Comments on: The Portrait Business http://nslog.com/2007/03/11/the_portrait_business The Weblog of Erik J. Barzeski Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:02:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Lilith http://nslog.com/2007/03/11/the_portrait_business#comment-39980 Lilith Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:13:29 +0000 http://nslog.com/2007/03/12/the_portrait_business#comment-39980 I exerienced it at Ames, K-Mart (when my son was small) and a church directory photo oportunity to buy prints. They were taken by traveling photographers that set up in the stores for one or two days. Each time our free photo was the worst one in the entire batch wiht the nicer photos on display for additional purchase . I exerienced it at Ames, K-Mart (when my son was small) and a church directory photo oportunity to buy prints. They were taken by traveling photographers that set up in the stores for one or two days. Each time our free photo was the worst one in the entire batch wiht the nicer photos on display for additional purchase .

]]> By: Lex http://nslog.com/2007/03/11/the_portrait_business#comment-39971 Lex Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:51:15 +0000 http://nslog.com/2007/03/12/the_portrait_business#comment-39971 Erik, I agree with you on the insanity of the pricing. But are you certain that the printed photo paper isn't recycled? We asked that very question, and were told that unpurchased prints are returned and recycled. Erik, I agree with you on the insanity of the pricing. But are you certain that the printed photo paper isn't recycled? We asked that very question, and were told that unpurchased prints are returned and recycled.

]]> By: Erik J. Barzeski http://nslog.com/2007/03/11/the_portrait_business#comment-39970 Erik J. Barzeski Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:18:38 +0000 http://nslog.com/2007/03/12/the_portrait_business#comment-39970 [quote comment="39969"]This picture becomes your "free" picture or the "package price" picture.[/quote] That's not been my experience (Carey has used both Sears and JC Penney's for pictures of Little Bug). We get to choose one or two of any of the images in order to build our "coupon package." We typically get about four or five sheets for under $15 - Carey usually combines a "BOGO" coupon with one for "$9.95" packages. Then we return and they're offering the same pictures as well as some of the ones we didn't like so much for about 8x the cost. :-D Lilith said on March 12, 2007:

This picture becomes your "free" picture or the "package price" picture.

That's not been my experience (Carey has used both Sears and JC Penney's for pictures of Little Bug). We get to choose one or two of any of the images in order to build our "coupon package." We typically get about four or five sheets for under $15 - Carey usually combines a "BOGO" coupon with one for "$9.95" packages.

Then we return and they're offering the same pictures as well as some of the ones we didn't like so much for about 8x the cost. :-D

]]> By: Lilith http://nslog.com/2007/03/11/the_portrait_business#comment-39969 Lilith Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:13:35 +0000 http://nslog.com/2007/03/12/the_portrait_business#comment-39969 My experience with those department store studios and the "traveling studios" that set up shop in Walmart or other stores is that they always take one or two pictures that they know will not be as nice as the ones they hope to sell you. This picture becomes your "free" picture or the "package price" picture. For example, I noticed that the photographer will always take one picture where s/he will ask you to "not smile." That picture is ALWAYS the free or package price picture. They know that you will be disappointed in your free picture and have an easier time selling you the "super-expensive "extra" pictures that turned out beautifully. It's a racket! I always hate the way the school picture studios create their packages, too. They package them in such a way that parents are enticed to buy two or more packages because you cannot get a 5/7 AND and 8/10 in the same package unless you are buying the most expensive package. My experience with those department store studios and the "traveling studios" that set up shop in Walmart or other stores is that they always take one or two pictures that they know will not be as nice as the ones they hope to sell you. This picture becomes your "free" picture or the "package price" picture. For example, I noticed that the photographer will always take one picture where s/he will ask you to "not smile." That picture is ALWAYS the free or package price picture. They know that you will be disappointed in your free picture and have an easier time selling you the "super-expensive "extra" pictures that turned out beautifully. It's a racket!

I always hate the way the school picture studios create their packages, too. They package them in such a way that parents are enticed to buy two or more packages because you cannot get a 5/7 AND and 8/10 in the same package unless you are buying the most expensive package.

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