Bella?

Rhys · May 20, 2008

Anybody heard anything about Bella?

They rang me today and want to see my portfolio.

Overread · May 20, 2008

Is Bella all you have - did they give you a website link or address to contact - offices?

Rhys · May 20, 2008

Bellapictures.com

I had a chat with a lady in San Francisco and she seemed keen after she saw one of my hidden galleries.

*Mike* · May 20, 2008

Check out OSP and DWF, Bella has developed a horrible name among photographers over the past year... At one time I recommended them as a decent way to fill your calendar, but I wouldn't consider sending a photog to them ever again.

Antithesis · May 21, 2008

I've heard pretty bad things about them. I've been told that they hire pretty much anyone, underpay their photog's and will look pretty bad on a resume. If you need to book a few extra weddings here and there, I don't see too much harm, just keep in mind they won't look good to future photography-based employers.

Rhys · May 21, 2008

Antithesis said:
I've heard pretty bad things about them. I've been told that they hire pretty much anyone, underpay their photog's and will look pretty bad on a resume. If you need to book a few extra weddings here and there, I don't see too much harm, just keep in mind they won't look good to future photography-based employers.

I know they have a base rate of about $1800 for a wedding. I don't know how much they pay out of that though. I have my own photography business so this would essentially give me extra exposure. I could hand out my business cards and wear my logo'd clothing at each wedding and I figure that'd be great advertising for me.

*Mike* · May 21, 2008

Umm... Shooting a wedding for one company, while handing out business cards for your own company, sounds a little tacky... Don't ya think?

ScottS · May 21, 2008

Bella is evil and is killing the wedding photography business.

Their business practice is dishonest.

Rhys · May 21, 2008

*Mike* said:
Umm... Shooting a wedding for one company, while handing out business cards for your own company, sounds a little tacky... Don't ya think?

I'm in business to make money. If that means I occasionally need to get tacky then so be it.

*Mike* · May 21, 2008

Rhys said:
I'm in business to make money. If that means I occasionally need to get tacky then so be it.

If you "need" to, odds are you're doing something else wrong...

Rhys · May 21, 2008

Nah. I see it as a cheap way of advertising my own business.

*Mike* · May 21, 2008

You and Bella belong together...

Foques · May 21, 2008

Mike, from all your posts i've read so far, you are WAY too judgmental.

Especially, since the practices of the company is dishonest, I don't see anything wrong in what Rhys does.

When I was working for Geek Squad, I was hired by GS clients on the side because they did not like the whole payment/dispatch process.. Tacky, you say?
Okay, so be it. It allows Rhys to put food on his table.

Big Mike · May 21, 2008

If the parent/primary company (Bella or G.S.) allows the sub-contractor to advertise or promote their business then I would think it's fair game...but if they have a clause in their contract to prohibit that, the it shouldn't be done.

And lets please keep this on-topic and not resort to our opinions of other members.

Rhys · May 21, 2008

Big Mike said:
If the parent/primary company (Bella or G.S.) allows the sub-contractor to advertise or promote their business then I would think it's fair game...but if they have a clause in their contract to prohibit that, the it shouldn't be done.

And lets please keep this on-topic and not resort to our opinions of other members.

At the end of the day, it's a question of balances. If it's in the contract that you can't *advertise* your own business then you have to weigh up whether the number of potential clients at a function is worth breaking that part of the contract.

If you know you're going to get $10,000 worth of business by breaking a $500 contract then I'd say it looks well worthwhile.