Questions and Answers
It says no weddings but can it be used for engagement photos?
Good Morning Groupies!
Glad to see ya’all are excited about the awesome photog deal this morning! I’m your gal to sound off at – let me know your likes, gripes and questions!!
Caleb- That shouldn’t be a problem whatsoever. Just be sure to give Life in Stills a call to talk about how they want to handle that.
Nicole- Absolutely! Enjoy!
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Twitter: JGrouponVancouv
Where in Vancouver is the studio located? Great deal, but need to figure out if I can actually get there!
Tracey-
No worries! It’s on location!!
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Twitter: JGrouponVancouv
How about Surrey? Is that too far?
Are the images on the disk high-res or low-res?
Never used groupon before. I take it I pay with credit card, but how does the coupon get sent to me? Do I pick it up or can it be mailed to me?
Thanks a lot,
SF
We have 18 in our family, will this coupon work for us?
do I have to pay extra for everyone?
I live in Coquitlam and would like baby pics done. Do you have a studio as I don’t think they should be shot outside as baby is due in November and I don’t believe you travel to Coquitlam do you?
Rita: Let me check and get back to you on that.
Lisa: They are low-res on the CD.
Seetha: The Groupon can be found in your account when you log into the site under “My Stuff”
Nancy: You would have to pay extra for additional family members, I would call directly to see how they can assist you!
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Twitter: JGrouponVancouv
Gail- Let me check and get back to you on that.
Thanks for checking
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Twitter: JGrouponVancouv
Just wondering if this could be used for a Boudoir photo shoot?
I’d like to purchase more then one. One for myself and 3 as gifts for others. How can I do that? Does each one have to have the specific persons name on it? How long do I have before it expires?
Are there limitations on how the images from the shoot can be used? The last photograpy Groupon was very explicit about the images not being used for commercial purposes unless the session was specifically for headshots - what if I love a Life in Stills photo and want to use it on my business card or website? Thanks!
Kim- Let me double check on that for you and get back to ya (I am pretty sure it’s fine though!!).
Ranjit- If you have the names of the giftees, it would be easiest just to click the “buy as gift” button and address to them. If not, write in recipient or something generic and that should be fine. The Groupon expires 1 year from today.
Cheers,
Jenny
Hi Just wondering if the images can be used for headshots?
Hi there, can this deal be used for a ‘trash the dress’ session? Thanks.
Hi there,
Can they take pictures of pets? I want photoshoot of my dog and 2 of us.
Thanks
Hello. If the photo CD is low res, would they still be okay for making 8×12 enlargements? Thank you
it’s $25 more per person or pet. a lot of questions asked can be answered simply by reading the website.
Can I have a headshot done and use it for my website or business cards in the future?
Thanks
Christine, you can use the groupon for headshots if you like, but the disk is low res (email/web friendly), and you get the 8×10s, which are perfect for headshots.
Nancy- it is $25 per person above 5.
Dave- low res means email and facebook etc friendly. They are not printable at all. :)
Rachel- absolutely!
Maylee- yes
Vivian- for sure!
Gail- I shoot all my baby sessions on location in the client’s home so the time of year doesn’t matter. The only thing that does matter is scheduling for within the first week of birth!
What if I purchase one and I receive one as a gift? Can I use them both?
How does one contact Life In Stills? I don’t seem to be able to find a phone # on their website. Does it come with the coupon.
Mar
When you say we get five 8×10″ prints, are those 5 different poses or 5 of the same pose?
Are the 15 photos on the disc at full resolution – and what is it e.g. 12 megapixels?
Thanks.
I see that you have answered this before. How much per photo will it cost to get the full resolution?
I’d also like to know how much it would cost to get full resolution photos instead of the low res.
if I purchase a groupon today will i be photographed by either Tracie or Albert
Can I buy one for my husband as a gift so that we can do another family shot at a later date. I bought one for myself to do a shoot when my daughter turns 1. Thanks.
Am also wondering if I would get to choose the 5 favorite shots to be printed or whether it would be photographer’s choice?
I would like to know how much to stretch the session to 2 hours if needed? I wonder if 1 hour is enough to work with a 2 year old.
I would also like to know if Surrey is ok.
I went to the website and am confused about the images on disc – the package on the site says
Package A: $350
-2 hr session, multiple outfit changes (for the kiddos/babies), and 2 locations within 5 km of each other. Up to 5 people (and yes we can include your pet!), extra people or pets are $25 per person.
-You get a CD of print ready images. You choose your 10 favourites and they are sized to print up to 12×18.
-Extra images added to the disk are $40 each.
So I get that this package is diffeent then the special but how do I get the print ready images and would I have to spend 40 for each? or would it be an incremental charge to get it in higher res
from a technical point of view if your taking it as digital quality photographs why would you go through and lower the pixelation on the CD instead of just transferring the image?
Is there a phone number to call for scheduling? We’re going to be in Vancouver for only next week and I would buy this if I was guaranteed to schedule something for then. There is no contact number and I am not sure who to call. Please advise asap.
low res pic so we can’t print it? what kinda deal is this? so we just get the 5 of 8×10 prints and 15 images that can only be use to upload to social network website, like FB?
my questions are the same as others really – why would you not be able to give the full resolution pictures, and who chooses which 5 prints you get? we want to buy this for our new baby shots, but want to be able to send prints to family members.
My question as well – who picks the pictures – us or the photographer?
Alright Guys, I am going to try and answer as many of these as I possibly can!! If there is something left unanswered, hold your shorts and either myself or Tracie will be on ASAP to get you what you need.
Angela, Charlotte- Let me check on that. I am assuming it is one per person, but I am going to confirm.
Marlene and Jill- On the redemption instructions it has their contact. But if you have questions feel free to go through their site, or call (604) 561-4451.
Annie, Danielle- I am not sure, I am going to check and be back with your answer
Mihaela, Danielle, Robin- I am sure its just going to be an extra charge. I will check to figure out how much extra that will be.
Carolyn- I will check for you on that.
Andree- Checking on locations and I will also ask about the extra charge for a longer session
Melissa- The reason for the low res. photos is 1. People like to share on Facebook and social networking sites as well as view on their own to decide which pictures they want. Sorry if it’s not for you!
Thanks for all your patience and questions!
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Twitter: JGrouponVancouv
This is an excellent deal in terms of pricing. It’s pretty standard for photogs to give you low-res images unless you pay stacks of cash for high-res. A good part of their income comes from providing prints, so they aren’t going to give you the ability to make your own prints for free.
Anyway, my question is this. If my boyfriend and I got this deal, could we use it to each get a headshot done for our businesses, then get a shot of the two of us together? Or is that too much mixing and matching? We would each want one 8×10 headshot and then probably 3 of the two of us together. And just to confirm one more time that there are no copyright restrictions against using the low-res images on our business websites.
Thanks for a great deal!
Would like to know the extra charge to have the images on disk in hi-res. Please advise.
Wow, that seems like a lot of sessions sold already. Will the photographer be able to do all of them within the year? Sure the session is one hour, but I assume there is other work involved, right? These are PROFESSIONAL photos not just shoot and burn, I assume.
Also, we’re in Vancouver and it rains a lot here. Are the sessions rain or shine, or will they be rescheduled if the weather sucks?
I too would like to know how much extra it is for a high res disk and if we get to choose which 5 prints we get? I would like to know as soon as possible so that I can make a decision on whether to purchase or not.
Hello, I just bought this photog Groupon (Life in Stills) but when I go to the My Groupon page, it says Your order is currently being processed.
I used my credit for the purchase so not sure if that’s what holding it up. I bought before and don’t remember it taking so long.
Help please?
Lynelle – no worries, it will post within the day. I buy lots of Groupons and never plan to print them out until the day after I purchase them. It’s just the way their system is set up.
Thanks Shawna L. ! I will be patient then. :)
I have the same question as Christine; can I use this deal for headshots and pictures for my web site?
What is their number?
Yes, I have the same question about location…I want to buy this as a gift for a friend, but she lives in Surrey
Also, can I get Boudoir shots for this?
Yeah my main question is just how much extra it would cost to get a disc of 15 HIGH-res images.
I agree with Christina!!!!
“This is an excellent deal in terms of pricing. It’s pretty standard for photogs to give you low-res images unless you pay stacks of cash for high-res. A good part of their income comes from providing prints, so they aren’t going to give you the ability to make your own prints for free.”
You are getting A LOT for only $59 and this photog’s time is worth a lot more than $59 plus you get the extra goodies she is throwing in. Show some respect please!
On behalf of the lovely people who work at Groupon, please read the whole discussion string before posting a question. A lot of the most recent questions have been answered already.
Exactly! A lot of people don’t realize that there’s a lot more work & skill that goes into these images after the hour that the photographer is with you. Also, there’s personal tailoring that’s done to get your image printed. For example, photos on the screen look different on paper – so they have to make sure that they tweak the image to maximize the look. When prints are provided from a pro, you’re getting quality and you’re sure to get the proper tones and colours from what the photographer intended. If you go take it to some other lab of your choosing, or print at home, and it turns out not so great, people will think that the photographer’s not so great…so photographers need to keep control of their work.
Sorry – has someone already answered the question regarding extra cost for hi-res images? I don’t see an answer in the string.
Same thought as Ewa… a lot of sessions sold already. Will the photogs honour the deal beyond the expiry date if they are not able to accomodate a bookings? Looks like they’re already overwhelmed with $59 packages and they won’t have any time to do any money-making buisiness this upcoming year if they honour all these groupons. I am interested but leary….
It looks like there are at least two photographers in this company, so they can easily accommodate everyone.
Alright here are the answers to your questions. Just as an FYI, we have A TON of duplicate questions being asked. I want to respond to each of you individually, so if you wouldn’t mind checking first if myself or Tracie has already answered the question or if it has already been asked and I am working on an answer, that would cut down on the amount of time it takes for me to answer the questions and be a HUGE HUGE help!!
Angela and Charlotte: Yes! If you do have more than one Groupon for Life and Stills you may use them both as long as they are separate shoots.
Annie, Danielle and Leena: For both the CD and the prints you are able to choose the shots you would like. (15 separate for the CD and 5 separate shots for the prints.
All: For anything outside of Metro Vancouver (Surrey, Coquitlam, Richmond) these areas are NOT included in the Groupon, so there will be an extra charge for travel. Please contact LIS directly to discuss either via their website or at 604.561.4451
Mihaela, Danielle, Robin, Jemma, Leena and Anna: For an upgrade to a high resolution CD for 15 prints it will cost an additional $225 outside of the Groupon. Low resolution CD’s are priced at $25 a photo on a disk, High Resolution are priced at $40 a photo on a disk.
Carolyn- You may request your photographer if you so choose
Christina N.- Unfortunately you cannot split sessions between photo types.
Ewa- Yes you are able to reschedule if weather is not cooperating.
Ew and Melissa- LIS will be extending the expiration date if the volume becomes too much to handle in a one year period. No worries, we prep our vendors appropriate and they want to take care of you as best they can (no shoddy business here! I promise!!). They know their volume threshold and if extending the expiry is necessary we will notify you all via email!
Shawna- Thanks for your help!! :)
Christian and Mazen- You may use these prints for commercial use as long as you are not modifying the photo’s by any means.
Mehran- Their number is: 604.561.4451
Jacqui- A modified Boudoir shoot is included in this package if you so choose.
Thanks for your excitement!
Enjoy!!
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Twitter: JGrouponVancouv
What is the resolution of the 8X10 photos?
Also, I don’t understand what is meant by: “Low resolution CD’s are priced at $25 a photo on a disk, High Resolution are priced at $40 a photo on a disk.”
Thanks.
“Christina N.- Unfortunately you cannot split sessions between photo types.”
Okay, but the other part of my question was whether my boyfriend and I could both get headshots in one session…?
>All: For anything outside of Metro Vancouver (Surrey, Coquitlam, Richmond) these areas are NOT included in the Groupon,
This is a bit vague. Are you saying Surrey, Coquitlam etc. ARE “Metro Vancouver” and there’s no extra fee or are you saying they are not and there is an extra fee? “Metro Vancouver” is not an officially recognized area, so the term is meaningless. Greater Vancouver would be more clear.
People:
How many times are you going to hire a professional photographer to to family portraits of baby pictures? Do you really want to cheap out and hire someone just because they are on this site and look cheap? Aren’t you going to want hi-res pics for prints for family members not on facebook or even without email?
Charging so much extra just to put a few more MB of data on a CD is called a “rip-off” Photographers get paid to take pictures. If they are loss-leading the photography just to overcharge you for he CD, then are they really photographers?
This is a good price for the 5 large prints alone. It would cost you almost the same to enlarge that many prints of your own photos. The low res CD is just an added bonus, and you are getting a professional photgraphy experience to boot. The picture gallery on the photographers’ website shows a very high level of professionalism and absolutely beautiful photos. If you are interested in getting five frame quality professional prints to memorialize a milestone event, this is a great deal.
Hi … Although it is a good price, not good for me without a disc I can print for family. I just assumed that 15-image disc would mean a disc with high enough resolution for printing – My bad.
I’d rather pay more and go elsewhere. I’m new to Groupon and trying to figure out if and how to cancel the session I ordered for myself and the one I ordered as a gift – Suggestions Groupon people? Can I get out of it now … I just ordered 15 minutes ago.
Laurie
Can we choose different sizes for our 5 prints or do they all have to be 8X10 prints?
So far nearly 700 people have taken this deal. If the high-res disc ads on $225 … it’s still a fair deal, but not an amazing deal, for family photos. I’d guess many, many of those 700 are expecting to be able to print photos from the disc …. So far, I really like Groupon … but in this case, I feel a little mis-led (unless there is some fine print somewhere that I mis-read).
L.
Groupon, I love you madly and have already cashed in some coupons from here, so kudos for bringing the deals! BUT . . . you’d be a lot more user-friendly if less copy was devoted to being cutsey, and more went into the actual deal details - in this case, upgrade costs per extra person, costs to upgrade the CD resolution, or costs to travel beyond the city limits would save you and your subscribers more time than the random quips about vampire fangs and Spice Girl cover bands.
I don’t usually add to these forums, but I don’t want the whiners and quibblers to overshadow what a fantastic deal this is!! As one of the over 700 people who purchased this deal, I had no expectations that it would include a high-res disc: I think the prints alone make it worth the money and on top of that having the benefit of a professional photographer. You’re not going to get the same level of artistry at a Walmart studio!!
Smoking deal! My first introduction to Groupon and I’m pretty thrilled about it! Thanx!!!
Can we get information on the actual resolutoin of the “low-res” pictures on disc? Saying that it’s good enough for “facebook” doesn’t tell me much.
BTW: This is a great deal just for the photographer’s time and the 5 professionally printed 8×10s. It would be better if we can at least get print-able (5×7) resolution images on CD (doesn’t have to be super high-res).
While this is a good deal, the 15 images being low res does sour the deal somewhat. The description should have clearly stated the images are low res and not good for printing.
This is a loss leader upsell. The deal involves you most likely buying something extra. For example, is a free weekend in Whistler really free if you have to attend a timeshare presentation? Just the same, the photographers already have a formula that the average consumer spends an X amount dollars extra after the photoshoot. If the photographer can upsell approximately $100.00 per person, there is his margin and profits.
The other problem is that this groupon is somewhat subjective. Will a full paying customer be accomodated before a groupon customer? Will the groupon customer get the same service level? What if the groupon pool of customers doesn’t spend the extra money on hi res images. Some questions to ponder prior to purchase of this deal.
Hey everyone, thanks for all the purchases! I just wanted to address the last couple comments. The web resolution disk is not a loss leader it is a bonus. If you look at my packages, the $150 package is for two hours, and only includes a few prints. I wanted to provide something as an added bonus so that people had images they could show off to family and friends on facebook or by email. If people want to upgrade some or all of their disk images that is fine and their choice and they are still getting a great deal. The average client purchase I have is over $400. The point of offering this groupon was to expose people to may not normally be able to get professional photos done, to be able to do so.
As for the quality of service, all our clients are treated the same way, and the only difference is the number of hours in the sessions. We view these sessions as full value sessions, and a booking is a booking and is honoured, no matter how much they are paying for a session, with the exception being weddings, but to avoid this we limit Saturday sessions during wedding season.
@DJ- you could also choose a selection of those disk images to get as high res, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing! :)
I hope this helps!
And @scott yes we are professionally trained photographers, and as was mentioned the disk is a bonus to the session. :)
Hey Guys-
Keep in mind…not every deal is for every one. We are not trying to get people to have free services, but rather try a great service or product at little to no risk. We have strict quality standards that we must follow in order to be able to feature a business. We are not going to present something to you of low or amateur quality.
No one is requiring that you purchase more than is necessary. That is totally your call as a client. There is by no reason a necessary purchase to enjoy the services, unless you are looking for more than we are giving you. In that case, it is your call. With five prints to keep and 15 photos to share via the web, that is much more than you would get for this price with professional photos anywhere else.
If you are not happy with the deal and have already purchased it you may refund at support@groupon.com.
If you are not happy with this deal and have not purchased it- thats ok. Not every deal is for every subscriber. Just wait for the deal that is best for you.
Ironically, I am a subscriber too (although I work here), if every deal I saw I was in love with- I would be broke :) We are appealling to as many people as possible and offering deals that are impossible to find with out our help. That doesn’t mean 100% audience satisfaction 100% if the time.
We always appreciate your feedback, but just because something isn’t your cup of tea doesn’t mean its not someone else’s, so please be respectful of that.
Cheers-
Jenny at Groupon
Twitter: JGrouponVancouv
Are all the pictures shot in high res? Approximately, how many pictures do you take during the 1 hour session..15? unlimited?
What resolution are the 8 x10 prints?
GroupOn is great but… You call this a deal? How about “CHEAP GIMMICK”
1) You don’t even give your client high-res photos on the disc? What do you shoot from a $59 digi-cam from wal-mart? Just put the photos you shoot on the disc? Simple. Do you use film and a scanner for your work or something?
2) $25 EXTRA for a DOG? It’s a dog for heavens sake.. GOUGE
3) $400 for an hour of photography? GREAT DEAL LOL
4) What “Professional” would produce sub-par work and call it a BONUS… a bonus would be if the pictures were the actual quality they should be… basically you want $225 to give people what they would get from any normal photog. GOUGE
5) This photog has committed 950+ hours of work. Thats like 119 days of 8 hour shifts, no breaks, no travel, no processing time for the CD or prints… think about this when you buy.
6) Only natural light? Almost all photogs offer lighting services..
7) Does this not remind you of the commercial… “just a naked weiner $1, condiment fee 75c, napkin fee 25c…”
If you think this is a great deal you’ve either a) never had a professional photographer shoot photos for you or b) you are just really cheap and don’t mind waiting a year for your low-res photo shoot.
BUYER BEWARE. THIS CO. IS IN OVER THEIR HEADS!
@Jason B.
Wow, Jerk much?
Life in Stills is very professional, and they shoot with quality equipment and you get a professional product. This is not Wal-Mart portrait studio we are talking about here, but a real small business with real people behind the camera.
For 60 dollars, it is well worth what you are getting. You could not even find a sitting fee that low with any legit professional photographer, not to mention prints and a web-res disc.
Heck, full price would be worth it. The pictures that Life in Stills took of my children are better than anything I have ever seen. QUALITY images that will hang in my living room for years to come. They are trained photographers that can capture images that no novice can.
that looks amazing, but does anyone know what the additional charge would be for one more person?
we have six people in the family…
Quick Announcement Due to the overwhelming success of this weekends Groupon we are going to be extending the expiration date to August 2012, giving you an extra year to use the Groupon!! Exciting stuff!!
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Twitter: JGrouponVancouv
I would agree with Jason B. This co is way over their heads. I just checked their website and saw their twitter messages. They have no idea how to handle this kind of volume. And their level of professionalism is quite lacking from the tweets. I would steer clear away from this.
Oh. My. God. The complaining on these boards has become intolerable.
This is a fantastic deal for a 1 hour on-location photo shoot with a professional photographer. You get 5 frameable photos – for a lot of people, that would be sufficient. The disc IS a very nice feature, even at low-res (this is how most people share their pictures these days anyway!). I’m sure a lot of people will want to get additional prints or high-res photos on the disc, and it is absolutely reasonable for this company to charge for that. It is your choice!
I am continually amazed at how cheap people can be, not to mention disrespectful. Stop expecting Groupon and the participating companies to give you everything you could ever want for next to nothing. They are providing a very deep discount on an entry level package that you are free to customize and upgrade if you wish. If you don’t think there is value in the deal, just pass on it. No need to be insulting.
@ Jason B., Steve B., and others: It’s clear you’ve never worked with a professional photographer before. I’ve worked with a number of them for various occasions over the years, and recently I looked into a bunch of professional photographers in Vancouver (like 10 or 15 of them) to shoot portraits of my newborn daughter, and I can tell you that what Life in Stills is offering is absolutely standard for any professional photographer, but at a MUCH lower cost.
Most professional photographers in the city start with a $250-400 package, which will cover an hour or two in which they come to you or you go to their studio or house. The cost usually covers a limited number of prints (2 8×10s, a couple of 5×7s, for example). Additional prints are always extra — $45-50 for an 8×10, $30-40 for a 5×7, etc. Only one photographer was offering high-res files, and that was at a significant premium. And I certainly saw photographers with worse sites (one had an email address and website that worked sometimes, and didn’t other times, because she was having some sort of trouble with her hosting — very unprofessional).
Yes, prints are where they make their money, for a number of reasons: 1) A lot of work goes into the prints (adjustments in Photoshop, etc.); 2) they are printed on a higher quality printer than your average machine at Shoppers or London Drugs (if you go to somewhere like ABC Photocolour and use the higher end printers for your own photos, it’s not cheap); and 3) there’s the little issue of copyright, which a professional photographer retains. (It’s part of being a professional photographer, who is more like an artist and less like a cog in a factory studio machine.)
Even going to a studio like Walmart or what have you, it’s rare that you can get high res files of their cheesy posed shots. And even the studios one notch above Walmart (Bopomo here in Vancouver, for example) get you with the prints. Yes, the sitting fee is only $30, but if you want any prints at all you won’t walk out for less than $300.
So, all of that considered, $59 is a fantastic deal for professional photography in this city. Those of you who bought the deal should not feel ripped off — you got a great deal.
no ones walking away paying only $59 with this “deal”
if this isn’t bait and switch, i don’t know what is…
To all the people who are questioning the professionalism of Life in Stills, I want you to know that I purchased 2 deals one for my family and one for my boyfriend. I called and Tracie was very nice and scheduled already both the photoshoots, one next week and one in two weeks, for the time and place I was looking for. She even took the time of writing me an email suggesting what to wear and other details. They seem to me they are extremely professional and perfectly able to deal with this volume of customers. I am happily getting my engagement photos done next week and family photos in two weeks…thanks Life in Stills!
Hi i’m interested in getting this groupon, however I wonder if there are any restrictions on days on which we can make reservations. Specifically, I am wondering if they take reservations for Sundays as it is the only day of the week I can go to one of these sessions if I buy it. Thanks.
@ Katie P. Yes, I am a cyber bully watch me rawr.
@ Lisa S. Oh wow, you called 10-15 pro photogs? How long did that take you? You seem to be the go-to expert du jour on this matter for sure! I’ve worked with lots of photogs, pro and amateur. Anyone who will charge you $40 to put a photo on a disc should be considered a robber these days. Even an 87-year old man could do this for less. It takes 3 seconds to do this – in fact 2 seconds if you use a USB key.
@ Geoff M. – Oh man, just wait till they call you a jerk too!
GimmickOn!
@Lydia- Sundays are okay. :)
It is a great deal if you don’t think you’ll need any high-res imagines. and if you are only going to email to friends and family and only post on FB, etc.
As a photog myself, every 1 hr we shoot, we need to work for at least 2-4 hours just on traveling, editing, emailing, checking out locations, etc. so I’ve to say it is an excellent deal for the clients. However, personally I won’t offer such great deal cuz there is just too much to take on for such little price. and for ppl who made comments on all photos up-sell their high-res images for big bucks, well that’s not true. I don’t believe in selling your images back to you so all my sessions include no prints, but 30-50 high-res images for you to take anywhere to get printed. but by doing this, the package price is 4x more then this groupon is offering.
and how can you judge a photog by looking at their tweets? Summer is the busiest time for us photogs so what if they haven’t update the tweets?! I have not updated my tweets and blog since June cuz we photogs are so busy with weddings, family and engagement sessions starting March to Oct. So please, don’t judge a photog or anyone cuz they don’t update their tweets daily/hrs like some other ppl. _
I’ve to stress that I’m not trying to get biz here but just to let you know the difference in packages out there. and again, it is an excellent deal as long as you don’t need high-res images and happy with the prints and low-res images in the groupon.
Cheers! and have a great long weekend!!!
Jason B… your comments actually made me laugh… particularly this one… “Oh wow, you called 10-15 pro photogs? How long did that take you? You seem to be the go-to expert du jour on this matter for sure! I’ve worked with lots of photogs, pro and amateur. Anyone who will charge you $40 to put a photo on a disc should be considered a robber these days. Even an 87-year old man could do this for less. It takes 3 seconds to do this – in fact 2 seconds if you use a USB key.”
So if that is indeed the case, then why don’t you start a photography business, pay all the taxes, licensing, education, insurance, and fees, and then purchase your equipment and give your valuable TIME and TALENT for free since it’s so EASY…
Are you really that ignorant to think that it’s just photos on a disc that people are paying for? Try again… they are paying for a professional, for a service that they cannot do themselves, and for a product that will last a lifetime. If they could do it themselves then why would they be paying a professional? They are paying for all of the things I listed above… apparently you don’t think photographers should make a living, or feed their children, put a roof over their heads, etc.
I think you should educate yourself about the industry (something you obviously know nothing about) and the REAL time involved before you go posting bogus information and BS and expecting people to work for free…
@Cristy N. — Amen. I’ve been following the comments on the forum since the groupon went live and I’m actually embarrassed by what is being said by people like Jason B. If you don’t like the deal, why are you on here? The owner/photog is on here reading this crap – for god sakes have some respect!
@Jason B. — you sound very passionate about this issue and that’s great. If you have a photographer you like that doesn’t charge the extra money for high-res images on disc, good for you! If you don’t think Groupon provides good deals, why #1 are you on this site? And #2, why are you wasting your time posting on this forum?
Hi Christy
I Guess your reading skills are lacking… Hey GRoupOn can we get hooked on phonics for monday?!
I talked about the images on the disc and that charging people for their photos is absurd, especially to put them on a disc? Give me a break… $40? Give your head a shake… another dreamer drinking some kind of Kool-aid. Who said anything about FREE, you’re already paying to have them take your photos?
Let’s say I take my car to get fixed and they tell me it’s going to be $40 to fix. However, when I go to leave they say… “Oh Sir, if you want it done properly it’ll be an extra $225+++++, but we’ll still do it for $40 if you like.” Sound like something you’d sign up for? LOL.
P.s. Any one who didn’t get a degree from Subway University (your alma mater, I presume) can see this is a bait/switch situation. $59 ++++++++++++++++++ !!!
Clearly, Jason, if you’re comparing photography to car repair, you are as clueless about ‘art’ as I would have expected.
It’s also quite apparent that you do not have a good handle on the meaning of the words ‘bait and switch’. I believe Subway Alma Mater would have been above your level.
Plus, Mr. Hooked on Phonics, it’s YOU who cannot read. What Christy was pointing out is that there quite a few costs in the field of photography. The photographer is not saying that it costs $40 to put images on a disk. They are saying that the time, talent, equipment, etc. that went into the photo session as a whole is worth that price.
If you are so opposed, why are you posting here in the first place? You’re making yourself look bad, not the company that is offering the deal.
I’m disappointed that Groupon even allows those types of negative, nasty posts to remain in the discussion thread.
To everyone on the discussion boards:
We really do appreciate your opinions. That is one of the reasons we have open forum discussion boards so we get feedback and can have interesting conversations about what is being presented. We want people to feel as though their voices are being heard whether it is pro or con. We want to be transparent with what we do- and have a place in order to have a gage on that.
With that being said; this is not a place meant to insult others or make false claims about the businesses we are finding worth our while to promote. Opinions aside, insults and false claims are really not proving any type of point. We understand as our subscriber base grows, there will be more opinions both positive and negative. Please, respect one another and the businesses we are working with. If you have an issue with what we are offering, than simply do not purchase it or feel free to let us know in tactful way either by posting here or by email support@groupon.com.
There has been plenty of negative feedback that has come up on the boards that has been addressed in a very tactful way and followed through with very legitimate reasons. We don’t discourage someone to disagree with what we are offering, but please act in a respectful manner.
There is a lot of thought, time and effort that go in to every promotion we offer you. This isn’t a matter of simply taking a deal that any random business might give us and throwing it up. We take ourselves (and you) very seriously. We see ourselves as a city guide. A place to go to explore parts of your city that you may have not been familiar with previous, and giving you a very attractive incentive in which to visit that business.
I’ve said this before, and I will say it again; we are not looking to pull the wool over your eyes with an offer. A staple of our company is to be transparent. Transparent with our companies, ourselves and our subscribers (thats you!!). It does us no good to be tricky about a deal. We wouldn’t be a fun, interesting and successful company if we were.
Please be respectful, regardless of your opinion, of your fellow Groupies and the corresponding businesses.
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Twitter: JGrouponVancouv
I have used groupon twice and I have enjoyed both experiences and will continue to purchase from both companies because they fit into what I need, like, want and can afford. Groupon is collective purchasing and that’s good for business and good business is what makes our economy progress. I’m happy to try out new, experiences, services and products that fit into my budget and needs and I am looking forward to more of same.
Tanx for your good work.
i love groupon but i also love the fact that this forum exists. i absolutely appreciate the fact that it IS REAL – allowing both pos & neg feedback.
the ‘tit for tat’ began here with people commenting on others feedback. my suggestion- leave them be. FREEDOM of SPEECH. i think it’s totally healthy to see others opinions on a service/product. we can agree or disagree, like or dislike. purchase if you like but please allow others to have an opinion even if it’s not what you agree with – that’s democracy.
that’s groupon democracy.
i think that jason b was expressing his opinions on this svc – it only turned when others turned on him. just like you want him to leave his opinions behind you would have to do the same. this is not a forum for positive only.
not saying i agree with every point, i just believe in civil discussion of opinions – different opinions.
it’s a tough job to moderate this, but i get the feeling that you, jenny appreciate, if not solicate, the ‘real’ in your grouponers!
good job.
Hi Jenny,
I thought I purchased this groupon last night, but there is still nothing in “My Stuff”.
Please let me know what I need to do.
Thanks.
Nicole
Hey Nicole-
No worries. Just email support@groupon.com. They will be able to take care of you and make sure you get your Groupon!
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Hi Jenny,
Laura just informed me that the purchase did not go through.
I should have emailed you earlier other than waiting to see the new deal came on.
Is there a way to add me in this group? I really wanted this one and thought I had purchased on Saturday. Sorry that it was my first time to purchase…
Thanks!
Nicole
Hey Nicole-
I am assuming the Laura is with Customer Support? Email Laura and see what your options for getting this Groupon are, if she feels like she doesn’t have any wiggle room, have her email me directly.
We will get this figured out!
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Thanks Jenny,
I have copied your reply and sent to Laura a few minutes ago. Crossing my fingers that you can add me to the customer list to this Groupon! I really wanted this!
Thanks a lot!
Nicole
is it too late to get this deal?… will u be offering this again?
Shuvleen-
Unfortunately you have missed this deal. The time frame you have to purchase is always counted down on the Groupon while it is live. There will be more photography in the future. Be sure you are signing up for the deal emails so you don’t miss any!!
Cheers,
Jenny at Groupon
Twitter: JGrouponVancouv
Has anyone been able to schedule an appointment? I emailed & called. Tracie got back to me on September 9th and told me her camera had been stolen. I still have not heard back from her on my appointment date (the date I want is approaching) but I do not want to harass the girl if she is caught up in dealing with insurance matters and such.
Thanks,
Sarah
is the discussion closed on this? will groupon not respond?
Hi, I’ve tried contacting Tracie (leaving vms) several times to book an appointment. I haven’t received any calls back. Anyone able to make an appointment? What is the refund policy if the vendor doesn’t get back to us?
hey groupon. have been very happy with all the purchases i’ve made so far but was a little concerned after reading the last few posts on this deal. i bought one for myself but also one for my sister as a christmas gift and was concerned that the vendor is not responding to calls to make appointments. will you please investigate? thank you!
I emailed Life in Stills to get some info about booking a newborn shoot. I was advised that the 1 hour that is included in the groupon was not enough time and that I would need to purchase at least 1 or maybe 2 additional hours. I understand the reasoning behind it but it would have been nice if that was included in the Fine Print or the T&C’s for this offer. I emailed Groupon Support and had this groupon refunded. I got to say working with groupon CS has been a great experience.
Tracie did a fableous job at taking pictures of of our baby, She was very professsional and very patient. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to get some pictures of their newborn, Thank you Tracie for taking the time to get some pictures for us and being so patient when baby was fussy. We cant wait to see how they all turned out!
Hi,
I have called and email the contact on the page. It has been a month and still no response. Is it possible to get a refund?
Hey to those who are still waiting to hear back from us, I wanted to touch base. As some are aware, my gear was stolen from my camera between shoots in September which caused huge delays in our ability to take on new bookings as we have had to cancel and rebook many sessions. Those of you who do not know that is what happened, it has made for a very difficult fall which has caused delays in getting back to people. Then we have had a very lousy fall weather wise, which has made it even more difficult to catch up, as we had to cancel shoots that got rained out. We also have to manage those clients who have paid full price for our services, groupon having been a special deal as an introduction to our photography, scheduled as we had availability.
But we are getting there in getting caught up. If you haven’t heard from us, please do try again. We also sometimes don’t get emails, and are surprised when we hear comments like @alan about not having been able to get a hold of us. I don’t have any emails from you Alan, nor to I have a voicemail.
We may not be able to book someone in right away, but we do try to get back to everyone as soon as we can.
Don’t forget the groupon is good for 2 years there is no rush to use it, it won’t expire! If there is anyone on this forum who hasn’t received an answer to an email or a voicemail, please try emailing again.
@aj- I believe i replied back to you to clarify that it wasn’t necessary to have more than 1 hour for a newborn session, but that it was recommended based on our experience with the many we do and have done. One hour is challenging to do a newborn session in as those who have had theirs already can attest to but we do get it done. I do apologize again if you misunderstood what I was trying to express! There is no requirement to purchase more time, but some had asked if it were possible and so I put it out there as information should they want it. Some people want the newborn shots they see on our site, but they also want family shots in there as well, which is just not possible in one hour.
I also want to clarify something- We do not have a studio. We shoot outdoors, on location, within the Vancouver/Burnaby/North Shore area. We do not shoot in the home with the exception of our newborn sessions and maternity. We specialize in newborns and babies, as well as weddings, but we do family sessions on occasion, as we get requested and have availability.
We will be putting an FAQ up on our site soon. Check back there to get more information about what we do, and how we are managing the groupon deal as well as our hours and days of operation.
But please please please know that we are working very hard to get to each and every inquiry. Thank you for your patience, and for those of you who we have worked with already, THANK YOU!!!! We have met some amazing and wonderful people who we can’t wait to work with again.
Same as others did, we had trouble scheduling our appointment with Tracie – even though we booked her for a date back in August. As this was a time-sensitive appointment for us (my son’s first birthday), we contacted Groupon who immediately refunded our money, no questions asked. Awesome service Groupon!!!!!
My friend recently had her pictures taken with Traci and was really disappointed. Pictures didn’t turn out nice and worst of all “Life in Still” watermark logo was on all the pictures. She did ask Traci to remove the watermark logo, but Traci said no because then people can’t steal the pictures. Also when asked if she’ll received a CD with the pictures, she was told that she can download them from the web since the files are really small.
Anyone else having issues with them? I’m thinking of asking Groupon for a refund.
Update- we had our session. Finnally! After several cancellations due to weather. It was ok. We have had other photographers who are much better with creating great photos (the usual suggestions- stand like this, put your arm here, move your hair like this, turn your head down etc) We didn’t get that from Life In Stills. It was really just us standing there and smiling. The photos are good. Not great. We ended up with 2 we really like. Was it worth it? I am undecided.
Pandora- the watermark is for proofing purposes only. We do not keep logos on our disk images, only on the images that are used for proofing purposes. Once they make their selection the logo is removed when they are burnt to disk. As for downloading vs disk we offer the option of either as the web files are small enough to download to your own computer and some have asked for that as they wanted them faster. We are happy to provide a disk for those who ask. It is often more economical and quick to download the digital files. If the session is who I think it is I am sorry they were not happy with the pictures. We do the best we are able in one hour and if someone is not happy with their pictures we prefer that they speak with us so that we can work something out. If there are specific images she is unhappy withe please have her email me to speak with me.
Sarah- I’m not sure which session you were, but I’m sorry if you felt the pictures were not up to your standards of posing. If you look at our site we A) don’t do a lot of family sessions and B) are not traditional pose and stand here, tilt your head this way kind of photographers. We are lifestyle photographers meaning we try and capture people interacting naturally and will do a few more posed shots at the request of the client. In one hour we are not allowed the luxury of just hanging out and interacting like we do in our usual sessions so we have to get more shots done in a shorter period of time. If you look at our children’s, baby, newborn and boudoir, and wedding/engagement which is our focus you will see that interaction and candid nature to our style. We don’t show group shots because we don’t do them for the most part, and it is up to the consumer to look at the photographer’s style and what they actually photograph before they purchase a photo package. If you tell me which session you were by email I would be happy to go over your proofs again and see if there were any that you didn’t see that you may like better. I’m sorry if you didn’t feel comfortable. It is more difficult in one hour when you’ve never met them and don’t know what their personality is and how far you can go with joking and goofing off to loosen them up.
Tracie D., if you “don’t do a lot of family sessions,” the ad should probably not have read:
Highlights
Trained professionals
*Specializes in families*
Natural lighting
Choose your own location
@Shuvleen C
I have this coupon if you’re interested.
email
h u g p o o k y @ y a h o o.c a
Just wondering if an extra person can be added to the shoot for an additional charge – wanting to give this as a gift to a fam of 6….