the profitable and sometimes dishonest business of baby photos

Each year, France experiences around 700,000 births. And so many photos to immortalize this moment. In many maternity wards, professional photographers offer it. But behind these pretty clichés sometimes hides a less rosy reality: forced sale, moral pressure and, in the end, a hefty bill for some parents. Who are these companies that promise you unforgettable photos, but at prices considered exorbitant? A young 28-year-old mother gave birth seven months ago. The day after the birth of his son, a photographer invites himself into his room and offers him a quick photo session and a free shot. She accepts. Later, a saleswoman shows up at her house, with all the gear. And the rating climbs quickly: “I got it for over 700 euros.”

There are dozens of testimonials implicating Babyvista, the market leader in baby photography, on online review sites. In Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), a former employee denounces aggressive methods and pressure from her employer which led to burnout. After two years of permanent contract, she says she is breaking down in the face of the numerical objectives imposed on her. The director of the group received us at his premises. He admits to setting figures targets for his employees, but there is no question of talking about pressure and forced sales. “There is no minimum purchase, there is at least one free photo”he says. He will tell us off camera that he fired three salespeople for non-compliance with the ethics charter.

Watch the full report in the video above.