The main issues I had with Honey Bee Photography are as follows:
Punctuality:
From the start, each and every scheduled event started late. The initial phone call set up by Megan to "get a feel" for us started 45 minutes after the scheduled time. Megan arrived late to the location for the photo shoot and showed up late for the showing/review.
Product:
I took issue with this in three specific ways. First off, the projector. When she showed up (late) at our house to present the edited pictures, it was expected of us to remove pictures from the wall and rearrange furniture in order to accommodate her projector system. One could argue that this is a minor inconvenience, but none the less, it is an inconvenience that we were not expecting or willing to indulge. Secondly, her computer was a bit dated and did not have enough resolution to accurately represent the finished work. We didn't expect cutting edge power point/graphic design department work, but given the price (WAY more to follow on this topic) much was left to be desired. Lastly on this topic, we felt that her examples of her finished pictures were not an accurate representation of what we received. Specifically in our case was the 8 X 12 picture with a textured finish to it. We have had other pictures done with this finish, but hers came to us with DEEP marks throughout the picture that caused the people to look pock marked or marred.
Price:
This may be the area I have the biggest issue with. When we first spoke with Megan, we were offered a discount session for the military which included "free product". We accepted and asked where we could see her price list. She told us that everything was on her web site. There is NO price list on her site. Once we discovered this, we contacted her via email asking again about the price. Her reply was a request to contact us via phone. When she called, she went into her "get to know you" routine, which is fine, but not the topic we asked about. When a price list was brought up again during the conversation, she started on a sales pitch about a $1500 metal print/collage. All of this ended with the assumption that a price list would be provided to us. Well, next thing you know it's picture day. After the session (which again, she was late to) she showed up to our house (late) for the showing (see above) and THEN drops her prices on us. This is a shady sales tactic reserved for used car salesmen and shysters. Get you to fall in love with a product (this is your child and family Christmas photos mind you) and THEN hit you with the cost. Admittedly, we have to assume some of the responsibility for not knowing the cost beforehand, but how many times should we have had to ask. Also, we have been to several photographers prior to this and have NEVER seen such a high price. How high you ask? Please allow me to tell you:
Cost:
Session was classified as a Christmas promotion. The value of the session was listed at $375, but cost was $175. The promotion included 25 - 5X7 printed Christmas cards, and a $200 credit towards purchases from Megan.
We purchased an additional 50 Christmas cards for $100 (which came out of the $200 credit), 2 - 8X10 at $125 each ($250 total in 8X10's - using the $100 remaining "credit" and an additional $150 cost to us). Let it be known that with the purchase of the 8X10's you would receive the digital rights to those pictures. BUT, you only have the ability to print them up to 4X6 on your own.
Any further digital rights would be at a cost of $300 each with, again, with only the ability to print up 4X6 photos on your own. I have NEVER had this issue with a photographer before. If you purchase the rights to a photo, then they are yours to do with as you see fit. ESPECIALLY at $300 per photo.
Wrapping up, Megan was kind and friendly enough. We mainly took issue with her professionalism (punctuality) and integrity (disclosure of prices in advance). The product was OK, but I have definitely had better service and received a better product at a far better price. read more
