Portrait Innovations

10/01/08

From a photographer.. by Holly J. at InsiderPages

Contributor at Insider Pages

I am actually just writing to try and explain some things that customers may not know, that way maybe it will help some understand. Just to try and help!

I have never worked for or been to Portrait Innovations, but used to work as the assistant manager at Sears Portrait Studio. And I am sure some policies may be the same. So, this is in response to the other reviews.

The person who spoke of them being two appointments behind - well, it is hard to stay right on schedule with photography sessions. Especially if groups or children are involved. When you're in that camera room, you want your baby to be the full focus - right? Well, sometimes a baby doesn't stop crying or the mom needs to take 15 minutes to feed them - things happen. Have you ever attempted photographing a two year old going through the terrible two's?? HELL! That's what that is! Hardest age in the world to photograph I think! Anyway, the point is, it's easy to get behind. 15 minutes isn't too bad... maybe they tell you two hours because that's how long the entire experience will take. I know at Sears they scheduled us 15 minutes apart but it always took about 30 minutes in the camera room - there's almost no way to shoot a session in 15 minutes unless is goes PERFECT.

I'm sure any studio has a minimum pose requirement for their employees to shoot. We actually got graded on our photography, I'm sure there's something similar in all other studios. And keep in mind if you go to Sears, those poor employees get no commission and make minimum wage - customers and Sears expect an awful lot out of them at such low pay. But we're dealing with your memories and they're important so a lot should be expected. Sears just pays crappy! I'm sure you assume they must make commission. nope.

So anyway, just keep in mind when you go to a photographer that it's easy to get behind and they're more stressed about it tha

05/31/09

Disappointed

by MKL at Citysearch

I have used Portrait Innovations twice before my visit today. But my experience today just ensured that I will never return. An inexperienced photographer taking photos, and the hard sell to buy a couple hundred dollars of pictures. I thought I understood what package I was buying after telling the photographer that I did not want all these different package combinations. Then I go to pay and it wasn't the price that I saw when I did my photo selection. I was then told that it was too late to change because the photos had been ordered!

• Pros: Get pictures the same day
• Cons: Hard Sell to buy photo packages

12/14/08

Worst Studio in Charlotte, NC

by Angiedk77 at Citysearch

First, if I didn't have to choose a star i wouldn't. Portrait Innovations isn't worthy of even being rated with 1 star. My family and I have gone to them twice (Promenade Shopping Ctr) off Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Charlotte, NC. Both times we walked out very disappointed. The first time was last December, the 2nd time being just yesterday. This location has the rudest manager and terrible photographers. We have 2 children, our oldest 4 years and our youngest 1 year. The photographer shot 100 poses, actually only 5 different poses when it all comes down to it. We just received about 20 shots of the same 5 poses. These people require you to sit there and narrow the poses down to the ones you like the best. It's a little frustrating that you don't have time to actually really look at them before making a decision. When you have 2 children there who have been patient for the 1 hour it took them to capture the photos, it's hard to have to sit there for another hour just to look through the poses.They rush you b/c they schedule their appt's on top of eachother. They are horrible with kids. The manager made a comment to me when she pulled all our pictures up on the screen "oh my, she was not wanting to cooperate", she had the nerve to say about my 1 year old. I suggested to her that if they had someone in the room to help the photographer it may work out a lot better. The photographer was busy trying to get the kids to remain looking at him that once he got them looking he had to run and grab his camera, by the time he ran and grabbed the camera they were looking elsewhere again. Also, I saw on their website that they have $9.99 promotion, I told the manager that was all we wanted and she said "the $9.99 is in addition to another package". It doesn't say this on their website, very misleading. Maybe not all locations are like this, but people "BEWARE", do NOT go to the location in The Promenade. They are very, very rude. I have more to say, but I've said enough.

• Pros: Clean atmosphere
• Cons: Rude Photographers/Managers, Price,

11/22/08

Inexperienced rude photographers not good with children

by preggerspeep08 at Citysearch

I have an 8-month old and the photographer (Nick) was able to take 40 usable photos in about an hour after which my son became fussy. The only thing the photographer could do to help was say "keep him calm" in a very mean voice. Children are sensitive to the adults around them and my son really, really, really didn't like him. We had to leave before the photos were even ready (we bought the smallest package available) and had already been there almost 2 hours. Our session was cut short by other photographers interrupting Nick explaining that they had to use the bathroom. I think our session was in a location that prohibited employee access to a restroom. There were so many sessions going on at the same time (about 7 concurrent) that the waiting area was jam packed. I was so happy just to get out of there. This was the 10th time that my son was photographed and by far the worst experience that we have had - even Sears and K-mart were more professional. We were at the Promenade location at the intersection of Ballantyne Commons and Providence Rd. in Charlotte, NC and went during the work week while school was in session to keep our session "off peak" for better service, but it didn't help.

• Pros: Location, parking, scheduling
• Cons: Rude and unknowledgable staff

02/05/08

Thought you should know first...

by ambergb at Citysearch

I think people should be aware that the company doesn'tt care about you or it's employees at all. It's all about the money. They want to get the most people in and out as possible, as fast as they can-for the money. Over Christmas my store worked our butts off going 12 hours days with only a 15 minute break . (ILLEGAL!) The regional manager was forcing our manager to double book appointments. By lunchtime my eyes would be bloodshot and I would get migranes every weekend. One girl went to the doctor and had several stomach problems from the stress. It might not have been so stressful if we didn't have to keep unattainably high sales averages. Because of the $9.95 special, we all got letters for Christmas stating if we could not get our averages up withn a month (none of us did), they were "letting us go." And they did. Look at the economy... people don't have money now. And to be honest... the $9.95 gives most people enough. Speaking of honesty, they want us to rush customers through the sale so you don't know whats going on and trick you into spending more money than you want. Several managers from other stores tried to "train" me to do this, but I didn't think it was right. One would even add extra sheets into the cart if they weren't paying attention.

If the photos aren't the greatest... you might have had someone that is new - they go through employees like crazy! They fired one guy because he updated his resume online and they took it as he was seeking other employment, or someone was getting married and told to keep quiet about moving after the wedding because they would immediatly get rid of her too. Before they got rid of us, they would have the manager come in on his days off to do interviews for our positions. There is so much more I could say, but with this information you all can make your own decisions as to wether or not you want to do business with a company like that. I would not. Feel free to pass this on, I am from studio #76 in Indiana.

• Pros: good photos and good value
• Cons: poor business skills, unfair employee treatment, corrupt corporate policies

Editorial Review

by Contributor at Citysearch

Digital portrait studio takes custom photos with a range of backgrounds and props. Prints available in 15 minutes.

08/15/06

Great pictures with good prices

by CltGrl1377 at Citysearch

The photographers were great with the (4) kids and got some awesome shots. It was difficult trying to narrow down which poses to purchase because there were so many great ones! I highly recommend this business to anyone who wants quality pictures in a relaxed, yet professional environment!!

12/14/05

Highly recommend

by zagntumom at Citysearch

This studio does excellent work and KUDOS to them for refusing to do indecent photos! The (hideously ugly) woman who tried to get them to take indecent photos and then ran to the press was merely seeking attention. Shame on her!!

• Pros: Nice staff, Excellent Quality
• Cons: traffic in area