Olan Mills-Studio Employer Reviews

at olan mills we had a fantastic team working together
i was sales manger, had 6 employes
it was a very fun job
i worked alone with no upper management
i won several awards for my accomplishments in sales

Being a studio mananger I understand having to wear many hats. Working alone in a studio can be very hectic. I have to take photos, present photos to customers, answer the phone, & give customers their pictures. Imagine having to do all these things at the same time. It can be very stressful. Sometimes the studio can be so busy I never get a break. – more...  Management is another story, there is no communication. The managers have meetings on regular days off & expect everyone to attend at last minute notice. When I need help I have to call my managers 3 or 4 times before the phone is answered. On 1 occassion I was extremely sick, I called my manager probably 6 times before getting a response. There is never another employee is cover a studio if someone is sick, always short staffed, it's ridiculous. – less

A typical day at this job consists of taking portraits of all kinds of people and their pets. That is the fun part of the job. Also you have to do all the paperwork, sales, cleaning, maintaining equipment, buying new props and office supplies out of your own pocket with no reimbursement, driving to mandatory meetings a hundred miles away with no gas – more...  reimbursement or time paid for the trip on your one day off, dealing with managers that treat you like a peon. They schedule crazy days with three hour lunches. The job is supposed to be full-time and you are away from home for full-time hours...but with the three hour lunch you only get paid for part time hours (60 hours for two weeks). The managers also call you and text you at home after hours and on your ONE day off. The hardest parts of the job are dealing with customers who make appointments and then show up late because that can set your whole day back and create future angry customers. And the fact that you can have no life while working here. You aren't allowed to take time off, you can never have weekends or holidays off. You have no benefits until you work for them for a year...which is crazy. And they pay only slightly over minimum wage for a job that should be compensated at at least 16 dollars an hour. This job has made me realize that I never want to work for a company that doesn't appreciate front-line employees, whether the economy sucks or not. – less

The hardest part of the day was to try and sale 15 or more pre paid packages. The Most enjoyable part was to take pictures of the cute lil kids. I loved my co-workers, the management was great as well.

selling portraits and creating life long memories
how to work camera equipment
was not avaliable often
normally just a one man show
having to work weekends
satisfied customers

Always lots to do and lots of customers. Management was mildly chaotic most of the time.

I did not mind working at a traditional studio . I would love to work for a company that will allow me to show all of my photography qualities.

a great place to work.Taking pictures and working with the kids its great.

I come to work with a smile on my face. I learn to alwasy keep a smile on my face.

Travelled among studios in Las Vegas region. Inconsistent hours, overscheduling.

Olan Mills was purchased last year by Lifetouch so Olan Mills will be no more. They have stopped giving photo assignments to Olan Mills employees so they will be discontinuing business as Olan Mills

My normal work days are eight hours. I arrive everyday fifteen minutes early to set up. I have gone through the Olan Mills photography certification process and am curently an associate photographer. I am also the studio manager of my location. I work by myself in the studio except for the aquistioner sales repesentative. The doesnt have one hard part – more...  but a lot of tough parts. Trying to make sure I get what Mom has invisioned in her head to come out in the portraits, making babies look as if they were flawless and perfect, trying my hardest to only make the set goals for sales for the week but to add a 20% increase from last year.
Management has been hard. At this current time we are between district manage and do not have an assistant manager. Olan Mills was recently accquired by Lifetouch and they are starting to make changes to the company which is a plus and a downfall at the sametime.
My co-workers are a group of very wonderful women. At the same time sometimes there are issues with comittment to the team.
By far the best part of my job is when I have a family looking at their portraits that were just taken and they are overjoyed of the outcome. Making their hearts melt because of something I've created. The smiles that come from Mom looking at her baby's milestones capptured. – less

Area Manager, HR Recruiter, trained and staffed employees in sales & photography, Marketing, #1 Best , increased customers generation after generation. Expert Customer Relations

This place is full of management competing with associates, its a place were you have to worry that if your management liked you or not, if you would have hours and/or lose position.

I was hired by one manager who wanted day shift, and two weeks later I was let go by a new manager who wanted night shift and weekends, which I wasn't available to work.

Great company to work for, fun and energetic co-workes. enjoyed working with families and small children.

I have worked for this company for 10 years and I have enjoyed it. You get paid training. Just not enough hours when you need them

Olan Mills is a very active and fun place to work. I really enjoyed the people and the familes i got to meet.

Because I was making a change of careers into sales Olan Mills was a good start. But for the long term it just does not make sense. The travel is exstensive & compensation less than ideal. After just a short tenure I realized that I hit the ceiling with respect to pay.

I liked the job, but its not a job I would recommend to a person 21 yrs or older. At that time, pay was low.