If you see Gotcha in the shipping centres - keep walking!! The kids get dragged in on the promise of an amazing photo session for $20, with a complimentary photo. The follow up appointment is to review your photos. The photos were terrible, the costumes were ill-fitting and their hair was all over the place. I have better photos of my kids on my iPhone. And to buy the photos are $300 each, or a package for $1000. I felt pressured to buy, the lady was going on about how time consuming and expensive the CGI is for the photos. So for someone who has very little spare cash, I paid $600 for two photographs that my family don't even like. I feel sick to my stomach knowing I've just blown what could have been my next power and rates bill. If I knew this was the price and tactic I would never have gone. And they have a no refunds policy. Beware people, like I said, just keep walking.

Approximate cost: $600

Here is a feedback email I sent after my recent experience with Gotcha Magic.

Hi there,
I just wanted to provide some feedback about my recent experience with Gatcha Magic.

I was shopping with my two kids during the school holidays and they showed interest in your stand at Charlestown Square NSW.  The person there got my kids excited about having their photo taken.  While I was reluctant, I let them proceed as the $20 fee was fine.

I went to view the photos today and after receiving two confirmation text messages, one last week, and one at 8am this morning, I turned up at 10:15am for my 10:20am appointment.  There was already a line and staff were saying that there had been some changes of appointments that they weren't aware of.  When I finally got to view the photos (approx 10:55), the only photo that my daughter specifically requested was not there.

Your staff member explained that sometimes the photo is not included as the green screen or photo wasn't taken perfectly etc.  I understand the process of keying out the backgrounds with alpha channels etc. However, when my only option is to purchase a $295 photo I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth.

Your price messaging of $20 which includes a free gift of 5x7 photo is misleading when there is no option to purchase any other photos of this size for anywhere NEAR the price is disappointing.  The photos at those prices still had the GotchaMagic watermark on the bottom.

I understand that there are royalties, staff time and IP to pay for but your purchasing options that START at $295 is outrageous, especially given the nature of how you acquire jobs.  I have recently priced photo shoots for a birthday present and had costs between $300 - $650, all of which were a 1-2 hour shoot and included digital and printed options (depending on the photographer). 

I would far prefer an online viewing of the photos (low res and watermarked to protect your business) (which the staff told me you could arrange if a child was sick - after I had dragged my sick child out to the shopping centre to wait around for nearly an hour) and then be able to order a single, or multiple copies of whatever photos in whatever size I like.  The options to purchase only the digital files would also be great (with or without Gotcha Magic watermark).

I can't help but think that your costs are so high because you print and frame every photo, even if they aren't purchased.  Then, to recoup that cost you increase your average price.  It's also incredibly wasteful both from an environmental impact point of view, as well as from a staffing point of view.  Most of the people waiting for their appointment had a similar reaction to the price and I only saw one or two larger photos sold while I was there.

I wish you all the best but I for one will not be returning.

Regards,

Andrew

Approximate cost: $295