When deciding where to go for your photos how do you decide? Is cost an issue? Is quality an issue? Is convenience an issue? I'm sure you think all of these things are important. So do I. Which is why I have decided to post some of my knowledge on the subject!
What makes me qualified to compare a chain portrait studio to a professional one? When I was in college learning photography, I applied at a chain portrait studio and worked there for 5 months before being promoted to District Trainer and a month after that District Manager. That's right, I was the DM of 9 Chain Portrait Studios. Not only did I learn the ins and outs of their style of business as a "Portrait Photographer", but I also learned what was really expected of these employees.
Let's start with training. When I first started I watched only one photo shoot before being handed the remote and was told to take over. All I had to do was make sure everyone was looking at the camera, smiling, and I had them lined up in the view finder, then I pushed the shutter. I just had to make people smile, get six decent poses, and get them out in 15 mins or less. Obviously I knew a little more went into a great photo from my years of art and photography growing up and as a student. Which is one of the reasons why I moved up so quickly.
When I took over as a trainer, I was told to have my employees learn all they needed to know in 5 days of training. Yes, only 5 days of training...if they were lucky. There were several times when employees got less than 1 full day of training! When I was a DM I tried to prevent that from happening, but sometimes you would have 3 employees quit in 3 different towns all within a week, and there was no way you could have people trained in that many locations. Now I know 5 days may be long enough to teach someone how to use a digital camera on auto mode only, but the focus wasn't even in the actual photography itself. It was on selling.
People were fired for not selling enough $250 packages. They had an entire system set up to get you to spend more money. They bring you in, promising a $5.99 package, but they give you the first shot they take, and make sure all of the other shots are better then that first one. They only take 6-8 photos, push lots of portraits on you, and then they get you to buy a CD for $200 more. Let's add this all together... $5.99+ $250+ $200= $455.99! WOW! That's for only 6 photos! I guess cost couldn't really be the issue here...so what is it? Convenience?
On a typical Saturday at one of the studios that I was the DM for, we would easily have 20 sessions or more scheduled. During the busiest time of day we would push for 10 min sessions to be able to fit all of the walk-ins that came in between the scheduled appointments. We would basically give everyone that came in the same 6 poses. Now, they throw on some vignettes make a few black and white or sepia, and put them in some pre-made templates to make you feel like you're getting something special.
As a customer at one of these studios (before I owned my own studio) this was the experience I had. I got there 5 mins late and was told that the people who had walked in right before me could go ahead of me because I was late to my appointment. When it was my turn, we got to pick one backdrop, and were rushed, because the next appointment was already there. We did about 10 really quick poses and went to a kiosk to view our photos. We thought we were only going to spend about $10 because we had a coupon that said $7.99 for 10 portrait sheets. Little did we know that there was a $9.99 per person sitting fee all 3 of us, unless we wanted to join their club, where it would only be $20. We were shown our first portrait which was really not very good, then 7 others which were much better. We could only buy the extras if we bought one of their expensive packages. We ended up leaving there disappointed, exhausted, and feeling like we couldn't get anything decent unless we spent at least $200. They suggested we pay with credit cards, and even ask our moms for more money. We were adults! How insulting!
So maybe I just had a bad experience. Maybe I was one in a million? There must be some reason people keep going back to these places, right?
At my studio, this is what I give my Clients:
1) An entire hour to work with. No other appointments will be scheduled in your time slot.
2) Individualized service. I find out what you're looking for, and tailor your entire session around what you need.
3) I don't just "point and click". I am trained in the Art of Photography, so I use my knowledge to create custom art. I have had much more than 5 days training!
4) No hidden fees. I will tell you up-front what I charge, when you schedule your session!
5) Cost broken up into 2 or 3 payments. You only have to pay for your session on the day of booking, and at the viewing you pay for what you'd like to purchase then!
So is cost the issue here?
-My prices are actually very close to what one of these places charges, if not less.
Could it be quality?
-I doubt the quality of a camera permanently set on "auto" in the hands of someone with very little training can compete...do you?
Maybe it's convenience?
-How convenient does "hurry up and wait" sound to you?
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Mary Pacheco began working as a portrait photographer in Pueblo, Colorado back in 2006. She focuses on Wedding Photography, High School Seniors, and Family Portraits. In 2014 she won Silver at Best of Pueblo for Photography.
