Category Archives: Plagiarism

Choose 21 aka Pick 21 aka Welcome to 21 aka Weddings by 21 aka 21 Moments aka Wedding Masters aka The Wedding Professionals aka Studio 585 in Bethel Park, PA

Website: http://www.pick21.com/
Website: http://www.choose21.com/
Website: http://www.weddingsby21.com
Website: http://www.welcometo21.com
The Knot: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/the-wedding-professionals-pittsburgh-pa-661104
Wedding Wire: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/wedding-masters-san-francisco/60cc57c9a4a7edee.html
BBB: https://www.bbb.org/pittsburgh/business-reviews/wedding-consultant/21-moments-in-bethel-park-pa-71020023

I was sent this about a week ago when a videographer was contacted by a potential client of Pick 21 because they found their name in a few of their sample videos and wanted to know if they worked for Pick 21.  The notification got lost in my Facebook feed and I forgot to go back and source the images.

Flash forward a week and I come across a post by a potential bride of Choose 21 on a local wedding group asking if anyone had worked with them.  When I clicked the link I immediately recognized their website and realized it was the same company from the week before but now they have expanded into my area.

So far I can find listings for this company in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, San Francisco and the DC area.  There may be more.  Yet, they claim to not be a business that outsources and they have one photography team and one DJ team.

Their main m.o. appears to be photoshopping couples into dramatic backgrounds.

They’ve also plagiarized reviews, seemingly after they were hit with some negative ones.  The bonus is that all of these plagiarized reviews has given them “The Best of The Knot” award for 2017 and 2018.  Shows how much you can trust those kind of rewards.

Update:

In the past year I’ve had countless couples email me asking for help with this company.  They are allegedly no showing to weddings along with allegedly not delivering files.  When they get negative reviews they then stuff their profiles with more fake good reviews.  Be VERY cautious when hiring this company.  They have been going by “The Wedding Professionals” lately but likely will be changing their name again as they did with Choose 21, 21 Moments etc.

Update 2/2019:

They have rebranded as Studio 585.

Continue reading Choose 21 aka Pick 21 aka Welcome to 21 aka Weddings by 21 aka 21 Moments aka Wedding Masters aka The Wedding Professionals aka Studio 585 in Bethel Park, PA

Shamrock Photography aka Kevin James Photography in Riverside, CA

Website: https://www.shamrockportraitsphotography.com/
Thumbtack: https://www.thumbtack.com/-Riverside-CA/service/3022060
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinjamesshamrockphotography/ (currently down)

He has removed his Facebook page but somehow hasn’t managed to remove the stolen images from the website.  Of course, that nefarious “website designer” is being blamed.

Update @ 5:55PM EST

He’s changed all of the images on the landing page to stock images.  Still misrepresenting his own work…

Continue reading Shamrock Photography aka Kevin James Photography in Riverside, CA

Platinum Photography LLC aka Expressions Photo & Design aka Expressions by Aaron in Des Moines, Iowa

Website 1: https://www.expressionsphotoanddesign.com/
Website 2: http://expressionsbyaaron.com/index.html
Website 3: http://desmoinesweddingphotographer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Photo-1552624121673737/ (he changed the name and has deleted all of the images)
App: http://myapp.buzz/expressionsphotoanddesign/
Newsletter 1: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Fall-Bridal-Shows-Are-Upon-Us–Come-See-Us-at-Bridal-Forum-.html?soid=1112168023966&aid=bYMNVFmQCT0
Newsletter 2: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Summer-Special-Wedding-Photographer-and-DJ-For–1995-00-.html?soid=1112168023966&aid=ZnO9Vn39XHE
Newsletter 3: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/You-don-t-want-to-miss-this-wedding-sale.html?soid=1112168023966&aid=uBgj7yRl8rA
Newsletter 4: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Pre-Bridal-Show-Specials-and-Upcoming-Bridal-Forum-Information.html?soid=1112168023966&aid=JGCkaqnYXz4
You Tube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikFZ7nylFjo&feature=youtu.be
Current Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/expressphotogroup/
Wedding Wire: https://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/expressions-photo-and-design-des-moines/ad0388bd2a22dc27.html
The Knot: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/expressions-photo-and-design-des-moines-ia-661088
Website 4 (rebranded): https://platinumphotographyllc.com/
Website 5: https://platinumphotography.godaddysites.com/

 

Last night I received a tip that one of the photographers listed here in 2015, A&K Photography, was back up to his old tricks and using stolen images in his portfolio.  Not only that but he’s been pulling no shows at weddings as well.  I wonder if he’ll blame the former partner again?

Here is a link to the news story that aired last night about two weddings he no-showed to.  http://www.kcci.com/article/newlyweds-say-photographer-scammed-them-on-their-wedding-day/8677634

Also of note is that right when all of the shit started to hit the fan there was a sudden influx of 5 star reviews on his listing on The Knot.  Now you have to dig to find the negative reviews.

Of course most of the client reviews on his website are plagiarized.  Color me shocked.

Updated 2/16/17 – New Facebook Page has been added.  More plagiarized reviews have been added to his Facebook and Website and the original sources are linked below.

Update 2/26/17 –  There’s a few updates that I’ve done but in the past week haven’t had the time to properly document so I am adding those here now.

  • On 2/18/2017 PlatinumPhotographyLLC.com was registered anonymously on Go Daddy.  The website not only showed Expression Photo & Design’s images with the same name used to title the images but the phone number for the new company also is linked to Expressions Photo & Design.  Since the proof is in the pudding, all of the proof is shown below the cut.
  • On 2/19/2017 I received a slew of fake reviews across various platforms for my business.  One of those reviews had also given Expressions Photo & Design a glowing review… which was plagiarized from another review on a different photographer.
  • Since 2/21/2017 (my birthday, well done!) I’ve been getting increasingly angry emails, phone calls and texts from a “Gary” claiming that Platinum Photography LLC has no affiliation with Expressions Photo & Design and demanding that I remove the added link to this listing.  I even received a Cease and Desist from a law firm that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

 

Continue reading Platinum Photography LLC aka Expressions Photo & Design aka Expressions by Aaron in Des Moines, Iowa

Jasmine Star, Part Two

Three years ago it was discovered that Jasmine Star was plagiarizing quotes on Instagram and Facebook and shortly thereafter it was discovered that some of her blog posts were also plagiarized.  Unfortunately, I’ve received multiple submissions that she is doing it again.

Jasmine Star’s Blog “Inspiration is for Amateurs” (which is also shared on Instagram and Facebook) is awfully similar to a quote from Chuck Close.  Some of it is verbatim, some of it is heavily inspired by the source quote much like her blog posts were the last time.  Below I’ve highlighted the words that were identical.

Update: there’s also at least one more quip that wasn’t Jasmine’s original words and you’ll find that added below.

Continue reading Jasmine Star, Part Two