I also purchased a LivingSocial package for a one-hour shoot.
Before the purchase, I looked at his website and was pleased at how many fun, colorful, candid and creative photos of kids he has done. He also has tons of good reviews on other sites. I should have looked at Yelp too, because I am certainly disappointed in the overall experience.
The package claimed that Marc Weisberg would provide one hour of shooting at an OC location of my choice. Instead, he offered his studio on Saturdays or one particular OC park on weekday afternoons. He was not willing to shoot in a park on a Saturday. In addition, he did not allow livingsocial voucher holders to book shoots more than 30-days in advance. I tried three times to book at the 30-day mark, only to be told that he was full.
**Finally, to his credit, on the third try, he offered to open his studio on a Sunday for us.**
Once my family was in his studio (three boys, my husband and I), he had only one backdrop choice available -- white. While we were waiting to get started, he told me to be sure the boys kept their feet off the couches and didn't touch anything. I would have understood the couch concern if they didn't clearly have brand new shoes on, the couches were fabric or otherwise difficult to brush off, or if he didn't sell his business as child-friendly. With all his expensive gear, the request to not touch anything made perfect sense -- can't fault him for that.
When ready to start, he asked if I had anything in mind, but that still, posed photos weren't really his style. I told him I just wanted something natural, with us interacting as a family. We tried this for a bit, then he stopped us to say it wasn't working, that we were all looking different directions in every shot (true!). He then commented that we could do something more posed, but that I seem to have come in with an idea in my head of what I wanted and that his style of family portraiture didn't fit into that free-form idea. Really? I then told him that he is the expert and we would follow his guidance. So he posed us after all.
After 30 minutes of shooting, my kids were getting pretty restless. The photographer was too. He did not seem interested in changing the situation up a little (beyond putting a stuffed monkey on his camera to get a few more minutes of cooperation) or in taking a break before restarting. Instead, he seemed quite comfortable ending our session.
**To be fair, I didn't suggest we take a break because it didn't even occur to me until later. **
This photographer's strength is in his responsiveness to emails and his ability to deliver product when he says he will. He was on-time with everything. He offered to touch up one of the photos for a minimal fee of $50 (which I passed on). The package was for one 8x10 and 2 5x7s -- instead he gave me 2 8x10s and one 5x7. This would be great, except that I had planned to give the 5x7s as gifts and keep the 8x10. I appreciate that he may have been trying to be generous... just wish he had asked first.
Overall, this photographer is not easy to work with for families with small children (under 5). I was left feeling we were more of a bother than anything. He certainly didn't charm my children, nor my husband (who is a pretty easygoing guy).
In response to some of the other postings, Marc DID meet the photo delivery obligations of the fine print. The only part of the deal that he did not technically fulfill is the "any location in Orange County" part -- though I accepted his location limits without question. No sense in annoying the man behind the camera before even meeting him!
I do not recommend Marc Weisberg Photography if you are a discount deal holder. Despite some great looking work on his website, this photographer seems to cater his attitude and attention to the price you have paid. read more