How do I check whether a photography studio’s reviews are earned or pushed?
Read the reviews as a set, not one by one. Look for varied detail, a natural pace and a studio that replies, then compare them with the booking records. Ask the seller how reviews are requested, and whether anyone writes, rewards or removes them.
Open each review platform the studio uses and read past the first page. Real reviews tend to differ in length and detail. They mention a venue, a moment or a person. A run of near-identical praise, posted within days of each other, deserves a question. So does a sudden gap, or a sharp jump in volume.
Cross-check against the studio’s own books. Pick several reviewers and see whether they match actual clients and dates in the booking records. Ask how reviews are requested. A follow-up email after delivery is ordinary; offering discounts, prints or a gift for a five-star rating is a different matter, and many platforms disapprove of it.
Read the critical reviews and the replies. How a studio answers a complaint tells you more than the praise. Ask whether any negative comments were disputed or taken down, and why. Finally, ask the seller to introduce a couple of recent clients, or call some yourself if permitted. What they say, and how they found the studio, is usually the best check on whether the ratings reflect the work. Keep notes on what you find, so you can raise any doubts with the seller before you commit.
Key takeaways
- Look for varied detail and a natural pace rather than repeated praise.
- Match a sample of reviewers to real clients in the booking records.
- Ask how reviews are requested and whether anything is offered in return.
- Read the complaints and the studio’s replies.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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