Never pay in full…

With the most recent events with Celebration Studios (Photo/Video Studio in New Jersey that abruptly closed with hundreds of couples left without pictures/video of their special day)…I felt a post would be necessary to stress how important it is NOT to pay in full when it comes to Photography & Video.

It’s peaceful to wake up on your wedding day knowing you’ve paid all your balances.  However, when it comes to photo and video, the services are not complete until you have those proofs or video in your hand.  It’s true, a majority of your vendors, such as your DJ/Band, Planner/Coordinator, and Event Manager, you will never see or hear from again.  Your Photographer and/or Videographer – you will see again – when you have to pick up your proofs and albums, and edited video.  They still have work to do AFTER the big day….so, why should they be paid in full?

The standard payments for photo/video are as follows:

• 1/3 – Deposit
• 1/3 – Wedding Day
• Final Balance (1/3) – When you pick up your proofs

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STATEMENT FROM CELEBRATION STUDIOS, INC.:

The primary intent of Celebration Studios has been and remains to preserve the memories of its customers.

Unforeseen financial difficulties have made it impossible to continue our business operations and deliver photos and videos in a timely manner. We sincerely regret any inconvenience that this has caused. We do though want to assure our customers that to our knowledge no photos or videos have been lost or destroyed.

We had hoped to provide the digital images to customers in an orderly fashion. However, as a result of circumstances, which include the filing of litigation aimed more at obtaining media coverage than securing photos and videos for newlyweds, rumor mongering on the internet, and the threat of physical violence upon innocent parties, Celebration Studios now believes that the only effective and efficient method of accomplishing this goal is to file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.

We are preparing the papers necessary for such filing and expect to file them in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Newark within the next 7-10 days. Typically, all interested parties are notified within about 2 weeks after such filing. This notice will contain the name of the Court appointed Trustee and other important information. Upon the filing, the Trustee will be vested with the authority to take possession of all corporate assets and to take the necessary steps to conduct an orderly winding up of the affairs of the company.

It is our hope that everyone will cooperate with the Trustee to allow him or her to handle this in an expeditious and orderly manner. We pledge our cooperation to the Trustee as well.
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For more information in regards to the Celebration Studios incident, please visit the following links:
Newday.com Article – State to seize photos/videos
New York Times Article
APP.com Article
ABC News Channel 6
Class Action Suit Information