phcorcoran wrote:
There are no real "horror stories" about working for Lifetouch except that they may not deliver as many paid working days as they lead you to believe, and they sometimes expect you to keep yourself available without guarantee of work.  Bottom line: don't expect to make the money they say you'll make, and be aware that their employee turnover is very high.

exactly what i was looking for .. thank you.

Sharon Gutowski wrote:
I interviewed with lifetouch.  They are really not photographers in that they learn one really basic lighting set up, not any real technical information.

When I worked for Lifetouch they had you roll out a rubber mat, and on the mat it showed exactly where to place the backdrop, the lights, the camera, etc.  There was more paperwork than picture taking.

But that is exactly the way most professional photography works: you are hired for what you can do consistently, and there is almost always more paperwork than picture taking.

It is true that I forgot to mention in my earlier response that Lifetouch jobs involve early hours, long days and lots of driving.

The important thing to remember about jobs like Lifetouch, Petco and many other dreary national companies I've worked for is that you do learn things about photography that are not explained in books, and you keep some money coming in while working as a photographer.  The alternative is often to quit photography altogether. 

A job with Lifetouch can give you a start, or let you say to yourself: "Well I'll take the Lifetouch job and give photography one more year as a career."  When Christmas comes around again and your family asks if you're still a photographer at least you'll be able to honestly say yes.

Seek Photography wrote:
i'm a single kid who enjoys driving and doesn't mind the early/long hours

The job sounds right for you then.  Anyway it won't hurt you to try it.

Seek Photography wrote:
.. or you can work at one of the portrait studios they have around

Take all promises with a large grain of salt.

But portrait studio work is great for a beginner because little freelance jobs fall into your hands that way: weddings, sweet sixteen parties, etc.

Seek Photography wrote:
during the orientation they explained that it's seasonal and you get 6 weeks off from dec-feb

Did I mention the high turnover?  The average Lifetouch photographer in my area lasts six weeks.

Seek Photography wrote:
i'll give it a shot and see how it goes

Enjoy it!  If you sincerely try to enjoy it, then you will!

phcorcoran wrote:

Seek Photography wrote:
i'm a single kid who enjoys driving and doesn't mind the early/long hours

The job sounds right for you then.  Anyway it won't hurt you to try it.

Seek Photography wrote:
.. or you can work at one of the portrait studios they have around

Take all promises with a large grain of salt.

But portrait studio work is great for a beginner because little freelance jobs fall into your hands that way: weddings, sweet sixteen parties, etc.

Seek Photography wrote:
during the orientation they explained that it's seasonal and you get 6 weeks off from dec-feb

Did I mention the high turnover?  The average Lifetouch photographer in my area lasts six weeks.


Enjoy it!  If you sincerely try to enjoy it, then you will!

thanks for the tips/info .. very much appreciated.

chris.

Christopher Ambler wrote:
Please, do help them with a better product, then.

They do the pictures at my kids' school, and they consistently suck, year after year. Newbie errors with lighting, posing, and composition - as in cutting off body parts or getting the edge of the backdrop in the frame.

If I didn't think it would be bad for the school, I'd have a "talk" with the "photographers" they send out. But as it is, I let them do their thing and they don't get my money. I shoot my kids myself.

as every photographer on here should be already doing

will definitely do my best to create images, instead of just snapshots if i get the position.

chris.