The company paid for travel expenses during a one week intensive training, during this time I signed all typical employee/employer paper work (I9 forms, w-4 etc.) Also I signed a non-compete form forbidding me to work independatly. The company also stressed sales/customer service was a prime condition of work. This is to ensure studios/company maintains an average sale of $106. This number can vary depending on how much it costs to maintain business.

Upon arrival to my studio I was put in an expected high volume and stressfull studio (Nov. 18th- holiday season). I took direction which was provided and went above and beyond expectations to make the new opportunity the best as possible. During this time it was common practices to complete a phot shoot and move on to anothe photo shoot while some other photographer presented your previous to the customer. This is the part where you make your sales. So it was not uncommon that during one day two or three of your shoots were shown by another photographer.
My average sale during this period of time was one of the lower photographers ($90) but as newcommer my shoots typically were of one or two people maybe three. The number of people does make the avg. sale potential alot lower than 6 or 8 people.

This is the unethical part: On January the 5th, after the holdiay rush my studio manager came to me with release papers stating that the company had to make cut backs and it was not her decision to let me go. She was told to by the VP of operations (Johnny Grosso) to let me go because my sales were of lower than average. I remind you I did not present or sell to all my customers. My release aggrement did not state why I was being terminated, it just stated my severance pay and conditions. I was forced to sign my release under distress that night before I left or I was not going receive any severance pay. I worked for the company less tha 60 days and gave all my effort to the success of myself and company.

Here is the burn of the deal: On January 28th I am reading my e-mails and what pops up. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNIYTY WITH PORTRAIT INNOVATIONS at the same location that I was employed and place that was overstaffed. The difference between my offer is a slight lower amount of pay with the same title.

The company is clearly using a 90 day loop hole to take advantage of employees while helping their financial statements, all at the cost myself and family during these hard economic times the nation is facing. To all Portrait Innovation personel, picture this me and my wife and 18mo old son kicked out their home because the bank foreclosed on their house. All because the greed of one company over an indvidual.

If there is some legal action that can be done against this company let me know.