Groupon, LivingSocial and Daily Candy for Boudoir Photography

Aug. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- Don’t take me the wrong way these companies are great if you want a sandwich, movie ticket or a drink at your local pub, I’ve used some great deals. But boudoir photography is a different business, most of us take more then the 5 minutes it takes to make a sandwich and you are not coming back next week for the corned beef.  The photographers that run deals on these sites most likely have good intensions.  

I was approached by one of these companies in Phoenix here is how the deal was presented, we need a Boudoir Photographer in the Phoenix area you can offer your photography package at 77% off the retail price and we will pay you 50% of the sale price. So I looked at my Value package $479 then took off 77% so I would sell my services for $110 and would receive 50% of that $55 for every deal sold. I sent them an email declining the offer explaining that it costs me more then that to print and ship my orders. The response was it cost money to advertise this is a great way to get people into your studio and you make money on the up sell.

Here are a few reasons no boudoir photographer should offer this type of deal:

Email: (Up Sell)
I have to share that she pulled a bit of a bait-and-switch with me.  I could only afford the deal package and she told me that's really only a teaser and that everyone gets the next package up because you get only one photo with the teaser package.  Hearing this, and feeling pressured (not to mention stupid for not being able to afford the upgrade) took the excitement out of it for me.

Email: (Up Sell)
I have one image from the shoot and now I have to pay $695 for an album with 10 images, I only wanted 3 of the images printed 8x10. She will retouch and print them but I still have to order the album for $695. What can I do?

A week later she was in my studio for the $479 Value package and has selected 5 images that have been  printed at 8x10 the package comes with five 5x7 prints and for a total (up sell) of $35 she has the 8x10’s she wanted.

I have been dragged into this by people emailing me with their problems and complaints. So I signed up and have been keeping track of the Boudoir Photography deals that are selling. Chicago sold 127 deals in two days, Scottsdale sold 358 deals, Toronto sold 388 deals, wow that’s more then one shoot a day for a full year, and how can any boudoir photography studio pass on losing that much money?

Email: (Up Sell didn’t work)
Her website is down now. Does this mean she just screwed a bunch of people? Can’t blame her (yes I can), she was in way over her head. She should have realized it. Just another example of the daily deal sites getting their $ but also business who don’t do the math on what is a sustainable business offering.

I took the $129 off the price of my package and every thing went well, hubby loved the pictures

Here are some more of the comments I have been flooded with, I have removed the studio and photographers names  

The photographer did not answer her phone or e-mail. I called her many times, and wrote an e-mail wondering when we can expect results.
We have been waiting for our order for six weeks already. She does not answer e-mails. She just ignores us.
The deal did not give us anything. It was just wasted time, frayed nerves, and wasted money. Please, be aware of our experience if you consider dealing with this studio ……..
Hi,
I had the same …………… deal and the exact same experience. She commented at one point that she was a perfectionist — well guess what, perfectionists answer their phone and email. Extremely disappointed that people can act like this!
Hi,
Same thing….I am trying to get the proofs from her right now. Oh my gosh how horrible. I am escalating to the better business bureau. My wedding is in two weeks 

The question I get most is can you match the offer? No, my packages are designed to give the client everything with out the Up Sell, I do run specials where I would like an Up Sell but you can still order an extra retouched print for as little as $25. If you are having a problem with using a deal you have, I can most of the time discount a package to make up for any loss.  
 
Boudoir Photography is a special event and should be fun and exciting

Lawrence Larsen
http://www.lwlarsenphoto.com
(630) 303-9920
bylawrence@gmail.com

Laugh – Live – Love!

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Lawrence is internationally renowned for his boudoir photography. Boudoir photography brings out the natural beauty all women possess, so your loved one can see you as suggestive, romantic or a little naughty?