Photography

It’s not bait and switch, it’s a classic old school business model that hasn’t changed from the film photo days when the only option was to receive prints. Nowdays it seems regressive and ugly but it’s still around. Sounds like they paid for a pretty high end photographer, and didn’t look at what they would get for the money. They only paid the ‘sitting fee’ which doesn’t give you anything in return unless you buy prints. They might have accidentally booked something much more high end than they can afford and I don’t think there is much recourse.

Doesn’t help to suggest they should have asked more questions before booking sorry! Only option is to negotiate with the photographer, be clear they can’t afford large framed prints and see if you can get a couple unframed 8x10s or something at a moderate price. The photographer might accept since they won’t get anything else out of it.

Yes it’s shady as fuck and she is not a photographer, she’s a con artist.

Having said that, these fuckers prey on people like your girlfriend. Why didn’t she ask all of these questions before hiring? Why did you hand over a deposit, which I’m assuming was a lot and non refundable

Am I right in saying this all seems a bit bait and switch? Any clients I have ever worked with have had a consultation meeting or call before I take on what they want, aling with a discussion about payment and delivery.

It's not 'a bit bait and switch' it's a model relying on fear of sunk cost in the shoot instead of repeat business. Scummy in my opinion, I'd rather make people happy with the entire process and recommend me to their friends, but it's not unique to photography or even a particularly 'arrangement'.

It's an absurd way to do business, but why on earth wouldn't they have asked the cost before proceeding?

Looks like you booked a sitting, not prints.

Many studio and professional environments have a cost for shooting and preparing the images, and then the client reviews them. Then they have a second pass where clients choose which images, if any, they want retouched, edited, and printed for large wall prints, or other formats like wallets.

The business model shrank with the transition to digital, and shrank again with photo printing that anyone can access. Even so, the business model is still around.

Nothing criminal about it, just that you were expecting a different type of transaction. Most studios are very clear up front about the model, that prices are for the sitting and not for prints.

There's arguments to be fairly made in every direction, here.

This pricing model isn't even kinda rare. In my experience it used to be pretty standard.

And not to get too deep in the weeds, but actual numbers aside, I think charging by the image makes way more sense than a flat rate for a flat time and just dumping a wad of images on you so that you can all print and enjoy just one or two, anyway. The photographer is able to give exceptional thought and care into that one image.

I do retouching for several photographers like that. And I'll be doing head swaps, giant object removals, etc., to get you the most perfect image we can. Makes enough sense to me compared to getting a gallery you'll flip through and predominantly forget about.

I'm sorry you guys feel cheated, though. Truly. The balance is being upfront with clients and not scaring off people before they get the experience.

You're obviously going to have a somewhat biased account, but even by your own admission most of your folks couldn't even be bothered to stay, so I get the feeling you were all about as invested as the photographer was, if not less so. Doesn't sound like the kind of environment where stopping everything to unpack deep number crunching results in higher sales/ better experiences. Also just jumping into it generally gives a way better impression than putting off the session to unpack ideas, all you what you want and have you say "we are here to trust the professional" anyway.

But obviously on the flip side it would be great to only have transactions that are free of surprise. So perhaps there's more the photographer could have done to lessen the shock.

In my mind, the biggest reason you guys are taken aback is because you are trained by other photographers/ vendors pay structures of giving you about as much as they can for a flat fee. Basically the new-ish norm for wedding photos. Not nearly as sustainable for other photo niches.

Suggest you check if photographer is a member of the IPPVA or the BIPP... Those organisations may wish to investigate

What did they supposedly bait you with?

Seems to me every single cue indicated her utter disdain for your expectations and your business. Sorry you had that experience, but you didn't do a thing to protect yourself or clarify points, lo and behold, that seem crystal clear to you today.