We use cookies to give users the best content and online experience. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to allow us to use all cookies. Visit our Privacy Policy to learn more.

Manage Cookies
Resources for Businesses My BBB
Share
Business Profile

Commercial Photographer

Lauren Studios

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Commercial Photographer.

Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 3 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 1 complaint closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

Sort by

Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/25/2025

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    In February ********************************************************************** the yearbook. I decided to go ahead with this and scheduled an appointment and selected the "executive package" out of the options. No where in the email nor on their website did they explicitly say that this payment was solely for the "session" and not the actual "photos". I also tried looking at their terms and conditions on the website, but it was locked behind some owner only access barrier. So I reached out to see where my photos are and they said that I only paid for my picture to be taken, and that the digital copies alone are going to be $400. This appears to be fraudulent misrepresentation as well as predatory marketing schemes as I have found online various other customers across various schools who have the exact same experience.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:11/02/2022

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    The company sent out letters to graduating MSU students for senior portraits. The letters had a varying cost to different sessions. The session chosen was for the Executive Plan which cost $20.00 and was to include 15 portraits. Two letters were included in the corresponse and neither stated that the fee was for a sitting fee only. The one letter stated that there was a free session that was included for a free yearbook photo and free yearbook. Request at time of book was a set of proofs for $5.00 dollars to be paid at the time of the session. On the day of the session the company contacted me to reschedule due to the photographer getting sick. At that time a reschedule was made. The day prior to the rescheduled photo session the company again cancelled due to the photographer having a family emergency. The photo session was then rescheduled again. On the day of the photo session, my son went in and had his photos taken and asked about paying the $5.00 for the proofs. The photographer said that she did not have any information regarding the proofs and that I would need to contact the company directly. I decided not to pursue the issue and not purchase the proofs. After two weeks the photos were ready to view online and choose the 15 portraits. I went onto the website to choose the portraits that I wanted and then found that the company was trying to charge me for photo packets and individual portraits. I called the company and they told me that the $20.00 was only for a sitting fee and yearbook photo which is free anyway. I read them the letter and tried to explain that neither online nor on either of the letters did it state that it was for a sitting fee and that there would be any additional fees for the portraits.

    Business Response

    Date: 12/12/2022

    am responding to complaint #18349642. At Lauren Studios we provide college senior portraits for various schools for a nominal sitting fee. The school in question is MSU, they are the only school that provides the yearbook to all students at no charge.  Here is an example of what the student sees before actually booking their appointment. They will need to pick one of these sessions first, then they can move onto the next step of selecting a day and time that works best for them.

    •  

      OUR VERY FINEST!
      The widest selection of poses: We’ll start with a few poses that are acceptable for inclusion in The Red Cedar Log yearbook. Then we’ll add some poses in MSU graduation regalia. Our studio will provide the cap and gown. The session will conclude with a selection of executive/career style photographs suitable for business use.
      MSU Special Price $20 Session comes with a free yearbook!

    •  

      OUR MOST POPULAR SESSION AND OUR BEST VALUE! We’ll start with a few poses that are acceptable for inclusion in The Red Cedar Log yearbook and then add in the MSU graduation cap and gown (provided by our studio). Dress for this photo session is business professional – dress as you would to a job interview.
      MSU Special Price $10 Session comes with a free yearbook!

    •  

      Just the basics. Session includes five head and shoulder poses.
      MSU Special Price $5, or no charge if you do not want proofs. Session includes a copy of the yearbook at no charge.

    • I do remember speaking to the student and the mother, they were insistent on us printing them 15 8x10's for the $20 that they paid for the portrait session. I explained to them numerous times that there is a fee for any prints or digital files that they would want. The lady proceeded to tell me that I do not know what I am talking about and asked to speak to my manager. I gave her ******* ******* (Vice President of Lauren Studios) email since he was working from home. She immediately emailed him and he offered her a refund of the portrait session and asked me to issue said refund. I did that same day. Nowhere does it state that they will get anything for free other than the yearbook and the Basic session. There is no mention of getting prints for free in the flyer that is mailed to the home either. I have attached the letter that was mailed to them as well as our generic flyer for reference. Every school that we have contracts with will get this same flyer but personalized with their school logo.  Michigan State University staff and students approve the letter and language that is sent to students.

    • On our website, www.laurenportraits.com, in the FAQ section we do explain what a session fee is. Here is what it says: 

    • What is a session fee?

      A session fee is the amount you pay for your photo session. The amount will vary based on how many photos you would like taken. The fee helps pay for the photographer’s time and travel to your school site. We also offer a free basic yearbook session for inclusion in the yearbook. Please remember, the session fee does not mean you are purchasing physical prints of your portraits or digital files.

    I hope that this is a sufficient response to the complaint in question. We here at Lauren Studios are a company that has been around for many years and it is never our intention to mislead our customers.

Lauren Studios is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

To become accredited, a business must agree to BBB Standards for Trust and pass BBB's vetting process.

Why choose a BBB Accredited Business?

BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.

BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles.

When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile.

As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation. BBB charges a fee for BBB Accreditation. This fee supports BBB's efforts to fulfill its mission of advancing marketplace trust.