Portrait Innovations

[Saralonde]

I think the thing is that people don't go in expecting to spend $200. They expect to pay $9.95. Then they see all the other images they won't be getting, they are having trouble deciding between pose #1 and pose #2, the salesperson tells them that they have to buy now because the images won't be saved, and they can get that extra pose they like for only $39.95, but if they really want a good deal they can get five poses for the bargain rate of $79.95 and if you spend $XXX we'll throw in a CD, but you have to decide now and, BTW, we think your child is just gorgeous in these shots.

It's hard for parents to resist.

Why the fuss?

There is not bait and switch. They say on their website:

Only one $9.95 Portrait Package Special of your favorite pose per family or group during each promotional period please. Offer not valid for business purposes, individual adult subjects or unaccompanied minors. Offer subject to change at any time. Promotional and seasonal backgrounds may vary by studio location.

Obviously there must be a market for these guys, otherwise they wouldn't exist.

Remember, if the customer can't see a difference in quality between you and a competitor, they'll always go with the lower price. Some people will see a quality difference, others won't.

I'm actually disappointed there's already one in Cedar Rapids...would probably be a profitable franchise opportunity

[Saralonde]

I don't think there is too much fuss and I don't think they are bait and switch. It is a business and they fill a certain need, just as Wal-Mart fills a need and Nordstroms does, too.
I commented on the hard sell because that is how they are able to offer their loss leader. Businesses do this all the time. They advertise a Thanksgiving turkey for 29 cents a pound hoping you'll buy all the other items for your dinner, too. As the consumer, you don't have to do it.

lol...So I was glancing at the website during my lunch break, and my co-worker looks over my shoulder and says "Hey, we go there! That's a good deal...time for some family photos."

He said they try to upsell you, but no more than Wal-Mart or any other place.

But yeah, it's not much different than Best Buy promoting a $250 laptop, and then try and sell you the bag, warranty, software, etc...

[windrider86]

lol, I remember a few years back this company (the name eludes me now) tried very hard to sell me a van. This van contained everything you would ever need to have a moving photography studio. I do mean everything. The van was all painted with the franchise name and they evn offered you leads on events.
30 some thousand dollars for this deal.
I wonder if they are still in business?

As far as the other one, I wonder how they pay the help. By commission or hourly? I still chuckle at the hand held camera thing tho!

[Saralonde]

I think you get an hourly wage plus commissions.

BTW, when my kids were little, I'd take them to the local ___-Mart for Christmas pictures. $8.95 got me enough to give little gifts to distant aunties and cousins. It was cheaper and easier than doing it myself as it was mostly film back then. But for a nice family or individual portrait I went elsewhere.

[Rob Necciai]

I must admit, I have used them. In fact their HQ is close by. And, yes, each time we probably paid over $200 for the complete package. (2 kids, together, separate, etc.). I can't say the photos are fantastic - somewhere between snapshots and "formal" portraits. (BTW, we have used other local photography studios as well).

The one thing they do, however, that most portrait photographers will not do is sell you the digital images. Each time we have used them (3 or 4), we bought the hi-res images on CD for an extra $75.00. Personally, if I can't have the digital image, the photo is useless to me.

I understand (and agree) that, in most cases, a photographer's work should remain the sole property of the photographer. However, I would prefer that my family portraits be done as a "commissioned" work or "work for hire". Portrait Innovations seems to get that.

Is it bate and switch? Probably (at least very close). But, like McDonalds, it's a business model that just might work. Who here among us goes to McDonalds for the quality of the food?

[dakwegmo]

It's not even close to being bait and switch. You can go in and get the package at the advertised price. That they try to get you to buy more (and usually succeed) is not fraud, it's called upselling and if that were illegal then most companies would go out of business.

[m.c.adams]

Hell, where I live, on Craiglist, their are people that will shoot your wedding for a six pack and a puppy!

[CanonRebelz]

Originally Posted by StupidPeople

Our experienced, professional photographers use hand-held digital cameras, freeing them just like professional fashion photographers, to move and interact with children and adults being photographed. Add a professional lighting system and the results are candid expressions, real smiles and portraits with personality that don't look posed or staged.

LOL, wow.
"Just like the professional fashion photographers" can't stop laughing, sorry. It's just so unprofessional. You gotta be confident to have a business, but not cocky and stupid.
Btw, the website says "View and select from 36 unique photography poses" but they clearly state OVER 40 portaits on the homepage.
"Displayed before you on our giant, color plasma screen" oh really, it's color? I didn't know they made them in color, I thought only B&W! *sarcasm*
I bet they charge crazy print prices outside of the 9.95 package.


And to the person above, same here! There is someone who says they will take your wedding pics for $1 an hour.
This is their exact ad:

DON’T PAY THOSE OTHER GUYS TO DO YOUR PHOTOS YOU COULD PAY MINUMUM OF 300 BUCKS UP TO 2000 DOLLARS. I HAVE A REAL NICE SLR CAMERA WITH A FEW LENSES I CAN TAKE YOUR PICTURES AND PUT THEM ON A DISC SO THERE IS NO WAITING. MY CAMERA CAN TAKE A PICTURE USING A FLASH IN 3 SECOUNDS A PICTURE AND IF IT IS A REAL LIT AREA I DON’T NEED THE FLASH AND THAT’S 1 PIC A SECOUND. I HAVE OVER 1400 IN MY CAMERA I CHARGE ONLY 1 DOLLAR A MUNUE WITH A MINUMUM OF 1 HOUR SO FOR 60 BUCKS I COULD TAKE MORE THAN 500 PICTURES AND BURN THEM TO A DISC. THE PICTURES I TAKE YOU CAN GO TO ANY PLACE AND HAVE THEM PRINT AND SENSE THEY ARE A 10.2 MEGA PIXLE YOU CAN BLOW THEM UP ALMOST WALL SIZE IF NEEDED. PLEASE NOTE I HAVE BEEN DOING PICTURES FOR A LONG TIME AND I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING HOWEVER I AM CONCIDERED AMITURE THAT’S WHY I CHARGE A FRACTION OF WHAT IT COST YOU AND YOU SONT HAVE TO WAIT ON THE PICTURES I WILL TAKE THEM THERE YOU CAN PAY ME THEN YOU WILL RECIVE THE DISC ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL EM

Notice the spelling problems I highlighted in red. Also, that's a bit of a run on sentence eh? There are only a few .'s in that whole ad. Oh and, it's funny how it says "you could pay a minimum of 300 bucks up to 2000 dollars." Once it enters the thousand range it changes from bucks to dollars, I guess?

@Robb Necciai-
Every studio including photographers who do outdoor and studio will sell a disk of images, usually its not all of them and it costs about $75+.