| rev:text
| - CONSUMER BEWARE!
Its sad and difficult to write this review, but I think its important to detail my experience at Optionz: a business that unfortunately exemplifies the death of business ethics. You will NOT be given the "options" you deserve as a customer and a human being if you use Optionz as a photographer!
The issue is simply this: it was only after the photographer, Roxanne, took my pictures, and I got home and opened the cd that included all the images/pictures taken during the photoshoot, that I saw there was a release included on the cd.
I opened the release document .......and to my confusion and horror saw that Optionz claimed to own ALL rights to the pictures/images they took of me even though I HAD NEVER been given the option of allowing them to use my pics/images.
As if it isnt enough to place myself in the hands of several total strangers for a boudoir photo shoot, a vulnerable feeling, for me definitely, and most women I imagine.....now I was faced with the ugly fact that, although I NEVER signed away rights to my photos to Optionz, they claimed rights to do basically whatever they want to do with my pictures/images!
After seeing this chilling document, and talking to my brother, a professional photographer who encouraged me to just have a friendly talk with the Optionz staff because they would probably be open to giving up the rights to use my pictures if I told them I wasnt comfortable with them using the photos they took of me...... I went back to Optionz, hopeful this could be worked out in a human, respectful way.
My second time at Optionz, going back to discuss my concern and discomfort, I spoke with Roxanne. I asked her if she would give rights of the pictures back over to me because I felt uncomfortable knowing that Optionz was reserving the option of using my pictures however they wanted to when I wanted to be assured my photos/images would remain 100% private.
I didnt mention this to Roxanne, but hey....if I was doing a photo shoot for Vogue or something similar, I would understand they would reserve the rights to do whatever they want with the pics. But, a boudoir shoot for a private party? REALLY?!?!Afterall, isn't one of the primary benefits of using a "professional" that you will be professionally assured your pics are yours alone to do with as you so choose...and not someone elses property?
Roxanne was curt and defensive, claiming that she took the pictures and therefore has rights to them. She told me she wouldnt use my photos, but refused to sign them back to me, again emphasizing that she owned the images/photos.
Really?! Ok so, Optionz wont use the pics/images, but refuse to give up the rights to use them?! Then essentially, they CAN use them and Im just supposed to trust them, even though theyve already behaved in an unethical (illegal?) way up to this point by taking them without giving me a choice to begin with!
If pictures of myself (or you, for that matter if you use Optionz as a photographer) scantily clad in an outfit we'd only want seen by private eyes end up on a bus bench or published wherever Optionz chooses, we will have Optionz to thank for putting ourselves in their "trusting" hands.
Before I left Optionz, there was one more thing I wanted to do: tip the make-up artist. Here I will mention that the solitary ray of sunshine in my ethics-deprived Optionz experience: the make-up artist (so sorry, I forgot her name: a lovely, petite girl in her early early 20's with reddish hair) did an absolutely beautiful job with my make-up; plus she was very kind, and someone I admire based on the conversation we had when she did my photoshoot make-up.
As I was walking out of Optionz, after tipping the make-up artist for her work on the day of my photoshoot, Roxanne reminded me to email her the photos I wanted them to edit as a part of my photography package I purchased......I left quietly; I had nothing else to say to Roxanne, so I will find another way to edit my photos.
Where were my options at Optionz?! I never had one. If you use Optionz, you will be at the mercy of Optionz. Thanks for the lack of options, Optionz.
If Optionz decides to start giving ALL customers a release choice, i will gladly remove this posting; otherwise, I leave this in the hands of karma.......
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)