Serangoon Broadway

[nottipiglet]

Sigh...

Do any of you know why older people like to go to Serangoon Broadway? It really baffles me. My parents... my parents-in-law... all the same.

Just to share with you a recent experience. My brother-in-law graduated this year. So, my parents-in-law got all of us to go down to Braodway for family shots. After a long wait and some really cheesy poses later... we got our pictures taken. Then, a couple of weeks later, we were showed samples of the pictures. I think they look like the traditional slightly over-exposed pictures... which the older folks like. They were nice enough, though not really creative.

My parents-in-law liked those canvas prints. So, they ordered a gigantic portrait, and several smaller selections in canvas.

When the final products came, I was shocked! Some prints were terribly over-exposed. The giant portrait had the wrong colour temperature. It was too cold... rather bluish. I told my father-in-law that the picture was too cold... but he said it was too dark... because he does not know anything about colour temperature. Anyway, I told them that it was wrong and adviced them to go back to Broadway to straighten things out. Those pictures were exhorbitant too, IMO.

So, my mom-in-law brought the pictures to Broadway, but then she brought it back home again. I think she failed in her negotiations. The folks at Broadway told her that canvas prints are like that. What rubbish.

When I made a large print at Fotohub, I was given a smaller one as a sample... just to check the exposure and colour temperature. The final large print always looks close to the smaller sample. That's how professionals do business. The folks at Broadway need to buck up.

The uncle taking the picture uses a Mamiya camera... probably medium format. So, the source is good. But the post processing was completely screwed up. Everytime I look at the pictures, I get a bit pissed off. Yah... it's not my money being spent, but I think professionals should behave like professionals and be committed to do things right.

 

[eikin]

they have a wide customer base due to their long establishment, and because of widespread publicity in the late 80s - 90s. there's a period of time when you can see and hear their advertisements on TV and radio extremely frequently. so now you see, fame doesn't always equate to good quality. it's all part of running a business.

 

[blazer_workz]

Sigh...

Do any of you know why older people like to go to Serangoon Broadway? It really baffles me. My parents... my parents-in-law... all the same.

Just to share with you a recent experience. My brother-in-law graduated this year. So, my parents-in-law got all of us to go down to Braodway for family shots. After a long wait and some really cheesy poses later... we got our pictures taken. Then, a couple of weeks later, we were showed samples of the pictures. I think they look like the traditional slightly over-exposed pictures... which the older folks like. They were nice enough, though not really creative.

My parents-in-law liked those canvas prints. So, they ordered a gigantic portrait, and several smaller selections in canvas.

When the final products came, I was shocked! Some prints were terribly over-exposed. The giant portrait had the wrong colour temperature. It was too cold... rather bluish. I told my father-in-law that the picture was too cold... but he said it was too dark... because he does not know anything about colour temperature. Anyway, I told them that it was wrong and adviced them to go back to Broadway to straighten things out. Those pictures were exhorbitant too, IMO.

So, my mom-in-law brought the pictures to Broadway, but then she brought it back home again. I think she failed in her negotiations. The folks at Broadway told her that canvas prints are like that. What rubbish.

When I made a large print at Fotohub, I was given a smaller one as a sample... just to check the exposure and colour temperature. The final large print always looks close to the smaller sample. That's how professionals do business. The folks at Broadway need to buck up.

The uncle taking the picture uses a Mamiya camera... probably medium format. So, the source is good. But the post processing was completely screwed up. Everytime I look at the pictures, I get a bit pissed off. Yah... it's not my money being spent, but I think professionals should behave like professionals and be committed to do things right.

I strongly feel that u should go down and make the complain urself..if not, no point disputing the quality..many ppl not like us able to tell under/over expose and color cast..my family shot one family portrait there too..overall service should say is pretty good..but some minor technicalities issues (all learnt from CS one lor)..but, I not the one paying so I keep quiet..heehee..

 

[catchlights]

sad to say they are still do things in the 80's way.

you should go Portrait Gallery instead.

 

[mohgui]

i used to engage the Broadway studio at Funan Centre (long time ago) for passport/NRIC photos. i'm quite happy with the results. now not sure where they moved to.

btw, are they related to the Serangoon Broadway?

 

[yanyewkay]

again? i tot i just read some complain about them few months ago?

 

[Klose]

sad to say they are still do things in the 80's way.

you should go Portrait Gallery instead.

PG's a good place :thumbsup:

 

[nottipiglet]

again? i tot i just read some complain about them few months ago?

Complain also no use... people from our parent's generation swear by them. Even when they don't really like the results, they will defend Broadway. Perhaps it's 'nostalgia'?

Anyway... I find those family portraits where people dress up, stare at the camera, do those cheesy poses, etc... a complete waste of time. I think our photos should capture who we really are... doing the things we normally do. So, if my parents or parents-in-law like those photos, I don't really interfere, because I don't care.

BUT... when they deliver portraits that are completely different from the proofs... and say that it's normal... then something is dreadfully wrong... and that pisses me off. But I know that if I try to help, they will jump to Broadway's defence once again. So, I'd rather not waste my time.

I just wonder if there's anyway to tell our folks that Broadway is really bad.

Another thing... those canvas portraits done by them discolour really quickly. When I told my parents-in-law that, again they jump to Broadway's defence... saying that the maids must have wiped the photos. Seriously... I don't that the maids are that diligent, climbing up and down wiping those photos... and how can they wipe them so consistently... because the discolouring is very consistent.

 

[eikin]

Complain also no use... people from our parent's generation swear by them. Even when they don't really like the results, they will defend Broadway. Perhaps it's 'nostalgia'?

Anyway... I find those family portraits where people dress up, stare at the camera, do those cheesy poses, etc... a complete waste of time. I think our photos should capture who we really are... doing the things we normally do. So, if my parents or parents-in-law like those photos, I don't really interfere, because I don't care.

BUT... when they deliver portraits that are completely different from the proofs... and say that it's normal... then something is dreadfully wrong... and that pisses me off. But I know that if I try to help, they will jump to Broadway's defence once again. So, I'd rather not waste my time.

I just wonder if there's anyway to tell our folks that Broadway is really bad.

Another thing... those canvas portraits done by them discolour really quickly. When I told my parents-in-law that, again they jump to Broadway's defence... saying that the maids must have wiped the photos. Seriously... I don't that the maids are that diligent, climbing up and down wiping those photos... and how can they wipe them so consistently... because the discolouring is very consistent.

:bsmilie:

why get frustrated with difference in opinions with your family? maybe just find some special occasion, invite them down to a studio you trust for a family photo session, you pay for everything, and let them see the result

 

[CYRN]

:bsmilie:

why get frustrated with difference in opinions with your family? maybe just find some special occasion, invite them down to a studio you trust for a family photo session, you pay for everything, and let them see the result

Or shoot them yourself...

at least that was wat I did... have to set timer then run to position. :sweat:

 

[drakon09]

Serangoon Broadway?

Never heard of it.... :sweat:

 

[auron]

another good example of subjectivity in photography.

as long as customer is happy, they will do well.

 

[CYRN]

another good example of subjectivity in photography.

as long as customer is happy, they will do well.

Or issit another point of us being too nitpicking. :think:

 

[catchlights]

:bsmilie:

why get frustrated with difference in opinions with your family? maybe just find some special occasion, invite them down to a studio you trust for a family photo session, you pay for everything, and let them see the result

best suggestion so far.

To TS,

those canvas wall portraits should for last many years, but all photos, painting (regardless what type mediums) are subject to fade over the years, this is due to the UV light, so you should check the wall portraits is it too close to window and have sunlight cast on it, or too close to fluorescent light.

bear in mind that not all people walk in the studio for family photos are models or actor/actress, so the portrait photographers will need to pose all the subjects for a portraiture, sometime the subject are too tense, resistance to cooperate to pose, or impatient, that's the results of failure for the family photos.

many times my subjects tell me that they want more neutral poses, don't want my pose direction, I said "fine, ok, give me your best shot." and they just stand there give me a passport pose and look very blank, my goodness, how can I shoot like this??

if they can't pose, and don't want photographer to pose them, the photos will definitely look like "shot by a 10 years old" (famous quote of the week), so if you can't perform, don't ask neutral poses, check out those threads in Portraits and Poses you will get the better pictures of what am I saying.

and also, if the photographer don't pack and arrange all the family very closely and nicely, the photo either too lose (all the family member very far apart), or someone faces being block. do you want a family photo look like a snap shot??

btw, a lot of bridal or family studios, they still doing heavily touch up and faces, till everyone faces is glowing, smooth as silk, almost don't have any features, like everyone looks like goddess, even ah gong a mah also like that... I think this is the worst.

I'm say all these it is not siding any studios, just to highlight to manys here, family portraits it is not for one or few persons, it is for the whole family, it is making a statement together: "we are proud of our family".

 

[nottipiglet]

The older folks like the Broadway style of photography... the slightly over-exposed photos with cheesy poses. That's fine. I don't like it, but they do. Note that I have no issue with this.

So, the suggestion that I take them to the studio I like will not work. That's because they probably won't like the style that I like. Again, that is not the issue.

The issue is with the post processing and actual quality of the final product. Why can't they make the final portraits come out like the proofs? Surely, it can't be so different. Why can't they use archival quality products at the super high prices they charge?

Yes, all prints fade over time... but those prints are barely 10 yrs old... and they are not placed anywhere near direct sunlight. Just normal home, shaded positions. I am well aware of the stuff that can deteriorate photos because I apply conservation framing (acid free, UV filtering acrylic, 100% cotton backing, etc) to my fine art collection at home. Plus... it's not really faded per se... Usually, our old photos become less saturated and yellowish. These Broadway portraits become bluish. It's like, the faces now have a blue fringe. Quite scarry.

 

[nottipiglet]

best suggestion so far.


btw, a lot of bridal or family studios, they still doing heavily touch up and faces, till everyone faces is glowing, smooth as silk, almost don't have any features, like everyone looks like goddess, even ah gong a mah also like that... I think this is the worst.

QUOTE]

Haha... that's hilarious. True, but funny. :bsmilie:

 

[xtemujin]

I thought that this thread is about Serangoon broadway the musical and not a photo studio.

 

[catchlights]

Those paper proof showing to customers is a straight print out from digital file or negative, totally no correct or touch up, it is only for customers make selection base the poses, facial expression, not for proofing the color or exposure, since it is a proof, nobody will want to waste time waste money to do any touch up.

the final print has gone thru enhancement and touch up, it will look very different from the proof, if you think the proof looks better than the final print, than you can tell them to print as it is, don't need touch up or enhance it, and willing to pay for that. I'm sure there will be very happy to do it for you.

btw, as for the wall portrait you mention, most likely it is a early generation inkjet print, not a photographic paper print. there many studios been doing this way for keeping material cost low.

 

[nottipiglet]

The photographer uses a medium format Mamiya. So, it's film.

I don't know what their workflow is like, but I doubt that what you said actually happened.

You see... they did some touch-up to the portraits, but I doubt that they deliberately changed the colour temperature or exposure during post processing. The uncle has been taking the same kind of photos using the same lighting and backdrop for decades. Why would he want to alter the colour temperature of the final product?

I think they have different printers for different portrait sizes. The small canvas portraits look like the proofs, which are not too bad. The big canvas portraits have the wrong colour temperature (too cold). If you order a laminated photo (not canvas), they will become at least 1 stop over-exposed compared with the rest... which is actually quite scary. We are talking about very similar pictures taken on the same day... all looking very different depending on the size of the portrait, and the print (canvas or laminated photo) you want.

Even amateurs calibrate their monitors and printers so that the print output look decent. Why can't Broadway do the same?

I think it's ok to make mistakes once in a while... but when their customers complain, how can they say it's normal?

 

[nottipiglet]

the final print has gone thru enhancement and touch up, it will look very different from the proof, if you think the proof looks better than the final print, than you can tell them to print as it is, don't need touch up or enhance it, and willing to pay for that. I'm sure there will be very happy to do it for you.

Actually no. They say that the final output is different from the print because printing on canvas is like that one. So, it's normal.

But they never explain why the people in the smaller canvas looks ok, and the people in the big canvas look like they are a bit sick.

Maybe when the people look like Smurfs, then they calibrate their printer? ;p