Artist Photographer

QUICK SUMMARY: I do not recommend this company due to poor service and a terrible follow-up ordering session. However, the final product was beautiful, and the photoshoot was nice. IN DETAIL REVIEW: I won a photoshoot through an Instagram promotion. I attended their South Melbourne studio. The photography session was fine, but the follow-up session with the Art Director was bad. I did research to make sure the company was legit before I paid my deposit, but I wish I had looked more closely at the reviews. I now know that my experience seems to be a common occurrence.

The prize included: "A complimentary full family and pet Portrait Experience at one of our Studios located in Geelong or Melbourne. A 10x15” Fine Art Portrait of your choosing (ready to frame) valued at $2,000."

To book the appointment, you had to pay a refundable holding deposit of $200 for weekday bookings or $300 for weekend bookings. If you want to, or are convinced to, upgrade your prize, be aware that their prices are extremely high. Their pricing is their right, but for context, one photo costs more than an all-day wedding photography service I recently used. This is just something to be aware of.

The photography session at the studio was okay. The receptionist and photographer were both nice, although neither seemed to really know about the promotion or what it entailed, so they couldn’t provide me with any further details about the process or outcome.

The follow-up ordering session was where the experience was bad. It could have been a 15-minute appointment, but instead it took an hour. The Art Director clearly had a script of things she wanted to say and wasn’t listening. This is pretty normal for a sales pitch, but it was exhausting. I met with one of the Art Directors to see my photos. She kept ignoring me when I said I only wanted what was included in my prize and continued to try to upsell me. I had to stop her and reiterate that I would not be spending any additional money three times before she seemed to take me seriously. She then got very frustrated and short with me, as if I was wasting her time.

Following her abrupt change in attitude, I was asked to digitally sign the contract while on the call. In retrospect, I wish I had declined signing during the call so that I could have calmly looked over the contract and not felt pressured. Because I felt uncomfortable regarding not spending more money and felt like I had to say yes because I had "wasted" her time, plus the pressure of her watching me, I gave my consent for them to use my photos when I wasn’t comfortable with it, but I understand that was my mistake.

I also found it distasteful and uncomfortable that the session was recorded without my consent and without being acknowledged. I only realised it was recorded at the end of the call.

Other things to note: - Limited details on their website. The page on how to prepare and what to do with your pet only has information for dogs. - You have to pay for street parking at the South Melbourne studio. - It’s not an accessible studio, you need to walk up a flight of stairs to access the South Melbourne studio. - To receive your photographs, you need to go back to the studio to collect them.

There is very little information given; a lot of the confusion and shock could have been avoided if they had a simple and clear document to send participants on the process and what to expect.

As a business, they should consider a different marketing method.