PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING WITH HAUS OF PORTRAITURE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WERE SELECTED THROUGH…read moreINSTAGRAM.
I rarely write negative reviews, but after Sunday, October 18, I wish I had read the reviews before booking.
Our appointment was at 1:00 PM. We arrived at 12:30 PM and did not leave until 4:00 PM.
My 10-year-old daughter and I were selected through Instagram and scheduled over the phone with Sage. We paid a $200 reservation deposit, advertised as refundable after completing the session. We drove 90 minutes through traffic and paid for parking outside.
First, credit where it's deserved: our photographer, who I believe was Mike or Michael, was wonderful! We brought our two kittens, and he was patient, attentive, and great with them. He captured beautiful moments in our 30-minute session.
Afterward, we were offered coffee and apple cider while waiting in the children's area. About 20 minutes later, I entered the gallery room while staff supervised my daughter and kittens.
THIS IS WHERE MY EXPERIENCE CHANGED.
The woman presenting our portraits was friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly experienced in sales. She mentioned her art degree. The discussion soon became emotional. She reminded me that my daughter would never be this age again and how meaningful these portraits could be in the future.
She also shared, "I wish my mom would have done this with me so I could pass them down from generation to generation once in a lifetime."
As a single mother, I understood exactly what she meant. Family portraits are special. But the emotional approach made the expensive sales discussion uncomfortable. I would have preferred clear pricing first.
NOW, THE PRICING AND ADVERTISED PROMOTIONAL CREDIT.
The promotion advertised one complimentary 14-inch heirloom-quality fine art portrait and said our $200 refundable deposit equaled $1,000 in promotional credit toward artwork. I knew extras would cost money.
But the paperwork I photographed showed:
Original artwork total: $7,000
Promotional savings: $3,000
Subtotal: $4,000
Sales tax: $450
Final quoted total: $4,450
My biggest question: WHERE DID THE ADVERTISED $1,000 CREDIT GO?
Was it included in the $3,000 discount? Was it supposed to be applied separately? How was the $200-to-$1,000 promotion calculated? The paperwork did not clearly itemize it. Businesses can set their prices, but promotional credits should be clearly explained. These figures did not add up for me.
THEN CAME THE FINANCING OPTIONS.
I was shown an Affirm financing screen for $4,430.75, including $369.23 per month for 12 months at 0% interest, or $160.10 per month for 36 months with $1,332.69 in interest. That's THREE YEARS of financing family portraits.
Financing is optional, but discussing thousands of dollars in payments after a complimentary portrait promotion felt more like a car dealership than a family photography session.
My budget was what I understood from the phone call: the complimentary portrait and refundable deposit. I was also told digital downloads of all our photos would cost $200. I declined additional artwork and chose only our complimentary portrait, which is supposed to be shipped to us.
ANOTHER DETAIL FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW:
I was told unpurchased photos would be deleted once we left. That added pressure for me. You're looking at beautiful images of your child, hearing how quickly they're growing up, and knowing those pictures might not be available afterward. I wish I'd known that policy before arriving.
To be fair, I was told the studio doesn't use AI and has someone personally working behind the scenes to refine the artwork and make requested adjustments. I respect that craftsmanship. For families comfortable spending thousands, this may be a good fit.
But if you're responding to an Instagram promotion, PLEASE ask for the full price list, promotional-credit terms, digital download costs, and restrictions IN WRITING before booking.
AND MY 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER HAD THE LAST WORD.
Afterward, Seleena asked lots of questions about the pricing and made me laugh when she said, "We're never going back there again! That's two vacations and money we could save for a house. Then we could buy our own camera and take these photos of them ourselves!" Mind you, she's TEN! I couldn't help but laugh at her perspective. It reminded me that everyone values things differently, even at her age.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS:
My concern isn't simply that the artwork is expensive. It's the unclear promotional credit, confusing financial breakdown, and emotionally focused sales presentation. The photographer and staff were kind, but after hours there, I left disappointed.
Families deserve to understand the financial commitment before becoming emotionally invested in purchasing them.
Please read reviews and request complete pricing before booking. Be informed.
