Venture Photography
Discussion
not sure if anyone knows of these guys, basically you turn up and the family plays for a while whilst the photographer takes snaps. Later you go back for a viewing of photos they select.
I have no problem with them as a company but a few friends have been disappointed by the (cost!) of the few pictures and their (i.e. Venture's) choice of formats and pics.
The question I have is how much would it cost to hire a godd photographer and a decent studio for a few hours - then you would get all the photos and you just have the extra cost of framing etc,
all thoughts/ideas much appreciated
I have no problem with them as a company but a few friends have been disappointed by the (cost!) of the few pictures and their (i.e. Venture's) choice of formats and pics.
The question I have is how much would it cost to hire a godd photographer and a decent studio for a few hours - then you would get all the photos and you just have the extra cost of framing etc,
all thoughts/ideas much appreciated
I had a call from them telling me I had won a free sitting for me and my family. I remember filling out a form in the local center for information. The caller said that I needed to give them a Credit Card number beforeI could book a sitting or whatever. Asking why it was needed as the sitting was free, I was told that if I failed to turn up for the sitting, they would charge me £75 
I told them I would not bother because I was not going to give my CC number to them. The lady on the other end was not happy woth me. 
I told them I would not bother because I was not going to give my CC number to them. The lady on the other end was not happy woth me. I have recruited some sales staff for 'em.
I believe you can have a chat with the photographer first (well before going in for photos). He'll let you take your own props and get some ideas of what you are looking to achieve.
The promotional stuff I have seen is pretty impressive. Totally different to your average pics. Arty and well thought out.
At the end of the day though, the pics are only as good as the photographer.
I believe you can have a chat with the photographer first (well before going in for photos). He'll let you take your own props and get some ideas of what you are looking to achieve.
The promotional stuff I have seen is pretty impressive. Totally different to your average pics. Arty and well thought out.
At the end of the day though, the pics are only as good as the photographer.
They get you in a totally white room, set the flashes to f22 and the camera (PhaseOne back on medium format) to f11, get you to run around a bit and then start snapping...
They then have some actions in PShop to come up with some saturated, high key images.
You are invited back for a 'viewing', where they play you some nice music in a darkened room and show you the images using a projector and give it the 'hard sell' commiting you to pay there and then in that room.
£75 for a framed 5x7.
into the £'000s for larger framed, or canvas mount prints and they offer finance!!!
The prints are HORRENDOUSLY overpriced in my opinion.
How do I know? Because we went along as a family as I was interested in how they did it. Our deal was the sitting and the first 5x7 for £25.
They are onto a winner, because they have found a formula that works, and they are obviously making money at it.
They will go out of fashion in a few years and will have to change their style.
rex and I have believe it or not achieved the same in his front room, with a sheet for a background and 3 wireless Canon flashes on Manual (one with a softbox on).
I am sure you could get cheaper elsewhere, but they have the process sorted, and a lot of the effort is in the post-processing and presentation, which is good.
You could rent a studio with lights for £3-400 for 8 hours and shoot several friends and family, and with another day's effort on PShop and printing on Photobox get the same results for less money (rex and I plan to do this ASAP)
They then have some actions in PShop to come up with some saturated, high key images.
You are invited back for a 'viewing', where they play you some nice music in a darkened room and show you the images using a projector and give it the 'hard sell' commiting you to pay there and then in that room.
£75 for a framed 5x7.
into the £'000s for larger framed, or canvas mount prints and they offer finance!!!
The prints are HORRENDOUSLY overpriced in my opinion.
How do I know? Because we went along as a family as I was interested in how they did it. Our deal was the sitting and the first 5x7 for £25.
They are onto a winner, because they have found a formula that works, and they are obviously making money at it.
They will go out of fashion in a few years and will have to change their style.
rex and I have believe it or not achieved the same in his front room, with a sheet for a background and 3 wireless Canon flashes on Manual (one with a softbox on).
I am sure you could get cheaper elsewhere, but they have the process sorted, and a lot of the effort is in the post-processing and presentation, which is good.
You could rent a studio with lights for £3-400 for 8 hours and shoot several friends and family, and with another day's effort on PShop and printing on Photobox get the same results for less money (rex and I plan to do this ASAP)
Indeed - £75 - unbelievable eh?
If you just want one nice pic of your family for £75 then do it (or even £25 with the 'voucher' I got).
But be damn resistant to the hard sell, stick to buying one, and only one...
Or find a local photog, most of them will be better than Venture, or even a bit more creative.
>> Edited by Bee_Jay on Tuesday 24th May 23:01
If you just want one nice pic of your family for £75 then do it (or even £25 with the 'voucher' I got).
But be damn resistant to the hard sell, stick to buying one, and only one...
Or find a local photog, most of them will be better than Venture, or even a bit more creative.
>> Edited by Bee_Jay on Tuesday 24th May 23:01
x5x3 said:
not sure if anyone knows of these guys, basically you turn up and the family plays for a while whilst the photographer takes snaps. Later you go back for a viewing of photos they select.
I have no problem with them as a company but a few friends have been disappointed by the (cost!) of the few pictures and their (i.e. Venture's) choice of formats and pics.
The question I have is how much would it cost to hire a godd photographer and a decent studio for a few hours - then you would get all the photos and you just have the extra cost of framing etc,
all thoughts/ideas much appreciated
studio costs £15-£20 an hour
We used a local photographer last year (he did the photo's at the works annual dinner), my girlfriend booked 2 studio sessions, one for us, and one for her brothers and sisters (suprise anniversay present for her folks) - £25 for each session (about 1 hour'ish).
We were told that he would upload the photos to his site and we could order prints then from there.
Prices where:
6x4 - £5.00 each
7x5 - £7.00 each
10x8 - £14.00 each
16x12 - £35.00 each
Very reasonable compared to some others - and no obligation to order any!!
I would recommend looking around at local photographers and seeing what they have to offer.
Here is a link to the guy we used (although not local to you - but worth a look).
Chris
>> Edited by woody on Wednesday 25th May 10:23
We were told that he would upload the photos to his site and we could order prints then from there.
Prices where:
6x4 - £5.00 each
7x5 - £7.00 each
10x8 - £14.00 each
16x12 - £35.00 each
Very reasonable compared to some others - and no obligation to order any!!
I would recommend looking around at local photographers and seeing what they have to offer.
Here is a link to the guy we used (although not local to you - but worth a look).
Chris
>> Edited by woody on Wednesday 25th May 10:23
To be honest, those rates are very reasonable and are the way I would work a similar session.
About £25-£50 for the hour, and then let them buy the prints. £15 for a 10x8 sounds about right.
I have some friends who run a very successful business where the sitting is free, and you pay for the prints - that way the client feels like they have not been ripped off, and also understand that you are going to get the best shots possible, otherwise they will not buy any prints and you make no money.
About £25-£50 for the hour, and then let them buy the prints. £15 for a 10x8 sounds about right.
I have some friends who run a very successful business where the sitting is free, and you pay for the prints - that way the client feels like they have not been ripped off, and also understand that you are going to get the best shots possible, otherwise they will not buy any prints and you make no money.
makes me laugh really... Venture.. often described as the mcdonalds of photography.. however they work on the basis of evryone spending 500 pounds per visit.. and turned over 70m last year.. everything is a franchise going to be processed in Milton Keynes. very clever.. pushed their syle so hard some people actually like it and ask for it. however you can't knock the business model... probably the most sucsessful high street studio for years
yes they do use a white room and an infinity cove, and mf digital.. I know the guy that supplies them. he was saying they use horseman digiflex stuff and wear out the shutters in no time at all.. shoot 100,000 frames in a matter of weeks and clunk.. back down to the repair shop!
As for pricing.. I know of portrait photographers that charge 3-4k for a session depending on what you end up with. on average people spend half that with me.
yes they do use a white room and an infinity cove, and mf digital.. I know the guy that supplies them. he was saying they use horseman digiflex stuff and wear out the shutters in no time at all.. shoot 100,000 frames in a matter of weeks and clunk.. back down to the repair shop!
As for pricing.. I know of portrait photographers that charge 3-4k for a session depending on what you end up with. on average people spend half that with me.
Bunch of w*nkers if you ask me. A ten minute session will cost you an arm and a leg. No personal touch. Welcome to the MaccieD's School of Photography. Tempt you in with a £25 offer and sting you for a couple of grand. My friend - who knows bugger all about photography - was really pissed off with the quality of work. It took about four months to rectify the mess they created. I thought the results were absolutely shit and would have not have paid more than £150 for them. Edited to add she spent about £3,000.
>> Edited by EmmaP on Friday 27th May 22:57
>> Edited by EmmaP on Friday 27th May 22:57
406 said:
Well after all your comments, who were the firm in the 80s (for those who can remember* that far back! ) who agressively marketed portrait photography.
Doesn't sound any different to me.
*See with my senile dementia I can't remember their name
Olan Mills?
Beat me.
Yeh, I believe it was them.
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