Cady  Reviews 187

Absolutely the worst experience ever! 5 stars for ruining the most special time of my daughter's year!
I've been dealing with them since September to get a simple task done, premium retouching. I was told it was completed, and found out it was never done. Trying to get it resolved for the yearbook. Hopefully they can get it done in time.

Showed up on time for photo shoot but still took 3 hours to get all pics taken. Ridiculous system of "jump in any line and wait."

Day of photo purchase you'll need to get a loan because they are very expensive. AND, don't even believe that just because they have a promo going on that they are going to honor it. I'm currently trying to get them to honor 2 promos for us.

We ordered the basic package and as soon as I said "we just want the basic package" our presenter said, and I quote, "That's all you are going to get?" I am not broke by any means but I sure felt looked down on. For the remainder of the time we were there, I was just heated over the treatment I received.

HATED the experience and I wish we had just hired a local person to take our daughter's photos and gotten them printed local. MUCH less expansive and stressful.

My child had to sign up to get a picture taken for the yearbook, and pay $30. Then they sent us a portfolio of really bad photos later. We didn't want them so they were put aside, as we didn't order them. The photos were low end, bad lighting. They charged us for this and won't refund the money, and we had no idea. It's a scam and schools shouldn't require their kids to sign up for it.

Very abusive pricing and I strongly believe that WCPSS replace it with a good service provider.

I would give it zero stars if possible. The bottom line is that to get the digital pictures, it will cost you 1,800.00, plus a $200.00 sitting fee. They do not let you know that until you get there to take the pictures and you have already paid the sitting fee. We ended up getting the cheapest package 1 photo printed on sheets that you do not have the rights to and 2 digital pictures that cost us $450.00 with tax, shipping, and sitting fee! Attention all parents: email your high schools and let the principals and assistant principals know what is going on so they do not renew the contract with them next year! I trusted this company because the high school promoted them. The school administration does not know this is happening to parents unless we tell them!

Horrible experience top to bottom. We live in a digital world and the experience was so hard to get anything done over the phone or online. I ordered the most expensive package, my daughter only wanted the yearbook photo and I had to jump through hoops to get a photo uploaded to my account so I could see it and approve it for the yearbook. The company needs to move into the age of efficiency and convenience for the customer

Dear Cady Team,
My daughter and I visited Cady on Friday, November 7, 2025, for her 10:45AM senior photo session. We visited the Powers Ferry location Unfortunately; our experience was extremely disappointing and felt like a complete rip-off. I’m sharing this in hopes that you’ll take this feedback seriously and make improvements for future families.
First, I want to recognize Zion, who was truly the highlight of our visit. From the moment we arrived, he checked in with us, talked to my daughter about college, and made sure we were comfortable throughout the day—even when he wasn’t the photographer for our session. His attitude, professionalism, and genuine care stood out. He was friendly, engaged, and went out of his way to help everyone. You need more team members like him.
Unfortunately, the rest of our experience did not reflect the same level of care.
Poor organization: Our appointment was at 10:45 a.m., but the first photos didn’t start until around 12 p.m. We didn’t leave until about 3:30 p.m. Nothing but teenagers working in the facility. Now, I am not saying that they are not photographers, but most of them lacked customer service skills. It was just a job for them. Every photographer I’ve ever known brings kindness, creativity, and energy to their work. They keep you laughing so they can capture those genuine smiles, use strong composition and attention to detail to make every shot perfect, and have customer service skills that go through the roof. Well not at CADY. It feels like Cady is taking advantage by using mostly teenagers and college students for low-cost labor while charging families astronomical prices for the photos. I understand giving future photographers experience, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of our time, money, and expectations.
Unclear pricing and expectations: When booking, no one explained that the session fee and presentation fee (about $180–$190 total) only covered the sitting—no photos included. Which means I was shocked to learn at checkout that packages started at $179 for just one pose and went up to around $899, and that you cannot buy just the portfolio for $199 unless you purchase a larger package. I have already paid between $129-149.. I can't quite remember the exact price, and when I was checking out at the front counter on Friday, they charged me $50.00 for the presentation appointment. This is ridiculous. Then I was also told at check out that I do not get a portfolio with the total price I have already paid. To get the portfolio, I must purchase a photo package. I explained to the gentleman that I am used to that being a part of the senior portrait package. But I do know that every company operates differently.
Lack of transparency: Families deserve to know up front what the fees include and what the photo packages cost. It’s not right to find out at checkout after spending several hours there.
Poor customer service: One male photographer was extremely unprofessional—dismissive, uninterested, and allowed an “elite client” to skip the line with no explanation or courtesy. If some clients receive priority service, that needs to be clearly communicated when appointments are made, or when the customer checks in.
Amenities and atmosphere: We were there over four hours with no offered water (only coffee). For a senior portrait experience that’s supposed to be special, this felt very unwelcoming.
Overall, Cady’s process feels focused more on profit than customer experience. These are once-in-a-lifetime senior memories, and families are already spending plenty on senior year expenses. The lack of honesty and organization made this experience frustrating and disappointing.

Please consider being transparent from the beginning—explain what’s included in the session, outline all package prices up front, and ensure that all staff provide the same level of professionalism and courtesy that Zion demonstrated.

Again, I want to personally thank Zion and Aaliyah, who were kind and helpful despite everything else. They represent what your company should be. Also I would like to add, the make-up artist De'Adra (not sure if spelled correctly) But she was nice when we walked in as well with a welcoming smile. We did not have make up completed but she was still great!

Sincerely,
Parent of a Henry County High School Senior

Worst customer service ever. Horrible experience we have ever had. The customer service team in Nashville is the most unhelpful. If I could rate them a 0 I would. Buyer beware. Sad this is the only option schools give you.

Absolutely disgusting & deceptive company! Holding my daughter's senior photos hostage since I purchased a $129 session. Will not allow us to purchase ANY photos without attending a presentation and booking it with a nonrefundable $50 fee! Akin to a Timeshare presentation & a Scam company. I am appalled that they will not allow us to purachse her pictures without a 3 hour round trip travel time to the studio...again and this ridiculous fee. SCAM COMPANY!!!

Why schools keep hiring this terrible place instead of local real photographers. They charge you a fortune for one single image and they pay an average of $17 to $27/hr. for photographer roles. So they get nice people but not real photographers and their prices are ridiculous, they are now even charging you extra to give you a PLAIN BLUE background!!!! Schools please hire local photographers, help the community, get good pictures and it wouldn't be more expensive!!!

Very disappointed in CADY overall; the photographer who took my daughter's senior photos didn't even check to make sure her necklace or accessories were correctly facing, which is noticeable in all of the photos. They send a portfolio of all the images without request, which you either have to return or purchase for an additional $99 as an add-on to any package (or they charge you $200). They don't even provide an option to just purchase the portfolio, which would be my preference because who needs multiple prints nowadays? What a waste.
They give you very limited package options, which are VERY expensive for what you get, and no way to obtain digitals copies of the photos unless you purchase all in an expensive package.
When I was going through my package purchase, the website was constantly down, and I couldn't select poses for the prints.
Overall, would NOT recommend them and don't understand why schools partner with them for photos that are insanely expensive and not even that great.

Per AI-

Why Consider Alternatives to CADY for School Portraits?
Based on widespread feedback, CADY's school portrait services—often mandated by school contracts in the Southeast U.S.—face criticism for high-pressure upselling, overpriced packages ($100–$600+), inconsistent photo quality, and poor customer service (e.g., delayed orders or unedited images). While they excel in speed (e.g., 3,000 students in 90 minutes) and structured senior sessions, many parents seek options for better value, customization, or control. Note: School contracts may require CADY for yearbook inclusion, but you can often submit external photos for personal use or opt out.

I ordered a photo package online and then decided to purchase a different package. I called to get a refund only MINUTES after ordering. I was told they could not refund it as the order had already been processed. The photos had obviously not been printed yet, are you kidding me? I would not go through them again.

Really feeling tricked. Paid initially 300 dollars for photo sessions including senior graduation photos. Just learn later on that that price didn't allow me to have any pictures. And the email saying I had 2 free digital copies and a 200 off on additional packages was a lie. They refused to honor any of that and I was forced to pay more than 2 thousand dollars for a USB drive of my daughter's pictures. Really bad experience and I don't recommend it to anyone.

My experience was terrible. After I put on my cap, my hair got messed up and the photographer never told me. When he asked if I wanted to review the photos, that’s when I noticed the issue. I tried fixing it myself and continued taking pictures, but when I checked again, the same section of my hair was still out of place and he didn’t mention or assist me at all. I asked to retake the photos, and he allowed me to retake one, even though my hair was still visibly messed up in all of them. I was told I could only retake one photo. It wasn’t busy during my session, so I don’t understand why I couldn’t be helped or at least informed that my hair was not right. These are my senior portraits and yearbook photos, which is a huge milestone, and I’m really disappointed by the lack of attention and care. To make things worse, the messed-up hair was not edited or retouched in the final photos. Also when I contacted CADY about this inconvenience they told me I have to pay $50 to get it fixed, I bought the standard package btw.

Terrible placement of the CADY logo in the bottom right corner of the pictures which in the layout we got for my 9th grade daughter's school photos, make it look like a tattoo on her arm. We have never had this issue with previous school photos before. I spent almost $100 and will not end up using any of the printed photos. They also are deceptive in that none of their website photos shown on their site have this logo, even in the picture frames they show on their site. Horrible customer service.

Don't do itIt is the worst experience.I have ever had they rushed you through it.And now I have waited to get my pictures copied printed because I bought the digital and now I can't find them.And now they won't answer the telephone.Do not do it, do yourself a favorFind somebody who can do a good job.This is not your best bet

Total scam company. They send you a $300 packet of Pictures of your child. Mine came the day after I already ordered what I could afford online. I’m a single mother now I have to go out of my way to return the box of pictures of my own child that I did not open. This company is disgraceful, especially in an economy like this they should be ashamed of themselves.

I am utterly appalled and disgusted by the business practices of Cady, which I've just had the misfortune of experiencing through my daughter's American school. This is, without a doubt, the most predatory and extortionate system I have ever encountered for something as simple as a school photograph.

We were informed that to get any photos of our daughter, we would have to pay a minimum of $179. This is not for a lavish, multi-hour private photo shoot; this is for a standard school grade photo. It is an obscene amount of money designed to squeeze every last dollar out of families.

But the price is only the beginning of this disgraceful model. What I find truly repulsive is the exclusive, monopolistic contract Cady has with the school. Because of this deal, my daughter is EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN by school policy from taking and submitting her own high-quality photo for the yearbook. We are forced to use Cady's ridiculously overpriced service, whether we like it or not. There is no choice, no alternative.

And why does the school enforce such an anti-family policy? The answer is as cynical as it gets: they receive a substantial kickback from Cady's sales. The school is a willing partner in this scheme, profiting off its own students' families by locking them into this mandatory purchase. It's a clear conflict of interest and morally bankrupt.

Having raised my daughter and her brothers in Europe, I can say with certainty that we have NEVER experienced anything remotely like this. The idea that a school would ban students from using their own photos in order to force them into a single, outrageously expensive service for a kickback would be unthinkable. It would be considered a scandal. Here, apparently, it's just "the American way."

This isn't a business; it's a racket. Cady and its partner schools should be ashamed of themselves. Seeing they have a 1.5-star rating on this platform, I am clearly not alone in my outrage. Avoid if you can, and if you can't, know that you are being shamelessly fleeced.

My son took pictures at the Acworth, Ga location. I called into the call-center location to pay for Graduation photos. They are telling me that I can’t purchase pictures without my son’s father permission because we do not have same last name. They have a law regarding this similar to HIPPA!