Photo 3 Solutions Scam Advice

Watch out for Photo 3 Solutions (also known as 'The Kent Wedding Photographer'), do a little research before choosing this 'photographer' for your wedding photos, modelling photos or portraits.

There are lots of great photographers in Kent, so make sure you choose one that is going to give you a good quality service, for a good price.

When choosing a photographer, the key things you want to take into account are price and quality. You want to get good quality work, but you want to get it at the best possible price.

Well, with Photo 3 Solutions, you're likely to get poor quality work at a high price.

If you shop around a bit and look at some of the other wedding photographers in Kent other than Photo 3 Solutions, you'll quickly see that the package Photo 3 Solutions offers are quite pricey and don't include very much at all.

Furthermore, if you browse through the image galleries of other wedding photographers in Kent, it's immediately obvious that the quality of the work of Photo 3 Solutions is just not up to scratch - in fact, there are plenty of amateur photographers who could do a better job.

Whether its composition, lighting or post production, Photo 3 Solutions work is laughably bad.

So, shop around and decide for yourself! Do you want to waste your money, or would you rather hire a professional?

Photo 3 Solutions Modelling Portfolio Scam

Modelling Portfolios Scam

If you're an aspiring model and you've come across Photo 3 Solutions or Models 3 then be very, very careful, don't get sucked into a scam that could cost you hundreds of pounds and not help at all in your modelling career.

If you want to join Models 3, you'll probably be told that to make it as a model, you need a modelling portfolio - which is of course, correct - but hey! How convenient, here's someone who can do it for you.

However, the owner of the 'modelling agency' Models 3, and the photographer at Photo 3 Solutions who will sell you your 'professional' modelling portfolio photos are one and the same person.

Of course, you may be told that you can use any professional photographer, but it's clear that you'll have the best chances if you use him, because he's got so much experience, the studio - the whole deal.

The only problem is, the photos will be of such poor quality, that while they'll surely get you into Models 3 - which is only a part time company anyway, and doesn't seem to have much luck in actually placing models - there's no way they'll ever be able to be used in a proper professional modelling portfolio if you do manage to break into modelling by some other route.

So, don't waste your money with Photo 3 Solutions! Stick to genuine modelling agencies, not half-cut, part-time sidelines, and get a photographer who understands things like lighting and composition.

 

Photo 3 Solutions Whistleblower Scam

Is Photo 3 Solutions a scam?

The company appears to have multiple websites, which do everything from offer studio photography to model photography, to being a model agency, to storybook wedding services, to blogging expert on all kinds of subjects.

Despite its many faces, Photo 3 Solutions appears to be run by a single person, who on his blog claims to be a whistleblower of fake modelling agency sites.

However, it only takes a little digging to find he offer his own modelling agency services, under the guise of Models 3. Is it possible that Photo 3 Solutions makes such a big noise about other modelling companies because he doesn't want people to look too closely at his own? Or perhaps he's just hoping to get more attention that way...

Models 3 - Scam Kent modelling agency by Photo 3 Solutions?

Models 3 claim to be a 'UK model register' and  'Kent model agency'.

But in fact the company is run by Andy James, whose 'proper' company is Photo 3 Solutions, and 'The Kent Wedding Photographer'.

Running a modelling agency is a full time job, and not something just anybody can do in their spare time, but Mr James seems to think it doesn't need to be taken that seriously - that it's enough to knock up a homemade website and hey presto - you're a modelling agency!

Model 3's credentials are weak at best, talking about launching the career of Luisa Jane (whoever she is) - but by their own admission that was back in 2007, and they don't appear to have had any results since then. Not a single paid placement in five years? Not a great record.

Worryingly, he states that CDs with a selection of photos of most of the models are available for £25. No serious modelling agency would charge clients to view images of their models in order to select them for work! Combine with the fact that Mr James seems to focus on glamour modelling, the sale of these CDs leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Elsewhere Photo 3 Solutions / Model 3 / The Kent Wedding Photographer states that 'the photographer owns the copyright to all images' as if there is no alternative. As a model, you have the right to demand the copyright to your portfolio images - especially if you paid for them!

So not only is Mr James selling images that should be in a promotional portfolio, it seems likely that the model never sees a penny from this tidy little income.

Photo 3 Scam - withholding copyright

Be careful if you're thinking about hiring Photo 3 Solutions for your wedding or portfolio photographic need, make sure you've done your research and found out who's really behind the company.

Photo 3 have been associated with a number of scams, from overpriced wedding packages to dodgy modelling agencies to withholding copyright from paying customers.

Photo 3 won't tell you outright, but if you hire them to take photographs for you, you won't end up owning the copyright to your pictures. If questioned, they'll tell you that this is perfectly normal behavious for a photographer, but this is absolutely not the case.

If you pay a photographer to take photographs for you, then you are paying for their time and the fruits of their labour - in other words, the photos they take.

So what does it mean when Photo 3 refuses to hand over copyright?

Firstly, it means he can use YOUR photographs wherever he wishes, for life. That means for promotion, to sell them - he could print them and use them on posters or sell a CD full of your pictures to anyone he wishes.

Secondly, it means you don't have the right to use YOUR OWN PICTURES. That means that if you want copies of them - as prints, or digital, he can make you pay through the nose - and will.

So be careful if you're thinking of using Photo 3 to take your photographs and make sure you read the small print.

Models 3 Modelling Agency Scam - Photo 3 Solutions in disguise

Photo 3 Solutions make a big song and dance of being 'whistleblowers' of fake modelling agencies, so it's extremely interesting when you find out they have their own 'modelling agency' - Models 3.

It seems Photo 3 Solutions know so much about model scams because they are running one themselves.

As well as warning aspring models against paying a deposit and then demanding one themselves, Photo 3 Solutions are actually posing as a model agency.

Running a model agency is a full time job for a team of expert people, so it's hard to believe a sole trader with a 'professional' photography business has time to act as an agent for models as well.