I am NOT Mark Sykes and definitely did not create my account today for the purpose of posting on this thread...

That said, I have been using Mark for 3 years now and have been EXTREMELY satisfied with his pictures. He does have a quirky personality and there are times I don't get his sarcasm, but the pictures he has taken of my children are AMAZING. We have done family pictures (including bluebonnet shots) that I wouldn't trade the world for. A couple of times, with my babies, he has ended a shoot early because my children were fussy, but I've still asked to see the pictures and gotten GREAT ones out of it.

I do have friends and family members who have had bad experiences with him, but they still have good pictures that they wouldn't trade anything for. A few of them have stopped going to him because of it, though.

On a more serious note, does this qualify Mr. Sykes to be called the Photo Nazi? Great product, but eccentric in the execution and service.

"NO PICS FOR YOU...YOU COME BACK, ONE YEAR!"

Lab..or Mark, whichever you prefer... I have been out of town for the last few days, hence my lack of response on this board (and my inability to speak with you on the phone last night when you called - gee, could your call have been regarding this forum??? ;-) ), but you know damn good and well that I DID voice my feelings numerous times before leaving your studio that day. I told you repeatedly that I was not sure what you were expecting of my son as his demeanor that day was reflective of how he is normally. The fact is, I want photos that are reflective of how my son REALLY is in day-to-day life. I'm sorry that's not good enough for you, but I would have bought your photos and probably would have spent a lot of money with you.

Secondly, I have not at all criticized your photography in this forum so I am confused by you being so defensive of your work. In fact, I said that your work was nice but I did not like the way you treated us. THAT was my reason for leaving the original post and asking others about their experiences with you. I was torn about going back and having to put up with your lack of interpersonal skills and obnoxious sense of humor at the cost of getting some great photos so I decided to see what others would say. Apparently your "phenomenal reputation" that you speak of only lies within your photography (although, as you can see, not everyone here agrees with that either), however, it is seemingly unanimous (with the exception of posts belonging to yourself and to doglover) that your sense of humor and customer service skills are severely lacking.

Finally, if I were interested in Sears Photography I would go there. I, too, place a high regard in exceptional photography. I had a gift certificate to your studio and I gave it a whirl. I didn't like your customer service skills (which does rank on the top of my list) but I was trying to see if we had a personality conflict or if I was just being silly as to determine whether or not I would or would not reschedule with you afterall. Evidentally, a lot of people have had experiences consistent with mine. The fact of the matter is, I know that my photography options do not end with you. As it has been stated here already, there are lots of talented photographers out there. And maybe my baby is just "average" to you, but to my husband and I, he is our world. I want a photographer that is going to respect that and capture that on film. I want a photographer that's going to treat us like we are valued customers and our business is important to them. The fact that I expect that from you does not make me horomonal.

Please do not call my phone anymore. I am not interested in speaking with you and I'm not interested in seeing the "portfolio" that probably consists of only 4 or 5 pictures that you actually took - even if I did love the pictures of my "average" child, I would not give you a single dime after the way you have represented yourself in this forum as someone other than yourself and the way you treated us that day.

Well I am new here to TexAgs but ive been posting on forums every day for about 12 years, so please..keep your newbie comments to yourself.

We have used Mark with our first child (now 10 months old) and have never had a single complaint, honestly we would recommend him to anyone wanting baby portraits or any other portraits for that matter.

As most of the complainers here have already mentioned, his photographs are of excellent quality. The big complaint here seems to be his personality, which I can both understand, and abhor at the same time.

In a city where people are "supposedly" known for thier friendliness, you would think that more folks would understand, and accept, a "dry" sense of humor. But I guess some people have much to high an opinion of themself to take it all in stride. He's a photgrapher, not a comedian.. perhaps you should consider that before you try and talk people out of using him. I personally have never been insulted by his humor, and though you may not find every joke he cracks to be funny, any reasonable person should have no issue smiling and accepting it for what it is.. an attempt to be friendly and keep things on a personal level, rather than "just business". The people complaining here seem to be the "sensitive" type, who look for insults in innocent comments.

Sorry to be insulting but I find this public lynching to be a bit cheap and uncivil. If you were not completely happy with his service, then by all means feel free to say why, but yall are making yourselves out to be saints and Sykes to be the devil himself.

I see people complaining that they had to reschedule because thier baby would not smile and give a good photograph.. but I dont see anyone praising Mark for taking a fussy baby in stride and being WILLING to reschedule and try again. He doesnt take your money up front, and he will keep working with you till he gets pictures that he knows will be worth the price he is asking. For those of you complaining about his business accumen, id say that his willingness to do whatever it takes to get you good pictures would qualify as "good business practices".

I just saw this thread and had to reply. For anyone who hasnt used Mark Sykes before and has been swayed not to by this thread, I would implore you to go and try him out for yourself. He is not rude, he is not weird, he has never seemed to me to be anything other than a normal guy, who takes really good pictures. You may not "get" or even "like" his sense of humor, but he isnt gonna insult you like some people in here are implying.

Keep in mind that people who complain on forums make up a very small percentage of a whole "sample group". For every person who complains on a forum, you can reasonably assume that there is at least one person (probably alot more) who was entirely satisfied. Satisfied customers dont usually feel the need to go find a soapbox to stand on and proclaim thier satisfaction to the world.

BTW.. No, im not Mark Sykes either. I know that is a common messageboard tactic to denounce anyone who has an opposing opinion, but please.. be an adult.

I love that a multitude of people have problems with how he interacts with people but it's all OUR fault and not his at all.

quote:

---

Well it sound like you have done everything right chocaholic, except check the recommendations he has on his website to make the sessions pleasant. The biggest emphases are on your baby dictating how the session goes AND on where he/she should be developmentally for that specific session. The fact that your baby didn’t smile is not yours or his fault. Not being able to support itself on its elbows is the reason why he recommended rescheduling AND did not charged for the “sitting” fee.

---

I don't live in B/CS and I have no idea who this photographer is but this statement makes no sense. When you take your baby for their 3 month photos you are trying to capture where they are at 3 months old. Not where some guy thinks they should be. If they don't smile, so what. If they can't support their weight on their elbows then be creative and find another pose. I have never had to reschedule a photo session and I have an amazing photographer who has taken my daughter's pictures since she was a few days old. I think part of the talent of being able to take great photos of kids is to be able to get great shots no matter what kind of day the child is having. Some people just aren't good with kids. This guy sounds like one of those people.

"I love that a multitude of people have problems with how he interacts with people but it's all OUR fault and not his at all."

I say its not HIS fault because ive interacted with him, ive cracked jokes with him, and I know from personal experience that he isnt insulting, or arrogant, or ..whatever else yall accuse him of.

Your personal experience was the opposite.. but I will bet you dollars to donuts that he didnt say anything to you that he doesnt say to all of his clientele.

Now, that means that we both got different impressions from the same thing (basicly).

So why am I right, and you are wrong? Because its a fact that he wasnt trying to run you off. Why would any businessman want to insult his customers?

Basicly.. I took him at face value, and you tried to find something vindictive in him. What I saw as a person being friendly, you twisted into a person putting on a friendly face.

You were being thin skinned.


Also. In our first photo session, our little girl wasnt able to sit up on her elbows either. But Mark took alot of cute pictures anyway. I dont think he REQUIRES that your baby be able to do anything.. he just suggests it because he knows what you can do to take a cute baby picture. I wasnt there, I cant say for sure what happened between Sykes and anyone that he rescheduled. However, I can take an educated guess.. and my guess would be that your child was not in a picture taking mood, and Mark thought it would be best to reschedule and try again when you could get your moneys worth.

I cant say for sure that that was the case, but that is what I would assume is the case.

You know, choco, you seem to keep coming back to "spending a lot of money with you". This constant repetition of this comments leads me to believe that you cannot afford him and that is why you are so angry.

Anyway, what you did was wrong, and I am not Mark Sykes. Iam attacking you so you see how it feels to be called out.

Public assasination of someone is inappropriate, especially when he cannot defend himself, but I will let him know to look this up and respond on his own.

Not Mark Sykes, and try to have a nice life, back to the football forum where I belong.

LabAG
Sometimes you have got to restate the obvious

quote:

---

and I know from personal experience that he isnt insulting, or arrogant, or ..whatever else yall accuse him of.

---

That would be your OPINION. Some of us have a DIFFERENT opinion.

quote:

---

Now, that means that we both got different impressions from the same thing (basicly).

---

Correct. And we were expressing that impression.

quote:

---

So why am I right, and you are wrong?

---

Who said that was the case? We expressed our opinions. You expressed yours. YOU are the one saying that our opinion isn't valid.

quote:

---

Because its a fact that he wasnt trying to run you off.

---

Well no crap. That doesn't mean he has good people skills.

quote:

---

and you tried to find something vindictive in him. What I saw as a person being friendly, you twisted into a person putting on a friendly face.

You were being thin skinned.

---

Ridiculous. If this many people have had issues working with him then there's obviously SOMETHING that he's doing wrong. If you don't think so, that's great, keep using him. But your views are no more valid than anyone else's and it's just stupid to say YOUR opinion has a basis but everyone that disagrees with you is just being thin skinned.

quote:

---

Public assasination of someone is inappropriate

---

He's running a business service. People are commenting on that service.

quote:

---

I say its not HIS fault because ive interacted with him, ive cracked jokes with him, and I know from personal experience that he isnt insulting, or arrogant, or ..whatever else yall accuse him of.

Your personal experience was the opposite.. but I will bet you dollars to donuts that he didnt say anything to you that he doesnt say to all of his clientele.

---

So your child is 10 months old and in those - what? 3 sessions? - you've gotten to know him well enough to know how he'll act with other people? That seems a little hard to believe.

quote:

---

Now, that means that we both got different impressions from the same thing (basicly).

So why am I right, and you are wrong? Because its a fact that he wasnt trying to run you off. Why would any businessman want to insult his customers?

---

Horrible logic on both counts. In a service business, every encounter is different and its the aggregate of those experiences that forms public perception. This thread isn't a lynch mob forming but a group of people collecting to explain their experiences...good and bad...and all of them go towards the public perception, yours included. The problem is that almost everyone saying something positive has registered in the last 24 hours...with the number of users TexAgs has, that's curious.

For the record, I *HAVE* seen numerous business owners run off a customer when they don't want to deal with them.

I decided to lurk only on this thread because I do not want to participate in a public lynching either. Sykes might be a perfectly nice guy at heart, and the feedback I offered was simply my experience with his profession. If I haven't said so already, the pictures that we do have from him are fabulous, and I love them.

The reason I decided to post again is that all of you mounting the great defense need to leave choco alone. There is great anticipation of the wonderful pictures of your child's photo shoot, and hers ended in disappointment. I do not think that is cause for attacking her.

Seriously, get fired up at jewelry theives or something. Disappointed moms shouldn't evoke your wrath.

quote:

---

Ridiculous. If this many people have had issues working with him then there's obviously SOMETHING that he's doing wrong. If you don't think so, that's great, keep using him. But your views are no more valid than anyone else's and it's just stupid to say YOUR opinion has a basis but everyone that disagrees with you is just being thin skinned.

---

Judging something solely by what you read about it on a forum is not a good idea. Forums provide a way for many people to come together and agree with each other, and attack people that disagree with them as well.

Take a sampling of 20,000 people in BCS, pull out the people who have worked with Mark before.. and THIER impressions will give you a much more accurate portrayal of how he runs his business.

A forum where a handfull of people all agree that they didnt like him is NOT a fair way to go about "making a verdict" on a person, or thier business.

Forums, by thier nature it seems, attract people with strong opinions.. usually negative ones. To put it succinctly.. they give people a place to "B**ch". You cannot read a thread like this, where a bunch of angry people get together and flame someone.. and then turn around and say that you have a valid and researched opinion about them. You dont.. you just read the thoughts of a small percentage of people.

What im trying to say is that just because the first couple pages of this thread was full of people in agreement about Mark and his business practices, that doesnt make it true. Far from it.

Im just trying to make sure that people who havent tried Mark themselves..who read this thread.. do not come away from it thinking that they have the full story.

quote:

---

The problem is that almost everyone saying something positive has registered in the last 24 hours...with the number of users TexAgs has, that's curious.

---

Well I was told about this thread by a friend of mine who has also used Sykes and continues to go to him. I decided to come make a post in his defense.

Honestly though.. Post count does not equal legitimacy, and this forum is not the end all, be all, bottom line regarding things in BCS.

I don't think anyone is saying that this forum is the be-all end-all. While this thread has taken on a life of its own, I can't recall any post that said "Don't ever use him." However, there is legitamacy in sharing experiences. There are many posts here that say he takes great photographs, and maybe if people know the "personality" they are in for when they arrive at his studio they will not be disappointed when they encounter it.

Many artists tend to be eccentric. That is just sometimes a hard thing to remember when you're involving your children. I guess if you want his quality pictures, you just have to know what your experience will be like.

quote:

---

You know, choco, you seem to keep coming back to "spending a lot of money with you". This constant repetition of this comments leads me to believe that you cannot afford him and that is why you are so angry.

---

Ok, Mark... I am not going to discuss my finances with you because, frankly, that's none of your business. However, my gift certificate only included the sitting fees, so if I wasn't prepared to purchase the photos, why would I even bother? Beyond that, our family has photos done all the time. My point was that I would have been a loyal customer, someone who you would have profited from due to long-term, repeat business had I been treated properly. That's all.

quote:

---

Anyway, what you did was wrong, and I am not Mark Sykes. Iam attacking you so you see how it feels to be called out.

---

I do not feel "attacked" or "called out" by you or by anyone else. By the way, if that's what you're trying to do, you're not very good at it. The fact is, this is a forum in which anyone is free to post their opinions on a variety of topics. And they are just that-- opinions. And as I stated above, I never meant to attack you. I merely posted on the board to solicit responses from your other clients so that I could gage whether or not it was worth rescheduling.

quote:

---

Public assasination of someone is inappropriate, especially when he cannot defend himself, but I will let him know to look this up and respond on his own.

---

The "assasination", as you refer to it, is a result of the poor customer service that you have shown others and myself. You have something at stake though, and that is why you resent me for speaking about my experiences on this board. While I never intended it to be such, you ultimately were and are in control of that.

As someone mentioned above, it's a little too coincidental that you and your supporters all have a "rookie" status and each of the accounts were created in such close proximity to one another. Having said that, I believe you are the "coward" that you accused me of being in your first post because you won't admit to your identity. If you were going to let Mark know to look this forum up, you would have already done so. We all know that you're Mark but you're not willing to admit it and that's perfectly fine. Bu you and I both know that's why you called me last night on my cell phone.

quote:

---

Also. In our first photo session, our little girl wasnt able to sit up on her elbows either. But Mark took alot of cute pictures anyway. I dont think he REQUIRES that your baby be able to do anything.. he just suggests it because he knows what you can do to take a cute baby picture. I wasnt there, I cant say for sure what happened between Sykes and anyone that he rescheduled. However, I can take an educated guess.. and my guess would be that your child was not in a picture taking mood, and Mark thought it would be best to reschedule and try again when you could get your moneys worth.

I cant say for sure that that was the case, but that is what I would assume is the case.

---

THAT is the reason behind me posting my original question to others - did they have experiences like mine (I have since learned that they have indeed) and was it worth rescheduling? My whole point, as I stated in the original post that set this all off, is that my baby was being himself. His demeanor that day was consistent with every other day. And THAT is why I told Mark over and over and over that I didn't understand how rescheduling was going to make for better pictures. I want pictures that are reflective of who my son is.. not who Mark thinks he should be. If my son isn't smiling, I'm ok with that because he doesn't wear a smile on his face all the time. In my opinion, he looked beautiful, and I would have purchased the pictures. But when Mark told me that I needed to reschedule because my baby wouldn't smile and because my baby couldn't sit up on his elbows at only 3 months old, I was livid. My baby wasn't crying, he wasn't frowning. He was just being his happy self - whether he was smiling or not. And, yes, Mark DID justify me having to reschedule by telling me that he was "running out of poses". To me, that demonstrates lack of patience and creativity with babies. I am not saying that he is not creative across the board, I just don't feel that babies/ children are his thing. I wanted to check with others to see if my feelings were in line with theirs and I have since learned that in fact they are.

Just call this guy instead http://www.butchireland.com/

I also know another guy in town who does good work, too, but I'm not sure if he just does weddings and engagement pictures. Anyway, there's more than one good photographer in town.

[This message has been edited by BBRex (edited 5/12/2007 12:28a).]

this thread is funny.

Yeah i know somebody else that Does a really good Job here in town it's my Buddys wife she has a company here in town its small it's just her that does it, the # is 979.492.3407 His name is Peter Laughlin and Shes Suzanne laughlin real nice people

Wow, I haven't read this in a day or so -- pretty entertaining.

Carry on...

quote:

---

Judging something solely by what you read about it on a forum is not a good idea

---

A forum is a GREAT idea for gathering opinions on a subject like this.

That aside though, I'm guessing you missed that I didn't base my opinion on anything said here but rather on MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH HIM.

quote:

---

Well I was told about this thread by a friend of mine who has also used Sykes and continues to go to him. I decided to come make a post in his defense.

---

So you admittedly came here with an agenda...that's a little different than when you said in your first post, "I just saw this post and had to reply." You registered for the sole purpose of defending him and that evidently including attacking posters that had done nothing more than giving their own experiences...and you're the third person to do that today, so yeah, people start thinking post count is relevant in that instance.

I'm seriously GLAD you had a good experience because the last thing I would ever wish on a small business owner is that they have problems. Unfortunately, rather than just adding the positive experiences to the discussion, you (and others) have flat out said that the experience these people had was untrue, wrong, caused by their own "thin skin" or "being too sensitive" and the list goes on and on. NOTHING makes your opinion (or mine) more relevant or right than that of any other poster. Denouncing everyone else's experience as all of the things above when you weren't there and don't know what they experienced is just arrogant as hell.

quote:

---

Keep in mind that people who complain on forums make up a very small percentage of a whole "sample group". For every person who complains on a forum, you can reasonably assume that there is at least one person (probably alot more) who was entirely satisfied. Satisfied customers dont usually feel the need to go find a soapbox to stand on and proclaim thier satisfaction to the world.

---

This comment and others you made tell me that you aren't accustomed to the Aggieland forums. The old adage is that a satisfied customer will tell another person about your business and a dissatisfied customer will tell 10...the Internet didn't change that and that's all I've seen going on here. Businesses are regularly talked about here in both the negative and positive on the same thread, without anyone attacking.

Often times, business owners even come on and ask about the problem, try and get in contact with the folks that had the issue, etc. Does that mean we're different than the average forum? Not necessarily, but we aren't gamers or quilters or woodworkers spread across the globe so much as we are a *local* group of diverse folks and that changes the way the demographics sit a great deal from the typical internet board.

I would say it's fairly common for a thread started with a negative to have more supporters than detractors. That hasn't happened here and to the people accustomed to this forum, I would bet it was *very* strange to not see a single "regular" speaking positively about the situation the first few days...I know I was very surprised, especially given the work I've seen him turn out.

Why doesn't somebody with a star research "LabAG" and see if he is who he says he is

Only trace of a "LabAg" (other than here)
http://www.texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?forum_id=12&topic_id=124930

He forgot his password five years ago...

quote:

---

this forum is not the end all, be all, bottom line regarding things in BCS.

---

No, but for many of the regular posters here, it is a good way to guage other peoples opinion, experiences, etc. I don't hold it as gospel truth, but if multiple people here have a problem with a company or service, I'd tend to avoid them - especially (and here is where post number counts to me)if they are people who've weighed in on issues before and whose previous information has helped me or turned out to be spot on.

Sykes is just one of several really good photographers in town. I might or might call on him.

That being said, all these posts by new accounts have really left a foul taste in my mouth for his business. If they are posts by the man himself, I don't want to give him my business. If they are by his loyal customers - I don't appreciate you coming here and flinging personal insults to other posters who you don't even know, but who disagree with you. I certainly wont do business with a company that attracts the likes of you. God help me if I cut you off in the parking lot, you'd probably burn my house down or something...

So either way, you've cost Mr. Sykes MY business and I'm a lot more likely to spread this information around now - before I was just indifferent, now I'm offended by the man.

This is how you offer a differing opinion:

quote:

---

Sykes did our wedding and engagements pics and we had no complaints.

He did what he said he would do at the time he said he would do it.

He was picky about his shots and his personality is a little different, but all in all we were very pleased with the quality of our shots, which was the most important thing to us.

Sounds like baby and kid pics might not be his thing, so I can't speak for that but I'd definitely say he's worth a shot for weddings/engagements. We enjoyed our pics and are about to use him again.

---

Nice, non-confrontational, simply stating their experience with him. If the newcomers had handled it this way, we could possibly be "at a tie" for yay and nay votes. Unfortunately, the attitude of the newcomers to this so-called "bashing" is really disheartening.

I agree with Elsie... I don't have any use for a photogrpaher right now, but when I start planning a wedding or thinking about baby pictures, I doubt I'll be using Sykes, because of this thread.

And for those of you who seem to think a "public forum" isn't the place to be discussing this... I fail to see how this is any different than making idle chitchat with your cashier at Kroger, or your florist, or the teller at the bank. Word of mouth is word of mouth, even if it is technically "word of typing." If we couldn't share experiences and discuss opinions here in a civilized manner, it would just be called General Board II.

quote:

---

Word of mouth is word of mouth.

---

And I've heard plenty of word of mouth that collaborates what the posters here are saying: great pictures, but a real pain in the ass.

wow.


[This message has been edited by chocaholic (edited 5/13/2007 4:56p).]

Can't we all just get along?

Thanks to all that have shared. I appreciate quality work but don't suffer prima donnas well so this has been enlightening.

ABC, if you need photo work, look me up first!

I have to say that this is becoming one of my favorite TA threads ever!

if a "friend" of mine ever gives me a gift certificate to Mark Sykes, i think ill save the drama and just consider our friendship as over.

I smell a TexAgs boycott coming on....!

New level of rude.

yes [Staff Edit: Do not use the proper names of posters without their permission. -Staff] i'm his wife and yes he had no idea who i was when he posted that because he was at work and i was home. Got a problem with that? call me then.
to whom it may concern: he's out washing my car so i'm posting for bouth of us. he used to moderate forums when in college and after when he had time. but since having 11 dogs and a baby and a job he's got other things to do.
if you got a problem with me or him being "new" to the forum you can write the moderator about it...oh wait it's not against the rules. guess you'll have to put up with us.
and jillian you're pissed off as is he so why don't you 2 talk face to face when you come back in town? you just have to cross the yard and ring the doorbell.
as far as Mark Sykes and his work goes i think it's fair to say we agree to disagree on his personality and profesionalism.


[This message has been edited by TexAgs staff (edited 5/14/2007 9:43a).]