Venture photography

photoperson

kle87 wrote: »

Venture is a rip off waste of money. As a photographer I can tell you all to stay well clear they charge well over the odds for basically saturating colours to make it look modern. Just to give you an idea we charge £40 for a 10x8 in what ever style you want and in what ever moulding you want, with or without a mount. I have had so many customers come to me gutted that they paid £200 for their picture because they were 'bullied' into it. Stay away and find a good local photographer who isnt a rip off!

Actually, as a photographer it's probably not a good idea to bad-mouth your fellow professionals. Equally, people could look at your offer of £40 for any frame in any style and come to the assumption your quality isn't up to much as that's very low for a framed print. Perhaps you charge £1000 up front for the photo session?? Or maybe you don't do photography for a living??

I know from my own point of view as a photographer the raw materials for many of the portrait products I sell cost me more than £40, not to mention my own time preparing the photographs in the first place, as well as heating, telephone, equipment servicing, marketing etc etc. At £40 for anything the customer could want I'd soon go out of business at that rate. But, if it works for you and your clients are happy, then it's all good - there's a place for you in the market to make a living without other photographers bad-mouthing you.

As to whether Venture are a rip off, I don't agree with their hard-sell approach but then no-one's forcing people to hand over thousands of pounds. This notion that their style is easy to copy and can simply be done by saturating the colours in a photo is not really true. It takes more than a few effects on photoshop to get that kind of result. What about people skills?? Lighting skills? Camera skills?? The ability to do all that and have people enjoy themself in the process?? Skill like that costs money, as do the products they sell. There's no doubt they're very expensive, but then that's how they value their own work. The fact that they've been in business for years proves there are people out there that value their work and think it's worth it.

Anyways, getting back to the point. As mentioned the answer is simple: if you're trying to save money, don't go to Venture. But let's not start slamming them for ripping people off because that's not what they're doing.

Note: I don't work for Venture!!

Stewboy1978

Morning

I haven't read through all the posts but I get the idea - Some like Venture, some think it is very expensive and a waste of cash.

Our daughter is 10 months old and is now becoming very active - We thought now would be the perfect time to get a good framed picture on the wall.

We signed up for Venture with one of the offers you can buy in a shopping arcade at there stall.

When we went along we were made to feel at home etc and you can tell that it is all very professional.

The actual photo session lasted for an hour and it felt like minutes. The photographer was excellent and made my daughter feel very at ease and she really enjoyed it.

When it came to choosing the picture Venture are very clever - They show you your pictures and you really fall in love with them and you almost have to buy them. However they are a business and are there to make money.

Although they are expensive I would recommend them. Not for everyday pictures but for special occasions then they are worth the money.

I don't think it is just the picture and frame you are paying for but the quality of treatment you recieve.

kle87

Photoperson as a fellow professional you should understand that you target your prices for the area you are in. I work in an area just outside cardiff and as a result I charge less than photographers do there because im in a valley. 40 for a 10x8 isnt that cheap as we all know how much it costs to print the actual photograph especially if you print bulk in a lab. Obviously if we are using an expensive moulding then we charge abit more but we have a standard range of good quality mouldings that fall under the 40.00 bracket. Also many photographers use the same suppliers and therefore you can get the same moulding or mountboard as joe bloggs. As for slagging off venture as a professional I understand what they do but feel they con people into thinking they are doing something 'magical' when in actual fact they are using a few basic photoshop effects. I like knowing when a customer leaves my shop they are happy and if they arn't i have no problem in altering what ever they want so they are happy. I have my own studio just like venture do and in the past have done the full day experience with the make over. The business has been around for over 25years now which is longer than most venture studio's last. At the end of the day its an opinion but knowing what it costs venture to produce their photographs I know that they have to use their bullying tactics for a reason. Each to their own.

photoperson

kle87 - I do understand that it's important to match prices to the area you're in. It was just that your pricing of £40 for any moulding and any style you want as a way of making Venture look extortionate didn't ring true. But it's cool, you've cleared it up now!!:T

Getting back to the Venture thing, you can't really say they're "conning" people because "all they're doing is using a few basic photoshop effects". As pro's you and I know there's much more to a succesful photo than just adding effects. They could not produce the results they get without considerable skill and expertise (much of it nothing to do with a camera or photoshop).

Sure, they may have a standard procedure they perform on each photo to get their look, but then every photographer has that. Even with effects, there's a skill in knowing when to apply them and how much to apply. In any case, customers couldn't care less how you made their favourite photo - as they say, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". If the customer thinks it magical and thinks it's worth it, then they buy the product. That's not a con. As I said, no-one's forcing people to hand over their money, bullying or not.

Another thought is that their style is something many photographers aspire to and try to recreate. In many ways, they're leaders and by that rational deserve to charge more for their work.

chocolatepennyfarthing

Anyone know a good family photographer in Hertfordshire area. Did go to Venture but could not believe prices

beautifulgorgeous_2

If venture did not charge so much then people could buy more photos or go more often, once I have decided what to buy then the product has no worth. Other luxury products are still available for another customer if I decide not to buy.

princesslizzie

chocolatepennyfarthing wrote: »

Anyone know a good family photographer in Hertfordshire area. Did go to Venture but could not believe prices

Not in Hertfordshire but Milton Keynes, http://www.lc-photography.com/.

I had a photo taken by her and she was quite good, not sure on the price as mum paid.

Stewboy1978

Ok, just received our print back the other day - Awesome!

The picture is brilliant and catches our daughter in a great pose and have really made her eyes stand out.

We probably did pay over the odds but I would really recommend Venture due to the whole experience and final result.

MRS_TO_BE_2

We use pixi photos instore. The result are good but a little pricey so I normally just the £4.99 sitting fee one. Its a good size. I wanted one of me and my boy for fathers day so I asked it we could have some taken. generally they will do whatever you want.

If you want more action shots I would recommend ring local photographers. My friend just did this with a old local firm. fantastic photos and good selection for under £100.

Venture have a rep around here for being pushy and very very expensive

poppyolivia

princesslizzie wrote: »

Not in Hertfordshire but Milton Keynes, http://www.lc-photography.com/.

I had a photo taken by her and she was quite good, not sure on the price as mum paid.

I'm liking that photos!!!!