This is a letter one of the girls that shot with us wrote after her experience with us! I asked her to write a quick testimonial and this is what she sent me. I LOVE that our clients realize how different we are in Senior Photography!
"As I searched for senior portrait photographers, the name that kept coming up was Belmont Studios. It’s the studio that most high schools contract with for all their school photos, so of course they do senior pictures as well. It’s only in hindsight that Belmont users see the mistake they made when choosing Belmont.
Like I said, Belmont does most of the schools around Birmingham’s pictures. They are designed for the masses. As a result, everyone’s pictures end up looking the same and there is nothing special about YOUR senior pictures. I would know, I originally used Belmont for my senior pictures. The staff at Belmont was very hands off during the whole process; to them I was just another shoot. When you go to Belmont the day of your pictures, you get dressed and ready in little changing areas in the back by yourself and no one tells you whether or not you’ll look good on camera. You could be missing an earring and they wouldn’t notice. Then you wait in line for it to be your turn for pictures. You’re in line with tons of other kids. When you’re umber is called, you go into a room with a couple different backdrops and you are moved from one to the other as instructed. They even tell you how to pose. They tell everyone to pose the exact same way. Sure, you can bring in a prop like a guitar or something, but honestly what is the point if the picture is going to be bland anyway? The poses are the same, the pictures are the same, and just because you have a guitar in the picture doesn’t mean it captures the essence of you at this moment in time as a guitar player. Nothing is tailored toward you.
Belmont’s idea of a location or an outdoor shoot is a little area in a park that, again, was set up for the masses. You just went around poses at different little stations, and God help you if you wanted a prop in your outdoor shoot. That’s only for the indoor shoot. You’re also sweating buckets in the Alabama summer heat, so in your outdoor pictures you look like a hot mess.
It is completely ridiculous. If you are going to pay all that money for something that is going to be in your family and passed down from generation to generation, don’t you think you should have a say in it? Senior pictures are meant to capture you in this moment in time as you are and how you want to be portrayed. Unless you’re a stepford child, I don’t think going around in a room and posing at the same stations in the same manor thousands of other kids have, really portrays you accurately.
After I had my horrible experience with Belmont, I found Alanna Rose Photography. Alanna is not only an awesome and fun person, but she is also a wonderful photographer. She is determined as a senior photographer to make sure you get the best and the most out of our senior pictures. Unlike Belmont Studios, senior photography is not the only thing she does. She is a true professional photographer so she knows how to treat models.
Alanna has an amazing team behind her and goes the extra mile to make sure that your experience with her is unlike any other. Unlike Belmont Studios, Alanna Rose Photography is not designed for the masses and therefore the pictures that result are unique and special. Her process is unlike any other.
When you first call Alanna Rose Photography, she will set up an appointment with you to come in and talk with her and one of her makeup artists a few weeks before your actual shoot. Alanna and her team take the time to get to know you so they can make sure your shoot is tailored towards you. They help pick out locations, styles, backdrops, clothes, makeup and hair styles all so it is exactly how you want it. On the actual day of the shoot, you arrive at the studio with no makeup on and you wardrobe choices in hand. Alanna’s professional makeup artist, who does work for big names and magazines, will be there to do your makeup and hair. She uses hypoallergenic makeup so nothing with break you out or cause an allergic reaction. She will also be there in between shots to touch you up or fix your hair. She will come on the location shoot and be there every step of the way to ensure that you look fabulous in your senior pictures. Your parents can also be part of the process.
At Belmont Studios, they have a waiting room for parents. Your family doesn’t get to experience your senior pictures with you. Belmont’s backrooms where the pictures are shot honestly don’t have space for extra bodies other than the kids being shot. At Alanna Rose Photography, the studio is big and spacious and there is room for whoever accompanies you. So parents don’t have to miss out.
Alanna also takes the time to edit your pictures to make sure that you look the very best in your pictures. She won’t warp you or make you look someone else I assure you, but she will touch up little things such as sweat from the outdoor pictures or a bit of acne. She is truly dedicated to making sure that you love your pictures and are happy with them. She goes the extra mile. The picture quality over Belmont is also amazing.
I wish I had honestly known about Alanna Rose Photography before I went and wasted my money with Belmont Studios. The difference in the experience and pictures were huge. I strongly wouldn’t recommend Belmont to anyone I know. At Belmont, you almost get a sense of fear when you’re waiting for your turn. They don’t talk to you, they just tell you what to do. You aren’t important to them, you’re just another shoot. At Belmont they don’t even let you have a say in any of your pictures, you have to do what they say when they say it.
Alanna Rose Photography gives you personalized attention and star treatment. Senior pictures should be an enjoyable experience, not a frustrating event with bland and cookie-cutter pictures as a result. You do have a choice when it comes to senior picture photographers, choose to be treated like human being and a unique individual. Choose Alanna Rose Photography."
- Katherine
Vestavia High School 2013