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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Does anyone have experience with Bella Pictures?
Alex Witkowicz, Photographer
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West Boylston | Ma | USA | Posted: 5:00 PM on 04.08.09 |
->> This might be a bit off topic, but I'm wondering if anyone here has worked with Bella Pictures?
On paper they sound like a great agency and a great place to get started shooting weddings.
I'm just looking for a little feedback, positive or negative, on your experiences with Bella.
Feel free to contact me privately. |
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Philip Johnson, Photographer
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Garland | TX | USA | Posted: 12:12 AM on 04.09.09 |
| ->> While I haven't worked with Bella Pictures, if you got to www.texasphotoforum.com and register, it's free. Scroll down to the wedding discussion link and then search on Bella. It will bring up all the threads with Bella in it. |
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Wes Hope, Photographer
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Maryville | TN | USA | Posted: 1:25 AM on 04.09.09 |
->> Also, check into Digital Wedding Forum (I think they still have a free 30 day trial). There has been some stink about Bella in the past.
I don't have any experience with them, but as a self-employed photographer, I'm not a fan of the concept of a corporation moving into my area and competing with me by offering lower prices and a lesser quality products. In other words, Bella seems like Walmart to me. But what can I do? It's a free society. I just know I would never contribute to it.
I'd rather see you do a couple weddings super-cheap to build a portfolio and get started than contribute to the demise of small local owned businesses. Plus you'll be building your own business and not waste away working for the man. As you build your business, you'll learn from your mistakes and be a better photographer and business person.
And for what it's worth, I'm not sure how Bella is doing... I know they've pulled out of our area and I've heard they've done the same in several other markets. Could be hearsay, but I think they have a failed model (couples hiring photographers without meeting them). |
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Lane Hickenbottom, Photographer
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Omaha | NE | usa | Posted: 9:38 PM on 04.09.09 |
->> I haven't heard much about them in a while but heard somewhere (clearly you should take this with a grain of salt) that they aspired to claim 10% of the wedding photography market.
Shooting for them seems to me like feeding the beast that wants to eat you. |
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Jason Brown, Photographer
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Houston | TX | USA | Posted: 11:47 PM on 04.09.09 |
->> I shot a couple weddings with them a couple years back. Feel free to contact me with any questions on the process or the experience. It is a good way to get some experience (they have you as a second shooter for a couple weddings to evaluate your skills) though basically you just fire and forget (shoot JPEG and send everything you get - regardless of quality - in, no post at all). Kind of like event shooting - instead of focusing on a few of "THE SHOTS" and telling a meaningful story, it was more on getting quantity. My biggest complaint was you don't get a chance to build a relationship with the client, which can be a little awkward and sometimes takes the personal element out of the wedding. And one other thing to keep in mind is that for most of the clients, photography is not a top priority (they're going for a cheap price and taking chances on who they get through Bella instead of individually selecting a photographer) so that can make it a little more difficult as well.
That being said, it is a good way to fill in extra weekends and get a low stress paycheck with none of the time-consuming post processing... Not for everyone, but it can work. Hope that helps a little! |
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Keith Simonian, Photographer
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Eric Francis, Photographer
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Omaha | NE | United States | Posted: 12:16 PM on 04.10.09 |
->> I agree with Lane.
You're feeding the beast that wants to eat you and your friends. |
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Chris Odom, Photographer
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Fort Lauderdale | FL | USA | Posted: 6:18 PM on 04.12.09 |
->> I had an experience with Bella about a year ago.
While I am not comfortable putting my thoughts into the public domain, I dont have a problem telling you that they suck. If you wish to send me an email, I will give you the insider details not fit for publishing here.
Bottom line, it's not good for you or the industry to support their business model. If you wish to break into wedding photography, call your local wedding photogs and try to assist with them. At least you know that all the money will stay in your community. |
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Caleb Simpson, Photographer
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Dallas | TX | USA | Posted: 2:15 PM on 04.13.09 |
| ->> I have shot for them for five years. Only have recently had problems. DM me if you want more information. Overall though my experience has been pleasant. Yeah, I have some gripes but for the most part it's perfect for somebody like me that freelances on top of a full time job and doesn't have the time to book his own weddings. |
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