For those that are just joining the conversation, Bella Pictures is national wedding photography company in business since 2003. As a practical matter, Bella Pictures a booking agent for available wedding photographers in many major markets, across the country. (if you know the background, just skip down the page)
A thorough examination of online reviews, from brides, shows a random sampling of satisfaction. Essentially, satisfaction was a coin-flip. There were happy brides and miserable brides.
I became particularly aware of Bella Pictures about a year ago, when their VP of Business Development, Jenny Lefcourt held a couple of TV interviews on Fox Chicago and Fox Los Angeles. These interviews were incredibly misleading and minimized the value of other wedding professionals.
Yesterday, this blog reported that Bella co-founder and Chief Photographer, Bob Davis, had been forced out of the company in March 2009. His comments clearly indicated a difference of opinion in the direction of the company.
Part of the evolution of Bella Pictures is a ‘partnership’ with Marriott Hotels, as its preferred photography vendor. More recently, Bella Pictures has ventured into videography. I cannot speak to the success or quality of the videography division, as it is too new. From the description on its websites, the videography program follows the same model as photography.
A recent QuantCast report of Bella’s website activity shows about 150,000 visitors per month, among other details.
But yet there is more: Some careful research turns up a photography company called StudioBlue. The research and booking procedure, for brides, is strikingly similar to Bella Pictures.
There reason for that is because Bella Pictures owns StudioBlue. On the Privacy Policy screen, the first paragraph reads as follow.
“Your trust and confidence are our highest priority. Bella Pictures, Inc., as the provider of the Studio Blue service (“Bella” or “we”), is dedicated to maintaining and protecting your privacy. This includes the privacy of both your information and your pictures. By using our service and by visiting this website, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy (the “Policy”). This Policy explains what information we collect and how we use the information so we can continue to provide outstanding service to you.”
This is confirmed at the bottom of the same page, and it is noted in the Domain Name Registration for StudioBlue.com.
Opinion and Analysis: One can only speculate as to the intentions of Bella’s creation of spinoff, StudioBlue.com. It certainly turns up the heat even more on local, independent photographers and creates yet more confusion of the bride, on her first search for a professional photographer.
And there is even more confusion:
- Studio Blue Design for museums
- Studio Blue Pilates instruction
- Studio Blue Digital Print and Copy
- Studio Blue Recording
- The Blue Studio Artists Work Space
- Studio Blue Photo – Connecticut Photographer
- Studio Blue Digital Photography
- … there are more, but I’ll stop here
From the photographers I’ve communicated with, who have worked with Bella Pictures, there is confirmation of the roller coaster service and widely varied experience of photographers assigned to its bookings.
As wedding professional peers, please study the mounting information, good, bad and indifferent, and form your own opinion as to whether their operations are favorable for the bride or photographers, at large.
Get informed. Discuss the matter with other wedding professionals. Have an opinion. Voice it.
Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog
Thanks for the information. Sounds like they are in it for the $$ not the quality.
Scott
Unfortunately, there are always people in any industry out to grab a quick buck with no regard for the people they hurt along the way. I’m sure there are some great shooters working for this company, but as a company is just another Wal-Mart, worse actually.
People in any area of business, who are trying to succeed at something they love and they’re very good at, have always been faced with the pressure of the people spouting false claims and grabbing what they can.
With the advent of digital photography the industry has been flooded with people claiming to be photographers. It only stands to reason someone motivated by greed would jump on the band wagon and take advantage of this.
The sad thing is the brides looking around are facing an onslaught of advertising and scams. These poor brides are the people I feel sorry for the most… well, along with people like me and a lot of truly professional shooters who are shooting because we love it, and have to cope with an over saturated market.
My fantasy is that in the long run quality will prevail and companies like these will rot away.
Frank
Well said Frank!
The reality of the web and social networking sites is that people can hide behind the anonymity of the medium.
When you had to go to someone’s studio and talk to them and see their work firsthand it was much harder to convince someone that you are a master at your craft.
Now if you show up high enough on a google search result the assumption is that you must be good!!!!
The other Frank
Thank you to both Franks!
One of the important strategies i coach, regarding websites, blogs, and social media is humanizing your business presence.
i look askance at websites that show no photos of their sales staff, ownership or anyone else. Nor, some bio, direct email or phone access. I believe that a blog is the ‘online soul’ of one’s business, and enables business owners/managers to show a human side.
One shouldn’t have to apologize for a high ranking in Google, but prospects should have the acumen to look into they eyes and soul of the business before clicking the BUY BUTTON!
Andy
Thanks for keeping us updated.
Very informative post.
Justin
I worked for Bella Pictures long enough to put 200 weddings under my belt through their bookings. It was good. Very good. Until the month of April in 2008. Tarah Makinson-Sanders took over as VP of Photography and the real founder George White ‘left’.
I have never been treated/lied to in the kind of manner that actually made me sick.
I went out in a BLAZE of GLORY: Read the closing exchange of email correspondence.