We ended up paying quite a lot of money for a portrait (DH got a bonus). It's nothing weird, just a closely-cropped landscape shot of the 4 of us with DH and I at either side kissing the cheeks of the DDs who are in the centre of the frame. It's quite big, though, about 3.5 feet wide. At the time I was shocked at the cost of it but am so glad we have it now (2 yrs later). Everyone who has seen it comments on how lovely it is.

DD1 loved the experience (she was 2.9yo at the time). DD2 not so sure but because you have an hour or so in the studio, she just wandered round and did her own thing until the photographer got a relaxed shot of us all.

Would do it again if/when we have another DC.

yurt1 · 23/03/2008 00:35

Check out local photographers. A lot do venture style kids pics now. We had someone go into ds3's nursery who took a load of Venture style photos and they're lovely. Cheap as well - the prints were uploaded on somewhere like Photobox and you could order the ones you wanted.

redadmiral · 23/03/2008 09:06

Have sent it Peasoup, but it may take till after the holiday to come through.

No, I still haven't considered weddings. I'm having quite a lot of interest in the childrens' portraits, so I'm hoping to concentrate on that.

I don't live in South London any more, but am fairly central, so can travel around...

Original poster

Bodkin · 23/03/2008 22:09

Thanks for all your input... yes I guess it is hard to turn down fab pics of your kids... but then I would feel bad if the friend who gave the gift ever asked to see the pics....

The other thing is it will be a 60 mile round trip to the shoot, and I didn't realise we would have to do that all over again for the viewing, so that ain't gonna be cheap either!

DP is not desperately keen on the whole thing anyway... he took one look at the promotional portfolio and said "I'll chuck some noodles at you and take some pics for nowt" (if you have seen the portfolio you'll know what he's on about )

OP posts:

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