The discount store quality was not up to my standards; color fidelity was poor, props were grubby, and the paper was too flimsy. Department stores proved better for quality but still left me unsatisfied with their limited prop, backdrop, and pose choices. Their prices were okay if I could find a coupon to meet my needs (and wants) but crazy up-charges for black & white, vignettes, "hand-color," and other special services quickly dissipated the savings. The glamour studio provided some beautiful shots but their prices were outrageous. At all of the above, the weeks of wait for my final prints drove me batty.
The supposedly one-hour studio chain provided my portraits the same day... but waiting over two hours (with an appointment!) to get seen by the photographer, spending five minutes in the session, and then waiting another hour and a half so we could choose from the three packages of the sizes and poses they chose to print made for a very, very long day for a five month old! And when I found the finished product less than fabulous and asked what they would do with the portraits they had printed if I did not buy them, I was told they would be shredded. No mom wants to hear that!
I had just about given up hope of ever finding a studio that met my needs and wants when I stumbled upon an independently owned studio while visiting my mother in Virginia in April of 2003. The service was very friendly and the staff seemed truly interested in capturing my son's personality. They spent time making him comfortable and patiently coaxed some fabulous shots from an energetic, active 14 month old-- even with me 7 months pregnant and unable to assist much due injuries from a car accident. Their prices were very reasonable and they did not employ bait-and-switch advertising or ridiculous fees for basic services (and even removed a scratch from my son's head!). Inspired by their business model, I set about adopting it, improving it, and ultimately making it a reality for Triangle families... the SnapHappy dream was born and in June of 2004 it became a reality.
I look forward to sharing the SnapHappy experience with your family!
Sincerely,
Tamara Short Weightman