"That was a horrible experience, and yes you should request a refund. At 20 months, I don't blame her for being fussy, they SHOULD give you a refund, and the whole package, and no quams, about it. I am sorry for your family's experience, let alone your baby. I know by word of mouth, that I won't be going, there. I usually go to JCpenny at the Dayton mall, when they have the coupons, and they have a great deal, and I have always been pleased with the outcome." - 10/27/2008 8:18:25 AM
"Good to know...I have been wondering about them since we will be having a new addition to the family and will be requiring photography services soon. My first turn off about Olan Mills is that they are located in Kmart and Kmart in Middletown does not believe in using the air conditioner and it is so hot in there all the time. I can only imagine how fussy your daughter was after having to wait that long and then be hot in there on top of it. I will use Sears or another portrait studio after reading your review--thanks" - 10/25/2008 11:29:13 AM
"I just had a horrible experience at Olan Mills... which I should have expected because it is inside K-Mart... here is the letter I just sent to them:
To Whom It May Concern:
My family had an appointment at our local Olan Mills studio this past Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 6:30 PM. The photo was to consist of myself, my wife, my 20 month old daughter, and my mother and father. We had paid for a "promotional" package that cost I believe $13 or so, plus a $6 sitting fee was charged at the time of the shooting. I want to tell you how unpleased and actually disgusted we were with the service we received at this studio.
We arrived at 6:25 to find the studio still in use by another family. The one employee working looked at us after 10 minutes or so and stated, "it's going to be just a few minutes." We didn't get started shooting until 7:10... 40 minutes after our appointment time.
The photographer asked us what type of photo we wanted and we said, "we want a photo with all 5 of us." She said that was fine... but then proceeded to take photos of my daughter individually... she said she was just trying to get her warmed up. Next, she took photos of my daughter with my father, then my mother, next she tried one with me. By this time it was 7:30-7:40. My daughter was quite fussy, the entire session was a disaster... we attempted to finally take a full family shot, and got several, but they were all horrible because...
1. The photographer had no personality and clearly was not experienced in photographing children even though she claimed to have one herself. 2. The photographer would never tell us when she was going to snap a photo, so in a good majority of the photos 2-3 of the 4 adults aren't even looking at the camera. 4. The photographer was clearly done. She didn't want to be there or be doing her job. 5. The backdrops at this studio were filthy and drab, literally the WORST I have ever seen.
After the shoot while reviewing the train-wreck set of photos, I asked the photographer how long she had been with Olan Mills. Her exact words... "Oh, a little while now... lets see.... I guess it's been about a montha and a half." We had planned on getting lots of photos, as well purchasing the Hi-Res CD of them... but after the photo shoot, needless to say we only took what we'd already paid for and left.
I am really frustrated by this entire experience because we have had professional photos taken a lot over the years, 5 times just since my daughter was born, and never have we had such a horrible experience at ANY of the other studios we went to. Sears, Portrait Innovations, or the in home service by Our 365 Portraits... they all had experienced, good, professional photographers who got us photographs we loved.
I am not asking for a refund, nor another photo shoot. I just want you to know how disappointed we were with the photo studio that used to be "top of the line" in our books." - 10/24/2008 1:32:27 PM
