In following Bella Pictures for several years, now, there is an expanded story. My first awareness came from their infamous TV appearances featuring Jenny Lefcourt, their VP of Business Development… long since moved on from the company.
They developed a sister company, Studio Blue, to further spread their marketing wings. More recently, I noted (but had not blogged about) another division, Sabel Studios. Sabel operates as an Exclusive for David’s Bridal. Same template for operating.
I particularly gagged at this language in the FAQ section.
We do the selective in-person screening for you, which allows us to keep our prices affordable. You will review your photographer’s portfolio and talk with them on the phone, so you will know exactly what to expect.Rather than spending their time in meetings, we allow our photographers to focus on what they do best, which is beautifully capturing the unique, emotional story of your wedding day.”
In my opinion: There is no other wedding professional that is more important to meet than a photographer. For all the images one can see and phone conversations one can have, nothing is more critical than the chemistry between the bride & groom and their photographer. The FAQ statement is the worst kind of misdirection and double-talk.
Bella Pictures ownership changes
A few months ago, the Assets of Bella Pictures sold to CPI, a photography service of WalMart and Sears.
This week’s Bella Pictures News
It has come to my attention from several sources that a form and notification, for the benefit of Creditors of MRKE, Inc. (f/k/a Bella Pictures, Inc., Sabel Studios, and Studio Blue).
I speculate that it might be Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization (it is worth reading the entire explanation). In most cases, if a Chapter 11 is successful, the business continues to operate, and existing creditors receive a reduced sum of what they are owed. In some cases, there may be creditors who receive nothing… zip… nada.
What in the heck does this mean?
For people (such as freelance photographers) owed money by Bella Pictures, it means you better get your hands on this form, fill it out, and send it in (with proper documentation) if you plan on seeing ANY money that owed.
It appears that past Bella Pictures finances and operations are being separated from future operations, under the auspices of CPI.
NEWS ANALYSIS AND OPINION: Some service businesses are not ideally suited to be mega-sized. A highly personalized service, such as wedding photography falls into that category, for my eyes.
The ‘shuck and jive’ language in the FAQ statement, posted above, flies directly in the face of reality.
What upsets me is the incredible amount of dissatisfied brides who have employed Bella Pictures or its sister companies in the past. Needless to say, there are happy customers, too…. just far too many unhappy ones, on a percentage basis. I base this conclusion on the many reviews that are public. Lots of lows and highs.
Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog
Wow. Amazing. Thanks for the update. I guess nothing beats interviewing your wedding professionals face to face.
I won’t really say what I think should happen to them. My daddy always told me if you did not have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut.
Alan,
You’re actually missing the point on this. A Chapter 11 reorganization is an action that a company takes, that allows them to keep operating their business.
The losers are the creditor who generally wind up with a smaller sum than they were owed; sometimes nothing at all.
Unfortunately, we have seen a few reorganizations here, in Las Vegas. It is not all bad that company is able to reorganize. However, there is usually collateral damage along the way.
Andy
I like how their [Bella Pictures} website makes claim to being the ‘most awarded’ photography company. What awards? It’s very sad that brides are led to believe that the awards that Bella makes claim to are empty and worthless, awarded to just about any advertiser by paid advertising wedding websites. I wrote an entire blog post based upon The Knot, and how they give out awards without even researching the companies they are awarding – http://www.cuttingedgedjs.com/blog/2009/04/21/untying-the-knot/ – yet Bella flaunts these meaningless icons as if they actually meant something.
I just heard the news from one of my magazine sources in Chicago. When I read the CPI’s SEC 8-K and the 8-K/A filings on the deal, it didn’t pass my smell test.
Bella gave CPI the assets of the company PLUS $1M. It is the cash flowing from Bella to CPI which raised the alarms.
Basically Bella paid CPI to take over the assets and the unfulfilled contracts. In return, Bella receive a 5% stake in a holding company. Now it appears Bella is filing for bankruptcy protection.
If that is true, and I’m a creditor of the old Bella, I’d fight the bankruptcy and seek to void the CPI deal based on attempting to hide/shield assets which should have been used to pay creditors.
This is a mess which could drag on for years.
Howard
Howard,
Sounds like a shell game to me. I’m going to need to consult a bankruptcy attorney to unravel this mess.
And, the big question: Where are the clients in all of this?
Andy