I've won a makeover from Studio 64, yeah right!

Rat_Chick

Had a phonecall earlier from Studio 64 in Kensington, telling me I'd won a makeover from a competition I'd entered on some site. I must have sounded really daft I as didn't remember entering a competition for a makeover, and I wasn't sure who I would be taking with me :rolleyes: He said he would call me back at a convenient time, 6pm - well he hasn't called and it's a good job too!!

I did a search for Studio 64 after the phonecall and they are in Kensington but have also done a search on here and it's looks like he would have asked for some money, cheeky begger!!! I think I do remember mistakingly entering my real mobile number, it was on one of those sites that won't let you go onto next page until you do, :doh:

Hopefully my second win (not counting this one as a proper win!!) will be for something that does actually exist, like a tv or a car

Skyhigh

Studio 64 does exist and they are quite good to be honest.
Yes they do it to make money, they all do, but studio 64 has been the cheapest I;ve come across.

I entered a similar competition and got a similar call, I decided to treat the girlfriend and take a trip to london.

So, train tickets: £40 (for both, return).
Hotel: £80 - two nights, for 1 room.
Taxis and travel: £5/£10.


The photos of my girlfriend are amazing (see below).

Initially they ask for a £40 deposit, to cover the booking place in case you don't show up.


Their stylists do your hair and makeup and then take about 20 to 30 pictures in different outfits you bring along.
The pictures are of high quality, but.....

...of course they ask you to buy photo's.

Don't.
They want about £30 a piece, although alot of similar places (even in Hull) want £75 a print.

Now for some money-saving advice on how to get great studio photos for knock down prices.

Don't buy prints.
Only buy a CD of the images.
DON'T let them mail the CD to you, if you have to wait - then wait, but leave *with* anything you pay for.

Initially most places will ask around £2,000 for 30 pictures.
I got the ones of my girlfriend for £60.
- So that was the deposit and an extra £20.
Also works out at only £2 per picture, for high quality photo's.

If you get the CD, you can print your own at anywhere, even Boots at 5p a print.
The prints at Boots or similar are just as good as the ones the studio would print for you.
Plus, you can get as many copies as you want from the CD, give them to friends, family - the lot.

How to get from £2k to £60?
Well - first ask if you can have them on the CD, they will usually say OK but it will cost *more*.
They will say XXX a photo, tell them that the total is just too much.
They may suggest you could pic a few photos, tell them you'd like most of them, but you just can't afford it.

They *may* offer a weekly payment plan, DON'T fall for it - like I said, you want to leave with the photos in your hand (or on the CD).
Plus it makes it seem alot cheaper, say £10 per week, over a year - thats still £520!

So, be consistent, they *know* you've paid to come in and have photos taken so they have a hook on you.
Think of a realistic price you'd pay.
Really £2 per photo, or even £5 per photo isn't bad for professional photo's, its even better if they're on the CD as you can print more out (as said previously) !!


Make things up if you have to, you can't afford that much for "just" photos, as you've just:
moved house
bought a new car
bought a new TV
bought a new PC


Remember, they want *your* money.
You've made arrangements and spent money to go there, sure, but *they* have spent time, effort and materials on taking your photos.
£40 won't cover the hour it takes, so they want *something* back.


If you stick to your guns, the price will drop, although you have to be consistent.
They will try nearly *everything* to persuade you, photographers (or the sellers) are worse than some car dealers.

It will get to a point, where they will probably make a show of
"going to ask the manager/photographer/studio artist to see how much they will be willing to 'let the photos go' for".
Its just a show, they leave the room for a bit, probably have a coffee and come back having just "discussed it".


More tips:
Treat it as a day out.
We mentioned to them:
"Its nice coming to london for a day out, having her hair done and some photos, its been fun".

- Why mention this?
Well it gives the impression that you're not too bothered about the pictures, the pictures *are* nice, but you don't want to act as if you "need" or really "want" them.
Therefore they may drop the price down.

Fidget!
Seriously, move about in your seat, keep looking at the door/outside as if you want to leave.
This will give them the impression that you want to leave, but they don't want that, they want *something* for the time they've spent.
Even if its only the £40 deposit - which if you DON'T buy any pictures, you will get back.

The deposit:
Keep them on their toes, ask them about how they will repay the deposit.
You've shown up, you've had photos, you kept the appointment.
So you get the deposit back.
Ask them how they'll pay it.
- They don't want to, since they use the deposit as part of the photo payment when you buy photos, so again, they may be willing to drop the price by "including" the deposit in the total price.

Also make sure the final price *includes* the deposit.
So, they say "Ok, so thats £150", always check that the £150 includes the deposit, so its not £150 + deposit (£40) - thats £190!.


I'll ask the girlfriend if I can post some of the pictures that Studio 64 took here, although I can honestly say that they are *fantastic* pictures, honestly - professional quality.
Unless you have a few grands worth of kit, you won't get near the standard, although most commerical modern (and even digital) camera's are good, they have nothing on the quality of the images we have )


But, if you can afford £2k, £1k or even £500 on pictures, then go for it )


:!:

Funnygirl_3

My Daughter & I Were Stopped Whilst Shopping In Aylesbury, Asked If She Would Like To Win A Prize!!, She Was Told About The Make-over, Champange, Hair Done, Clothes Etc, Etc.last Night Shereceived A Call From Monquie, Informing Her That She Had This Prize, Again Stressing The Hair-do, Clothes, And Slight Mention Of Having Photos Taken. But Since These Were The Last Two Tickets, She Would Have To Move Quickly, And Could My Daughter Give Her A Deposit Of £44.00, By Credit Card, Which She Would Get Back, The Minute We Went Through The Door, Alarm Bells Started Ringing, If This Is A Prize, Why Was She Being Asked To Pay. Thinking On Her Feet, My Daughter Asked If She Could Pay By Cheque, But This Was Not Possible Due To The Shortness Of Time,the Tickets Could Only Be Held Until Midday Today 20/7/07, Although They Were Valid For A Year.
My Daughter Then Gave Her A Card Number, Knowing That There Was No Money In The Account, For Them To Take, After Trying, Monquie
Said My Daughter Should Query This With Her Bank, And Should Would Call Her Back Today. My Daughter Then Called Me, And As She Does Not Have The Internet, I Said That I Would Search For Her, And Boy Am I Glad That I Did. Thank You To Those People That
Have Posted Before Me. I Am Just Glad That She Did Not Hand Of Any Details. As I Said Some Prize!!!!!

hayleyw1

do they ever give up!

white_star

I told them thanks but no thanks!

ja-de

No I don't think they do. I've just received an email from this Studio 64 (Exposure Photographics), only I'm definitely positive that I haven't entered any competition for a 'Makeover' let alone for photos. In the email it says:
Dear ja-de

Thank you for entering your telephone number in our online promotion!

One of our consultants will be in contact shortly to confirm your 10% discount on a complimentary make over & photo shoot from Exposure Photographics!

Prepare yourself for a fabulous day out!

See you soon!

[FONT=&quot]Exposure Photographics

One thing's for certain, I will not be giving them any of my bank details, if & when they phone me, in fact I'll probably do what I always do when I'm not sure about who's on the other end, which is to play dumb, & let them think that I have no idea as to what they are talking about, it never fails to work.
[/FONT]

ccr5

I went to a studio 64 photo shoot this weekend in farringdon london
I won the photo shoot in a competition which i did enter and i paid the £100 deposite which thy state in their T& C's is refunded two weeks after the photo shoot.
Its definatly a production line the reception looks very slick and then you are taken upstairs to the hair and make up room i had the most grumpy hair stylist and had a bit of a problem communication with my make up artist as he was foreign. They state that you get a full hair and make up consultation which i didnt get and neither did any of the other customer appear to get. Make sure you take out fits that will suit one set of make up and hair style as you dont get them redone for each outfit as i was led to believe. Make sure you take your outfits in a garment bag as you cant iron them when you get their if they get creased in transport. Our photographer was good but didnt show us the picks on the camera.
We only had to wait ten min for us to be able to view our pick in the 'private viewing room'. This is when they hit you with the hard sell
if you want the photo in a print which you dont own the copy right to your are looking at £250 for one a4 pic not including frame and they send it to you ( ihave my doubt about whether it would turn up). When they say on their website that prices start from £45 plus VAT thats one print the size of a cd case and not in a frame. If you want the pics on a cd its £100 per pic the woman claimed that it most people went for 10 pic (who has £800 to spend on pics) Then as she could tell from our body language that we wer'nt interested at that price she said we could have 6 pic for £320 on a cd. Then my friend asked about VAT and all of a sudden this was now on top. There were a couple of pics that i liked but not enough to spend £80 so i said i didnt want any this is when the women turned on us. She came out with priceless comments like 'didnt you budget for this?' at £100 a pop plus VAT no i didnt. Then she came out with 'whats the problem, what dont you like we can airbrush it' ive seen the examples of their airbrushing the people were un-recognisable. Then she came out with ' thats just an excuss that is' she was quiet agressive.
My friend brought a pic on a cd i think she only did it because she wondered what the woman would do if we both had said no. I certainly would not recommend this, if you want this kind of photo shoot i would recommend going to the hair dressers yourself if they do a bridal service they can do the make up for you or do that yourself and go to a local photographer who has a portfolio you can look at and a small studio its bound to be cheaper. Make sure you own the copyright to your pics so they dont randomly turn up somewhere or used for something without your permission. If you own the copy right you can get them removed. Even though we neved signed anything and its not mentioned in their T&C's Studio 64 own the copyright to the pics and you can only get that back so they say by buying all the pic. (Under the law the image belong to the party creating it eg the photographer, the photographers who are employed by studio 64 i would imagine have to sign over there copy right to them.) However when my mate brought her one pic the pic wasnt deleated from their comp and she was not given any paperwork to say she now owned the copy right. In short dont bother with this its not worth the money and is all a bit dodgey!

lucyhope

Oh dear, I got a phone call too on Saturday, paid the deposit and my daughter and I are off to London in December for this 'prize'. As Skyhigh says,we're treating it as an excuse for a weekend in London, thank you for the tips, hope our experience is not like yours ccr5.

SouthernSoftie

I have to say I get so annoyed at things like this. You get your hopes up and then they try and take you for a ride.
Surely they realise people will spread the word about how bad they are?

I also feel bad for the honest makeover teams as I'm sure there must be some, but now I avoid anything that contains the words free or win makeover.

Arietta_2

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1740883&id=539010725&op=1&view=user&subj=539010725

here is one of my pics from studio 64, you are sooo right about the hard sell, i ended up in tears and the guy didn't even offer me a tissue.

nice day out but be warned and go prepared, we found out what some of our friends had payed for photos and used this info to get the price down, although not as much as we would have liked

gerturdeanna

i just had a phone call telling me I had won a VIP hair and makeup makeover - I was like cool! etc etc - then she started going on about a deposit of £49.99 per ticket and I was like oh sorry got to go, someone at the door!! hehe
Thanks love but no thanks!!