Gap Studios
reviews and complaints

First of all, I am very disappointed with the fact that there are still many businesses running illegally

either you pay something and you didn't get any products or you win a free photo shoots but you'll end up paying 300% more than you expect .

it's shocking and devastating that the government still allowed this business open until now no ABN don't pay tax enough because they claim it's a free photoshoot

Secondly, I'm very very sorry to all the innocent victims singles family with children's young mother with kids who have to go through this bad experience with trauma and stress on how to pay off the balance that they don't owe to this company it's a free photoshoot

All the replies on Google map are all automatic robots

there are no real people they are all fake phony test scamming your bank account drained your bank account without you knowing it so either you have to change your bank account and find another photographer for a memory of your family but don't find one in Brisbane because they're all money making they think everyone is a tap water that you can just opened the tap and then the money goes into their account.

Even if you buy a bottle of spring water at the fuel station there is nothing for free this days I still don't understand why they still have a face to come to work and sleep well at night knowing you take money illegally from clients without finishing products

Hi GAP Team,

I saw your advertisement on Instagram saying "free photography session and $650 gift card towards purchasing the images". I registered for it and I got selected for this offer (which now I know is a big scam), so I booked a 1 hour session. On actual day of session which was 14th August 2022, I was told that it will be 1 hour session divided in 3 slots of 15 mins each, and in between we will get time to change clothes etc., But in reality only 2 slots were done and after 45 mins, photographer said that she needs to finish the session early as next client is waiting. Though we didn't get a full 1 hour, we were kind of ok with it as it was a free session, but when we went to check the photos, it all went downhill from there. You presented all the photos on the projector, asked us to select 6 photos and then when we asked how much we needed to pay, the amount was in the range of $3000+. Then we asked how much for just a digital copy of these images, that amount was in the range of $1500 -$1700 and this was after using our $650 voucher. When I asked what Can I get in that $650 voucher, you told me that all I can get is a single 6*8 photo print which you can get for 10c at Officeworks. So no access to digital copies, literally nothing we could get for that $650 amount. Then you came up with another offer where you asked us to pay an additional $835 to get access to 6 digital copies of our photos. We were forced into paying $835 + $650 voucher offer as we invested a lot of time and effort to get ready for the session. But it felt like a major rip-off, manipulation, torture and fraud that's why I am writing this so that I can get my money back.

The entire thing looks like some kind of organised crime and scam where you entice us by saying free session and $650 voucher but in the end you make us pay hundreds of dollars. This was our maternity photoshoot and we told you that in advance but that did not stop you from putting us through this ordeal. You kept us in that dark room with our 2 year old daughter and my pregnant wife for hours and made us select only 6 images only, it was so hard to see our photos, our daughters photos being deleted one by one in front of our eyes but we didn't have an option as we were trapped.

The invoice is also incorrect, it does not have ABN number, SubTotal and Invoice Total are equal, which is incorrect, so I have decided to make a complaint to ACCC and QCAT unless I get the refund of the payment made.

Regards,

Aditya

Racist, Offensive, ongoing communication issues and racist treatment. Refund refused. This company has psychologically impacted myself and my partner in a negative way. Despite claiming the opposite on their webpage. Told that our photos were edited to "remove imperfections". Thanks. Feels great to be told that our photos need to be edited because they were IMPERFECT. Woah.

Latest conversations included the words "colour corrections", "regular editing process", so it is obvious that it is a normal process for this company to lighten a person's skin and erase part of their identity, and change the features of their body like musculature to happen with this company. Unacceptable.

I want to start with the most recent interaction with SANDHIA of the SYDNEY/BELLA VISTA site, stating that, and I am astounded to quote, "colour corrections" are a "regular editing process" to make sure that "the background looks better". To add context, my partner is a Palawa Aboriginal man. His skin colour and Aboriginal identity play a massive part in his life, and is subjected to discrimination like many others in accordance to current (awful) societal norms. Despite "colour corrections" occurring to "every part" of the product, it appears to me that my white skin was not edited at all. Interesting. In the same conversation Sandhia claimed to "personally understand discrimination" but, apparently that didn't matter, because she consistently repeated that no refund would be given for the product and did not answer when I asked if she would pay for 6 months of racism and problems as part of a product.

Clearly not the first time GAP studios post-photography session and communication has been terrible, as per previous customer reviews. This company has psychologically impacted myself and my partner in a negative way.

After deciding to go ahead with purchasing the product, it takes months to arrive. When the product arrives ($3000 package) it is obvious that the colour of my partners Aboriginal skin was lightened and his musculature definition erased, and our skin had been "edited" to make it "look better" (thanks Gap studios, as if people don't have enough body hang ups.)

Offended and upset with this racist product, but understanding that there can be printing issues, we gave them one chance to rectify it. They sent rectified images via email for us to approve, which seemed to be fine. However, to our verification, 6 months from the initial session, this has not arrived. 6 months later. Gap Studios claims (after further complaints) that the secondary product was attempted to be delivered in November via calling card, however no evidence of that has been provided and we did not receive any. It was after submitting complaint and refund request yesterday about racism and ongoing troubles with delivery, that the product was apparently sent. **Apparently it has now been delivered (24hrs after complaint..) to our property however we are not home right now and cannot verify this claim nor see the product.

Despite this, ongoing phone calls with representative named Sandhia from a western sydney site, and emails from GAP Studios, consistently insist that no refund will be given because the secondary proofs were approved. Despite the original ones being racist, improperly representing body types, ongoing racist communications, and 6 month delay in delivering*(yet to be verified) modified product. It is now mid February and we have been paying a monthly sum with no sight of a non-racist product.

Biggest SCAM!
I was contacted because they told me I won a $650 worth of photo session and a free Print.
I then had to pay $99 to secure my booking.
My daughter and I never had our photos taken and thought wow we are so lucky!

But at the appointment they greeted us so well, done our photos. Then we go into a room where we pick photos, which only allowed 60 mins. The last 15 mins was super pressured and rushed, sales lady talks about all the expensive packages... If I didn't make a decision, photos will be deleted straight away! Making an emotional and vulnerable response, I signed up on a payment plan $1600! I didn't even realize it. You're just stuck in the looking at the photos you have never seen before and stuck in a vulnerable state. To basically suck you in to paying for photos you aren't prepared for. I don't have any funds or money to pay for this in the first place!

Because I didn't want to lose the photos. But in hindsight, I felt more scammed.
I emailed them 6 hrs after, no response
I sent a Facebook message, no response
I have contacted ACCC and the scam alert page to help me!
Please beware!

Felt like I was being SCAMMED into doing this. The photos were ok, not great. They said photo sessions was 1-2 hours, it took us 15 minutes. The lady who claimed to be the creative director was trying to sell us 20 pictures that she said cost 2K. When I asked her how much each photo cost she said 125 each picture. So the math doesn't add up which is hilarious. Then she adds, people spend more than 5K when they come here, am like well that person is not me.

Still, until now which is end of January, we haven't got a single photos emailed to us. We took the photo in December and now got a message that photos will be done in March. The photos that they said cost $650 is 1 digital photos and 1 paper printed into a paper frame. I bet you, there is no other place in the world that photos cost this much.

I left the studio super confused and pissed with the service and the overly priced pictures and would NEVER recommend this place to a single person I know.

I am a mother and a non-native English speaker who signed up, via a Facebook ad run by "The Gap Studios", for their "Classic Kids Project". They immediately sent an e-mail saying that we had been "shortlisted" and stated that we would receive a complimentary photographs of my daughter valued at $490 for participating in their project. Then, over the phone, they said this would be a fun experience with my daughter but that a $75 deposit would be required to "secure our place" in the project which would be refunded on the day. This didn't happen.

Instead, upon arriving to the studio location (via public transport since our car is broken), a representative tried to sell us a $4000 artwork. After saying that was too expensive. After refusing to buy the artwork the representative began to act aggressively and in an overbearing manner. He said they would give me five prints for $500. I asked if this was the same as the $490 worth of images they had advertised. He said yes. Then he handed me a contract. He covered the dollar value and told me "you don't have to look" and pressured me to sign saying "this was the deal we talked about". After I signed he gave me a photocopy of the contract that said I had agreed to pay $1155 via a payment plan and that the photographs would only be released once 30% was paid. This was not at all what I agreed to.

I immediately tried to get a refund on the spot. They told me it was not possible. They then verbally asked me to give them a further $200 to "pay the photographer". When I explained that would go over my card's spending limit of $100 they charged me for all $100 worth on my card. Afterwards I contacted my bank to stop the payments however they could not identify the main company as they used third party company called "EziDebit" for payments. I have contacted "The Gap Studios" both via SMS and e-mail multiple times.

I have since realised that this company put a great deal of effort into making sure that their offers were not written down and strictly verbal except for the final contract. I have also found hundreds of reviews from other "participants" who have been scammed in a similar way (Document 2).

Many, many cases all from the same company running multiple different "projects".

https://www.complaintsboard.com/gap-studios-brisbane-c1259147

When I said the contract was not what I agreed to he told me that there was nothing I could do as I had already signed, and a refund was not possible. When I tried contact them the next day via phone call to explain my situation they stated that refunds could only be processed within 24 hours. After cancelling the payments via my bank I received e-mails saying that payments were overdue and that they would take legal action if they were not payed. They have only offered to reduce the price by selling me a cheaper "digital only" alternative. They also have not yet repaid the initial $75 deposit.

I told them I did not want the photos and that they could keep the money they had taken so far, but they still refused, saying that the law in Queensland does not allow me to do that. A representative also brazenly told me to beg for money from my partner and friends to cover the cost if I could not afford it. All their calls were made from a "private number".

Again this is something that so many other people have also experienced, as can be seen in the company reviews.

Conned into a supposed "free" photoshoot as they're promoting pets as family shoots. Went with our newborn and told we had $690 towards products afterwards. This would've been great if even that even put a dent in the cost of the products but quick, smooth talking salesman under very pressured circumstances (dog and newborn in a viewing studio for 2 hours getting fussy and impatient) and no option to go away and think about it as images are deleted immediately. We agreed to a payment plan but were told AFTERWARDS that if we weren't approved it'd go to their in house payment plan and we wouldn't receive they "artwork" until the whole thing was paid off ... in 2 years time! Wr were also told we'd hear from them within a few days confirming payment schedule, it's been over a week and heard nothing. Needless to say we are hugely regretting our decision and would like to cancel everything.

11/11/2022, I was tricked into believing that I was selected for a free photo shoot and would take home 1 picture and could buy the rest if I wished on the day, had to pay a $99 holding fee and was told I would get that back on the day, came time to viewing the photos and then being scammed into buying a picture that cost thousands of dollars but you get $650 off omg I felt like walking out and should have. Regret the whole experience and now I’m stuck paying off a picture for 18 months ffs what a scam. I will never fall for any of this sort of [censored] ever again

We went to Gap Studios on September 23rd and what a waste that was. We thought we’d won an $800 voucher and didn’t expect to pay anything and got pressured into buying a $2770 package of 7 photos! We asked about the cheaper options and the staff was very dismissive. When we found out about the full price we had less than 10 minutes to sign the contract, with no private time to discuss. Certainly not enough time to make an informed decision. The contract also stipulates no cancellations as it’s a bespoke custom order. After finding this website I have filed this with Fair Trade Australia and will be getting legal advice. I have asked the payment company (Payright) to dispute the payment - apparently they have dealt with Gap Studios before. I have asked Gap Studios to cancel or renegotiate the order. So far they have refused.

My husband and I were contacted by GAP Studios and advised that we had been shortlisted for a special project. As part of this, we would receive a complimentary portrait session along with a 11x14 artwork of our choice valued at $650 which we could alternatively use in other ways if we preferred something else for our home. However, we were very confused when we sat down with the designer following our photoshoot.

The designer did not make it clear to us what we had been gifted for participating in the project. Nor were we consulted regarding whether we wanted to make an additional purchase. It was assumed that we wanted to use the $650 gift to put towards a more expensive package deal. As a result, we were shocked when we were handed a contract to sign for a package deal that would cost us well over $4000.

The designer clarified the expenses for us. When I asked if we could choose a few digital photos to purchase in addition to the gift, we were advised that we could only purchase the digital photos as part of a package deal which would cost us over $2000. We were also advised that the studio would not hold onto any images that we did not purchase. Naturally, we felt pressured to make the purchase and reluctantly signed the contract.

It was a very disappointing experience for the two of us and has caused us unnecessary stress at a critical time. As the studio is aware, we are expecting a baby sometime within the next 4 weeks. This kind of underhanded business practice is truly shameful and, to make matters worse, the studio never answers their business phone and has not bothered to respond to my formal complaint via email or through their webpage.

I had a photo session today. But the packages were extremely expensive. It was not anywhere near the packages what I been offered while they made the booking over the phone. I felt deceived since the staff would have explained me the real packages I would have never come across these frustrated situations. I drove all d way from newcastle to get this session done n we had to drop the kids to our friends place. At least train your staff to be honest while you trying to sell your business. The sale tactics were so intense that you end up buying these photos out of an embarrassment even though there is no obligation. Its a total rip off. I am so angry to myself for getting trapped into such a scam.

I was selected for a photo shoot from facebook pages. I attended the photo shoot on the 13th june with my husband since it was a couples photoshoot. What ever pricing was explained before reached anywhere near the package pricing they given us that day. I felt like I been deceived since I drove two hours from home to get the studio and left the kids behind with friends got up early morning on a public holiday to make to the photo session. I was happy to pay few hundred $ after the gift voucher but its a completely rip off. I feel like you font get enough customers thats why you doing facebook scam like this. Any way I am blaming myself to jump into a dumb thing like this. Ii burst into tears after paying $417 which I wanted to spend on my birthday with family on the 14 th of june any way people with goid heart can’t survive in today’s world instead every thing is a business.

To all those who have had shoot experiences and to those who may consider it in the future:

I have had a photo shoot with my son for the "who am I project" so I speak from experience and yes it was hard and sad and all of those mixed emotions you get as a parent when it comes down to the final part: the sales pitch. So here's my take on it...

1. Read the reviews, they say the same thing... There is a sales pitch and it will be lots of money and you will free pressured. Then enact number two:

2. Decide whether to go ahead or not with understanding instead of naivety. If you decide to go ahead enact numbers 3 and 4:

3. Prepare yourselves as parents and prepare your children. Talk to them about the experience and how it may be fun and about how you may all feel pressure into buying extra photos that you will love and want but will come at an additional cost. Speak to your children about what you will pay for (your limit) OR if you will only take the one free print. Teach your children about business and ethics and disappointment... Tell them it might make us sad and that we feel like a failure because the prices are too much etc and then highlight the business ethics or lack of, because you/they will encounter this in their lives, so don't hide it. Teach them meaningful actions they can take in these situations. This is how your children begin to understand and learn how to deal with situations that are uncomfortable and you feel are unethical - by you modelling it, taking about it etc etc.

4. Remember you are getting one free sitting and one free photo. That is all. Regardless of how much any other photographer charges you are at this one, you can say no and because you've already had the discussion with your child, they will be prepared. Therefore encourage yourself and children to have fun and see it as an experience that may or may not lead to tangible objects depending on your circumstances. Then, if you had fun and you saw their self confidence blossom, why not ask them how could we recreate this at home or with friends? etc (Could we do our own photoshoot project? Investigate creating a Photobook?...). Perhaps it even sparked their interest in photography...

Essentially, go into this prepared... And your experience will be better.

Same experience for myself as others before me. I won the $800 Fur Family gift voucher and as per the confirmation email I received, the session was complimentary and I would get a free 11×14 photo of my choice for free. The photographer was lovely and professional, however when I entered into the screening room with David, I was instantly told a story of his family member and dog who had recently passed, and went on to be shown the portraits that are priceless...
Emotional Manipulation!
I asked about the price constantly throughout and was not told any until the end. The free 11×14 photo was never mentioned until I asked about it, but it was quickly dismissed. Extra digital photos are at an Extra High cost. I feel like I had no other option than to buy 1000's of dollars worth of photo's and I was also charged $150 for the session ( which was supposed to be complimentary as per email )
It's pretty sad when this kind of pressured sales tactic is allowed. Also, there should be a 24hr cooling period in the contract.

I had my photo shot on 3rd Oct . Paid my 75$ deposit I did order a package and they used my deposit for this package but needed card details for direct debt set up, and was told someone (jasmin) would call me Tues as Mon was a public holiday. I called 3 times and left messages No one contacted me I sent a message to them stating the above and got a very apologetic message back stating someone will call u today. I'm still waiting. Now I fell I would like my deposit back and to cancel my package order and it's not worth this . I was excited and now I'm so angry disappointed and not impressed at all.

I have nothing positive to say about GAP Studios. My daughter broke her 3 front teeth because of negligence. Spraying water on a polished concrete floor and not wearing shoes (as requested by photographer) does not mix. We have not only had to deal with the trauma that my daughter had to go through but also having to deal with GAP Studios ignoring us when we ask for their insurance details so we can claim back the expensive dental work to fix my daughter's teeth! We will never again use their services. What kind of photography studio does this to a family who only wanted to build the confidence of their 12 year old daughter.

Date: 19.05.2021
The photographer was amazing and great with our baby. Unfortunately, it is extremely overpriced. We had called up previously and asked if our won voucher of $800 would be able to help us get anything. We were told that the printed picture we also ‘won' in the competition was worth $650 can be used as credit towards a package instead. We were also told directly that the prices were affordable but that they could not give me a price list over the phone or avoided giving direct prices at all.
Well after placing our won voucher, the $650 credit we still had just under $1000 to pay for 1 printed picture (which you are forced to buy if you want ANY digital pictures) plus 6 digital pictures.
Such a shame we had so many beautiful photos of the family. Now all gone because we were mislead by the prices from the start. We all took time off work to be together for this. Just to be given an unrealistic price to pay.
The staff will try and push you into getting paying in installations and will avoid answers any questions about prices prior to your visit.