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Business Profile

Photographer

Simply Design Studios

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 1 complaint in the last 3 years.
  • 1 complaint closed in the last 12 months.

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The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:03/18/2025

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Dear Better Business Bureau,I am submitting a formal complaint against Simply Design Studios, a photography business operating in *******, ****** (********************************). This business has failed to provide the services I paid for, despite repeated attempts to resolve the *************** Information:Business Name: Simply Design Studios Website: ******************************** Location: *******, ****** Complaint Details:I hired Simply Design Studios for my son's senior portraits and purchased a ************* photography package that was advertised as including:A senior portrait session A family photo session Graduation photos Photos sent to grandparents Despite paying hundreds of dollars, I have not received my son's senior portraits, nor have the additional promised services been delivered. The business owner has repeatedly failed to follow through, providing constant excuses instead of a resolution.Additionally, the business appears to be selling off its equipment, which raises concerns that they are planning to cease operations without fulfilling outstanding commitments. I have contacted the business multiple times with no response or resolution.Resolution Sought:I request one of the following resolutions:1. Immediate delivery of all edited senior portraits and any additional services included in my package, OR 2. A full refund for the services that were not rendered.This experience has been extremely disappointing, and I believe Simply Design Studios has engaged in deceptive business practices. I would appreciate any assistance the BBB can provide in addressing this issue and ensuring that other consumers are not similarly misled.Please let me know if any additional documentation is required.Thank you for your time and assistance.

    Customer Answer

    Date: 04/07/2025

    Response to BBB Complaint ID ********
    Submitted by: ****** ****
    Dear ******* *.,
    Thank you for your follow-up regarding my complaint against Simply Design Studios.
    I am writing to clarify my role in the transaction and respond to the businesss assertion that their primary communication was with another individual.
    I was directly involved in all aspects of the transaction with Simply Design Studios, including scheduling, communication, and payment. If this does not sufficiently clarify my involvement, I can confirm that my husband, ****** ****, is fully willing to sign this complaint or submit one separately.
    Invoices from Simply Design Studios were sent directly to my personal email address.

    Payments totaling $800 were made from a joint bank account shared between myself and ****** ****.

    The services were purchased for our 17-year-old minor son, for whom I am a legal guardian.

    I personally corresponded with ******, the business owner, via email regarding the coordination of sessions, package contents, and repeated follow-ups on undelivered items.

    Both logistical and financial aspects of this transaction were handled through me and my husband.
    I have substantial documentation supporting this complaint, including:
    Email threads directly between myself and ******

    Invoices and payment records

    Due to limitations with the file upload system, I was unable to attach these files. However, I can provide them via email or other means upon request.
    Misrepresentation of ********************* Package
    Simply Design Studios marketed and sold us a premium *********** package, framed as an exclusive and developmental opportunity for our minor son. The package was presented as including:

    A family and graduation photo session

    Multiple stylized photo shoots throughout the year

    Modeling participation and experiences in the field of photography for our son

    A letter of recommendation recognizing his involvement, which was sold to him as an internship experience intended to support future college or scholarship applications

    With the exception of the senior portraits, none of these promised services were fulfilled. ****** ceased communication for extended periods, failed to honor the commitments made, and never offered a refund for the services not delivered.

    Recent Communication and Partial Fulfillment
    Sharons most recent communications were sent via text message to my husband. In one, she criticized us as insensitive for inquiring about the status of the servicesafter we observed via social media that she was publicly selling off her photography equipment. In another message, she stated that she would mail the prints and then consider all of her obligations fulfilled.
    That message was sent over a month ago. We finally received the printed photos on Sunday, April 6, 2025, after months of silence and unfulfilled promises.
    While the financial loss is significant, the emotional and developmental impact on our 17-year-old son is what makes this experience particularly upsetting. The *********** opportunity was presented as a meaningful extracurricular roleone that would offer creative exposure, skill-building, and personal recognition. Instead, it led to confusion, disappointment, and the loss of what should have been a celebratory experience during his senior year of high school.
    This outcome has had a detrimental emotional impact on our child and on our family, and it reflects not just unprofessionalism, but a deep failure to honor a commitment to a minor.
    While we are not requesting further compensation or resolution at this time, we strongly believe this complaint should remain on file with the Better Business Bureau. Our experience demonstrates:
    A pattern of unfulfilled contractual obligations
    Misleading advertising and upselling involving a minor
    Deceptive and unprofessional business practices
    We hope this information will help others make informed decisions and prevent further consumer harm.
    Sincerely,
    ****** ****

    Customer Answer

    Date: 04/10/2025



    Thank you for your follow-up regarding my complaint against Simply Design Studios (Complaint ID *********. I am writing to clarify my direct involvement in the transaction, as requested, and to provide supporting information.


    1. My Role in Scheduling, Coordinating, and Paying for Services
    I was directly involved in all aspects of the transaction with Simply Design Studios. Specifically:


    I communicated with ****** (the business owner) via email to schedule the senior photo session for our 17-year-old son.


    I received invoices directly to my personal email account.


    Payment was made from a joint bank account shared between myself and my husband, ****** ****.




    2. Documentation of My Direct Interaction
    I am attaching multiple emails to this message that demonstrate:


    Direct communications between myself and ****** regarding scheduling and coordination


    Invoices sent to my email


    Payment confirmation


    Follow-up messages related to services 


    Please let me know if additional documentation is needed.


    3. Relationship to the Individual Identified as Primary Contact
    ****** **** is my husband, and we jointly managed this transaction. While ****** may have sent her final communications to him via text message, I was equally involved in the coordination and communication process from the start. Most of the formal documentation (invoices, emails, confirmations) were addressed to both him and  me directly.


    This was a family purchase made on behalf of our minor son, and both of us were engaged in the transaction throughout.


    Thank you again for your time and attention. Please confirm if the attachments are received successfully, or if you prefer they be sent through an alternate method. 


    All of the attachments are from my email account, but this shows that I was very much involved throughout this process and my minor son is the one who was the victim of her deceptive business practices.


    Sincerely,
    ****** ****

    Business Response

    Date: 05/15/2025

    Due to my business mail being forwarded, I missed the initial deadline to respond. That said, I will not be responding directly to ****** ****, as she is not my client. Had ****** contacted me personally to schedule her son’s senior session, I would have declined. In 2023, ****** no-showed a scheduled consultation and, per our studio policy, we do not reschedule for clients who fail to show up without notice. Her husband, ****** ****, later came in to schedule before I realized the connection. He also no-showed for his first appointment but was allowed to reschedule after issuing a what I felt was a sincere apology, which I accepted in good faith.
    ****** was only included in client communications as a courtesy to Nathan, the official client, due to delays in his response to our messages—despite being made aware of time-sensitive needs regarding his son's senior portraits.
    It’s important to note: personal hardships—however significant—are not being used as “excuses,” but rather context for rescheduling and business closure. I’ve been transparent about my circumstances and have received support and understanding from every client—except this one.
    ****** **** received five outreach attempts from February 14 through March 12. Had he responded, he would have been personally informed of my injury and our upcoming studio closure before it was made public. His son would have been formally invited to the April 9 cap & gown portrait event. His senior is still welcome to attend. The parents, however, are not welcome in the studio.
    The only response I received from ****** after multiple messages was accusatory, so I allowed time to reply appropriately. Because of this, he also missed receiving information about changes to any additional gifts due to his lack of communication.
    To clarify: the **** family did not purchase the Street Team program at $800, which includes additional benefits and contractual obligations. They paid for a senior session and a half session $450, but were provided with two full sessions (should have been $600)—above what was paid for. We did discuss additional incentives and additional gifts (my discretion) as part of the referral process but no referrals were received. The Street Team program includes a contract clearly stated expectations and requirements, including minimum investment, referral activity, and communication standards. The payment and services rendered were explicitly detailed on the invoice to avoid any misunderstanding. 
    As outlined in our published studio policies, which were available at the time of booking and invoicing, we do not offer refunds once services have been rendered. In this case, not only were the services fulfilled, but additional time was provided. Therefore, no refund will be issued.  All client orders, including theirs, are being processed and shipped this week. All of our clients were made aware of this timeline and all -but this family- have come in to pick up their portrait orders. I will not be photographing their family. ****** and ****** are not welcome in the studio, though their son remains invited for the cap & gown session. He can contact me directly. He has been respectful and should not be penalized for his parents’ conduct.
    Please note that I take defamatory statements seriously. If false claims continue to be made publicly or in writing, I will consider all available legal remedies, including but not limited to action for defamation, slander, or libel. After 20 years of serving this community with integrity and hundreds of positive reviews, one dissatisfied client—especially one who was dishonest about their involvement—does not reflect my business. The immediate family member of a client filing a report with the BBB rather than initiating a direct conversation reflects more on them than it does on my studio.
    Please let me know if you would like further documentation. 
    Thank you,
    Sharon Biddinger

    Customer Answer

    Date: 05/15/2025



    Complaint: ********



    I am rejecting this response because:


    Dear BBB,
    I am writing in response to the recent statement made by Simply Design Studios regarding my complaint. I am disappointed—but unfortunately not surprised—by the business’s decision to deflect responsibility and resort to personal attacks rather than taking any ownership of their conduct.
    False Claim of “Banning” from the Studio
    The business claims that I was previously banned from the studio in 2023 after a no-show consultation. This is simply false. The only previous contact I had with Simply Design Studios was in August 2021, when I inquired via email about family portraits. I have attached a copy of that exchange. No meeting was ever scheduled or confirmed, and there was no further communication. To claim that I “no-showed” and was “banned” is entirely fabricated and unprofessional.
    Mischaracterization of Our Family’s Involvement
    The suggestion that I was not involved in the transaction is also inaccurate. As previously documented:
    Invoices were sent to my personal email account.


    Payment was made from a joint account shared between myself and my husband.


    The services were purchased for our 17-year-old son, for whom I am a legal guardian.


    I was directly involved in scheduling, coordinating, and payment- as documented in the emails I previously submitted.


    Dismissing my role in this process is misleading and appears to be another attempt to shift blame.
    Failure to Deliver Services and Lack of Accountability
    I paid $800 for a photography package that included a senior portrait session, a family session, graduation photos, and printed products. Despite repeated follow-ups and months of waiting, most of these services were never delivered. The prints were only mailed in April 2025, after I filed formal complaints with the BBB and the Oregon DOJ.
    Rather than taking responsibility for these delays and unfulfilled services, the business has chosen to reframe the issue by accusing me of dishonesty and claiming I misrepresented her “Street Team” program. Regardless of program label, we were sold and paid for specific services that were never delivered. The owner has never denied receiving payment, but has continuously refused to fulfill the services agreed upon or offer a refund.
    Confrontational and Vicious Response Instead of Professionalism
    It is deeply troubling that instead of taking any responsibility or offering a professional explanation, the business owner has chosen to respond with vicious, defensive, and confrontational language. This includes fabricated personal attacks, attempts to discredit my character, and an apparent strategy of intimidation rather than accountability.
    I submitted this complaint in good faith to highlight a very real issue that affected my family, and instead of engaging respectfully, the business has doubled down by attacking my motives and rewriting the history of our interaction. This response only further illustrates the core concern: a lack of professionalism, transparency, and customer care.
    Inappropriate Use of Charitable Affiliation
    The photographer’s reference to her partnership with the Children’s Advocacy Center is entirely irrelevant to this dispute. While charitable work is commendable, it does not excuse her failure to meet contractual obligations or the harm caused to my own child, who was directly affected by this experience.
    It is especially inappropriate to highlight her involvement with a child-focused nonprofit while dismissing the emotional impact of her conduct on a 17-year-old client.
    I had initially considered this matter closed after receiving the prints and informing both the BBB and the Oregon DOJ that I was not seeking further resolution. However, after reading the business's latest response, I feel compelled to speak further. Rather than demonstrating professionalism, the business owner has chosen to respond with fabricated personal accusations, inappropriate deflection, and outright hostility. This response has only deepened my concern about Sharon’s integrity and the ethics of how she manages her business. I believe it is important that others are made aware of this pattern of behavior so they can make fully informed decisions before entering into any agreement with Simply Design Studios.

    I have provided documentation to support all my claims. The same standard should be applied to Sharon. 

     



     Sincerely,



    ****** ****

    Customer Answer

    Date: 05/19/2025


    Thank you for your continued support throughout the resolution process for my complaint against Simply Design Studios (Complaint ID ********).
    I wanted to follow up and clarify my current position. At the time of my original complaint, my goal was to receive the senior portrait prints we had paid for, which had not been delivered. Once those were finally received, I considered that to be the minimum acceptable resolution, and I had no further intentions of pursuing action against the business.
    However, after reviewing the business owner's recent response, it has become clear that she has no intention of taking accountability or engaging in a professional, constructive way. Instead, her reply is argumentative, personal, and dismissive of the concerns I raised in good faith. While I understand that she has the right to respond to the complaint, it is evident that she is not interested in resolution—only in defending her conduct and casting blame.
    I do not believe continuing this dialogue through BBB messages—or elsewhere—serves any productive purpose. There is nothing further I want from the business, and I will not be engaging in further back-and-forth exchanges.
    That said, I continue to stand by my original complaint and the concerns I raised. I respectfully request that the complaint remain on file and publicly visible so that others may be informed when considering whether to do business with Simply Design Studios.
    Thank you again for your time and assistance.
    Sincerely,
    ****** ****

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