Aimee Spinks Photography Blog
Film | Screen Fighters | Actors | PerformersDouble-Take Studios Closure
Image created by Dip Chandarana
Double-Take Studios, one of the UK’s largest commercial fashion and portraiture photography studios, yesterday closed its doors after 15 years in operation with studios in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Southampton all being shut down.
As a result the local photography markets have just got a lot less competitive. With some of Double-Take’s studios seeing up to 90 clients a day and being open seven days a week, a lot of freelance photographers are now able to tap into the portraiture market, offering their own, smaller scale services with a more personal and affordable approach.
Studio photography is a highly competitive market, particularly amongst portraiture and fashion photographers in Birmingham and London so though Double-Take’s closure means many of their freelance photographers and make-up artists are now without a steady flow of work, it does allow them to make the most out of a market that had been sucked almost dry by the commercial giant for many years.
On the other side of the coin we have many of Double-Take’s clients who now find themselves without the photoshoot and makeover they were looking forward to. With bookings made weeks in advance, that leaves hundreds of people in the Birmingham area alone potentially looking for alternative photographers and fashion studios to create the model portfolios and photographic gifts they may have been hoping to get before Christmas.
In light of Double-Take’s closure, Aimee Spinks Photography is offering clients 10% off a bespoke photoshoot booked before Christmas. All photo shoots are tailored specifically to each client to cover their needs in a way that suits them. Whether you are looking for studio portraits, a fashion portfolio, actor headshots or even promotional photography for your business, Aimee Spinks is available to work at a location of your choice or in the studio in Birmingham.
Costs are discussed with the client up front with no hidden fees or strings attached with each quote tailored to each individual shoot, allowing you to get the most out of your money and experience.
Aimee regularly works as a promotional photographer for film and TV and has had work published in books and national magazines as well have having had work exhibited in galleries across the country.
You can view Aimee Spinks’s portfolio here: http://www.aimeespinks.com/
If you would like any more information, or would like to book a shoot with 10% off, please contact Aimee either on 07765258666 or via aimee@spinxphotography.com !
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where is it official that double take have closed? as I have money with them and want to know how on earth I am going to get it back x
Hi, according to Companies House, Doubletake Portraits Ltd has not yet been officially dissolved however all studios have been closed and with staff being made redundant. If you are local to the studios, I believe signs have been stuck to the doors explaining the situation and who to contact. You can try calling 02078431190 as I think this is the number of their registered address. I hope this helps.
All numbers no longer work.
Hi Selena,
If you visit any of their websites, they have put up a holding page with advice on what to do. You can check out the page here:
http://www.doubletake-london.co.uk/
whats going to happen with payments? if people owe double take studios for photos?
i HAD A CALL TODAY TO CONFIRM THEY HAD GONE INTO ADMINISTRATION YOU NEED TO CONTACT SIMON BAGS ON 020 30054000 HE IS ADVISOR DEALING WITH THIS.
Cant say how happy I am the robbing dogs have gone out of business. The conned my 18 year old daughter and her friend cruelly with their high pressure sales technique.
Good luck if more people now decide to use your services just don’t adopt their tactics
I am waiting on a call back from FRP Advisory (from the double take website). Not only did I pay £200 up front but also agreed to a 2-year direct-debit payment scheme. I want my money back!
I’m in a pay monthly scheme with them, but my December bill was supposed to go out 10 days ago… Also, with the package I got, I was entitled to a luxury revisit photo shoot some time before next June. Is this why my bill hasn’t gone out? Because money is REALLY tight for me at the moment and I am not happy with £100 sitting there in my account with potential spend-ability, I could be buying food and other important things, but I am scared to dip into it in case it does go out, and then I get a bank charge or a penalty or whatever. HELP!
I’ve been unofficially told that all money owed to Double Take will still need to be paid however I must stress that I have no official involvement with Double Take and I advise you check out the information they offer on their website at:
http://www.doubletake-london.co.uk/
I sincerely hope you all have a positive outcome!
Please let me know if any of you have had shoots cancelled with Double-Take and would like to still have your make-over and photoshoot experience as I am more than happy to provide a personal service at a reduced rate in light of all that has happened.
I can provide affordable, personal photography with no hidden costs or credit plans – everything is up front and honest! I can provide shoots in the studio or on location with as many people as you like. I can also provide professional hair and make-up artists for the full make-over experience! Images can be bought as prints, digital images, canvases or acrylic artworks with a fast turnaround!
If you’d like any information, please feel free to give me a call on 07765258666 or drop me an email via aimee@aimeespinks.com
Don’t forget to check out my portfolio!
http://www.aimeespinks.com/portfolioimages.php#content
Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving company. Thieving bullies they should hang their heads in shame each and every member of the staff. How they sleep at night is beyond me.
Hope they all have a really crap christmas and new year
WTF iv only just found out about it… i pay £87 a month to these b*sters, i meant to have another shoot in march time was waiting to hear and i’ve sign a 2year contract for something i onmly got once so i will be stopping payments once i spoke to this simon bag bloke know its not his fault but im not paying for something i aint even having….. ABOUT TIME THIS COMPANY WENT UNDER ROBBED LOADS OF PEOPLE>>>>>>>>
They were happy to take £300.00 guid from me in November and even during the veiwing process they kept pushing for me.I have been informed that if my pictures had not arrived by last week then they would not be coming. This was supposed to be a girlie treat for me and my mum after a horrible few years and now I have nothing to show for my money and a very dissapointed mum. Although I need to complete a claim form to try and get my money back I wont hold my breath.Iam so angry that they have stolen my well earnt money.
So so pleased this company has been shut down. I went several years ago, got painted orange, had hideous photos taken and then got held up for over 3 hours whilst we waited to have our private viewing being told we couldn’t leave or we would lose our deposits. They failed on the hard sell but it took a further hour and a half to tell the saleswoman the photographs were unsatisfactory. Thank god these dishonest bastards have got closed.
To Aimee (as you seem to know alot about what’s happening)
I owed doubletake £700/800 does that mean i dont have to continue paying them because company no longer exist so if i do pay who will the money go to?
I was a member of staff at Doubletake and it is shocking to read some of these comments. If you purchased photos and have received them and you are paying through a finance company then you are liable for the payments still as you have received the goods ALSO Did anyone actually hold a gun to your head to make you purchase the photos…NO then have you not heard of saying “NO” I don’t care that you all feel hard done by, try being without a job and being owed thousands of pounds in wages I hope one day you all have to experience the same thing. If you enjoyed your photoshoot experience and are happy with your photos then stop whining!!
does anyone know who i can contact about my remaining payments? i just need to know when they end i know it is really soon but dont want to stop the direct debit and have them chase me for the money. if someone could get back to me that would be great.
Well nothing surpises me with this company. I was robbed too by their sales people and paid nearly £500 for my photos for them to ring my friend up 2 months later who only brought 1 photo if she would like the rest for £50. I’m not the type to be ripped off but feel like not paying the rest of my money if know one else is not going to get their money and havent had the service. Surely they have gone into administration for ripping people off so why should we pay what we owe ! Disgrace !
GLAD THIS COMPANY AS BEEN SHUT DOWN. I HAD A PHOTOSHOOT AND GOT MORE OR LESS FORCED INTO BUYING MY PICTURES. THE COST OF THE PICTURES ARE OUTRAGEOUS AND I’M STILL PAYING THEM OFF!! THINKING ABOUT IT, IM GLAD ALL THE STAFF HAVE NO JOBS NOW BECAUSE THEY WAS ALL SNOBBY AND LIKE I SAID, FORCED ME INTO BUYING MY PICTURES, CHIN UP TO THEM NOW INIT ha! I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY ME IN THIS BOAT WITH THIS STUDIO BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT BY READING ALL THE OTHER COMMENTS. YOU’RE ALL RIGHT, THEY ARE ROBBING T*ATS AND I ALSO DON’T KNOW HOW THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT.
SHOCKIN’ PEOPLE AND SHOCKIN’ PRICES FOR A SHIT SHOOT AND PICTURES!!!
you guys bang on about being robbed or ripped off i bet there was loads of people that A enjoyed it and B weren’t stupid enough to buy something you cant afford!
think about if all their clients were mugs like you they wouldn’t have gone bust in the first place!
blah blah blah!
Dave what are you doing on this website seriously u gay or somethin? GOON
I was 18 years old when i went with my friends a few years ago, I point blank refused I wanted to pictures as I couldnt afford them. The sales woman discussed my income with me (from my part time job as i was a full time student) and because my friend who could afford them bought them she actually bullied me into buying them when I actually really didn’t want to. I was so worried I tried changing my mind and they wouldnt allow me. Despite the so called cooling period. This company made my life hell for two years, creditors chasing me, my family extremely worried for my welfare, my parents address being bombarded with mail and phone calls and my mobile non stop ringing off the hook threatening me. I am so so glad they have gone into administration, Ive spent the past few years trying to get myself out of debt and have been highly stressed along the way. Yes they may of helped create portfolios for many women but as far as im concerned they targeted young naive girls that the thought of a trip to London and having their hair and make up done for free was amazing. Boy have I learnt my lesson! I hope these people are now chased for the money they owe people, lovely to see the shoe is on the other foot! KARMA IS A BITCH. and I hope it hurts!
Hi ive just noticed what has happened. i am still waiting for my photos which havent arrived. i have tried the phone numbers and none of them work. does anyone know who i get my money back or my pictures as i spent 399 quid. i would apreciate it if any numbers or contacts are available
They r robbing bastard they look 400 pounds ut my account on the 16th of december which has left me over drawn which I can now ford to pay of and yet I still havnt recived my photos when I went bk in august….. It couldn’t of happend to any 1 better I will be taking them to court to they make me sick.
ive only just seen this, i was suppose to go back in march for my second lot of photos that was in with my photos that i purchased but hadn’t thought there was anything wrong as all my payments have still gone out in time
Glad thyv pissed off! They bloody deserv it, ripped me n my mate off 2years. Ago n am still fukin tryin to pay it off
Me and my partner really enjoyed our day, I felt and looked so much better than reality. It came to our viewing where we brought £2,500 worth of photos paying £500 up front and narcosis finance for the rest, we did feel pressured into buying our photos in s larger quantity but was happy as we were ment to have a retake next month, meaning we were getting double the pics! What do we do about that as yes were contracted but they broke there promise of the retake, as we wudnt of brought such a large expensive package if we didn’t have that addition!? We was told it wud take an hour in viewing andbecause it too nearly two hours ended up with a parking ticket as we cushy just get up and leave. Although after buying the photos we were treated like royalty it felt like they were only nice cuz we spent stupid amounts of money!
this business is a disgrace!! they cheated me into buying photos for £700 and then they offer me the month after the same pictures for free!! seriously what the hell!! im still paying for this rubbish and i want to know when i will stop because i have a feeling they will take more money then they should! bunch of cheats all of them!!!
what an earth i have only just found out only because i tried to book my revisit today and the phone line went dead i have a 3yr contract with them and i think that because my photos were over £2500 im paying for the next revisit and the so called free photos what do i do ??
Dave’s got a point…if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it! Simple!
who do we have to speak to if we have payments to double-take studios
i actually really enjoyed my experience and had a great day. yes they were pushy as 2 buying the photos but that is their job! photographer was lovely the girl who did my hair and make up was lovely and yes they may have been a little over priced but £250 for 10 photos plus the day was fine in my mind! had a laugh and some lovely prints to remind me of the day now quite gutted they have shut as i actually wanted to buy the rest. no one forces you to do anything u can always just say no!
Having received many letters and emails from this company I can empathise with all of you. I paid extra for the opportunity to go back and have more photos. In total the price was £2500. I only went once before the company closed and have since cancelled my direct debit and am refusing to pay another penny. I have spoken to a lady who tried to tell me that the additional shoots were freebies and subject to availability. Bullshit!!! I paid extra for them. They are now threatening to take me to court and I hope they get into loads more debt for doing this. Although I was highly pressured into buying them it was my choice and I could afford to pay but I am refusing to pay for a service that I have not received!!!
im sooo glad this is happening to them. they pressured me and my friend into over 1200£ each for photos once i finally got out i wanted to cancel the contract…would they let me? nope, 750£ paid later over the space of 2 years they still want more well not outta me they aint i told them i would send the photos back i dont want them..they said they will send them right back to me so if you little t*ats that stand up for them think they are reasonable they are NOT, even with a cooling off period do they have one? do they F**k…they are the worst scheming thieving gits i have ever met and im so happy they are shut down.
I was also a member of double take studios and cannot believe what I am seeing on this website you people who are saying you were forced into purchasing clearly have no minds of your own and are very foolish to hand over money when aparantly as your stating your day was so horrific!!! The day is well explained and the viewing sessions were compulsory however buying was not nobody deserves to be out of work and right before Christmas some of us have children to provide for your comments disgust me just like half of the scrounging scumbags who would walk through the doors wanting everything for free did you all need to remember that a photo shoot doesn’t make you superior and some sort of celeb and in future to use some of this anger or whatever it is your venting when someone is trying to sell you something after all you wouldn’t just give somebody your bank details who asks you i would ask questions and what I was paying for
Firstly, I would like to say that I find it so sad and disrepectful to be slagging people off, this website is trying to offer some services and it is not a public wall to vent out all your rants!
Secondly, I worked for Doubletake Studios, but not in the sales department. And you can not wish all 450 people who worked hard for their money to be out of a job. That is just a comment as pathetic as you all are. Get a grip and think before you speak!
I hope all ex staff have found new jobs and that all ex clients have managed to get the experience they deserve, at another studio or privately.
Best wishes to all (including all the patethic witches that obviously have no life!)