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.
Website
By the time I was alerted to the news story that aired Aaron had already begun to scramble and his Facebook has been cleared of images and the name was changed so it doesn’t come up in a search.
I couldn’t help screen cap this tip from January though.
Newsletters
On his Facebook Page he also posted a few of his newsletters he sent to clients. I am listing the images below that haven’t been seen above.
Update:
Platinum Photography LLC of Des Moines, IA is Expressions Photo & Design
I received a tip from an anonymous source that Expressions Photo & Design had rebranded to Platinum Photography LLC. I investigated the tip and found that he had indeed rebranded.
Here is the former phone number from the contact page of Platinum Photography LLC which is the same phone number for Expressions Photo & Design on The Knot. He has since changed this since it was pointed out but it does remain in a few spots on the website.
Here is the same images from the portfolio section of the website that are Expressions Photo & Design’s original work. He has unlinked the portfolio section since this was pointed out the home page but it is still live.
Furthermore, if you view the page source, you can see that the image names in the portfolio have Expressions Photo & Design in the image file name.
Let’s keep going, shall we?
The packages by both companies is the same.
Expressions Photo & Design now links http://expressionsbyaaron.com/ in the about section (images are most likely stock) on Facebook for the URL associated with this company. I know this doesn’t outright seem related but keep going.
On the “Expressions by Aaron” webpage just beneath the packages there is this (bold is mine) blurb in which “Expressions by Aaron” calls himself “Platinum Photography”
“THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN PLATINUM PHOTOGRAPHY , WE WOULD BE HONORED TO WORK WITH YOU ON YOUR EVENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A TIME TO DISCUSS YOUR EVENT NEEDS FURTHER.WHAT DAY AND TIME WOULD BE BEST FOR YOU? ALL PRICES ARE NEGOTIABLE ALONG WITH PACKAGES. EVERY PERSON IS UNIQUE SO WE OFFER THE ABILITY TO BUILD YOUR OWN CUSTOM PACKAGE AS WELL.”
On 2/21/17 I got a text from Aaron asking for Platinum Photography LLC to be removed from this listing.
When I didn’t meet his demands I got a follow up text message from “Gary” with similar demands.
The problem is, there is no Gary with a Platinum Photography in Des Moines Iowa, at least not with a web presence that isn’t either a) in Arizona (and I checked, not him) or b) with images and a website that is dripping with things from Expressions Photo & Design. There is also no Platinum Photography LLC registered in the state of Iowa.
So of course the next step is a Cease & Desist. I’m familiar with these and this is unlike any one I’ve ever seen before. Both my lawyer and I have contacted the firm that this is supposed to have originated from but being a weekend we have not heard back. I’m told that others have received the same/similar C&D but on behalf of Expressions Photo & Design.
Since I didn’t comply with his demands and deadline, I received a phone call today. Per my lawyer’s advice I did not answer it but let it roll to voicemail.
I think I’ve proven my case pretty plainly here? Aaron of Expressions Photo & Design, Expressions by Aaron etc. has renamed his company Platinum Photography LLC.
Now… why did I bring up my lawyer?
Let’s move onto the reviews.
On 2/19/2017 and 2/20/2017 I received a slew of negative reviews for my business online.
Addison had one other review out there and surprise, surprise… look who she reviewed? Also note what she hasn’t reviewed now this all came to light. The original source is Jennifer on 05/1/2014.
At this point in time all of the negative reviews have been removed.