I feel I need to speak up and tell you all about our experience with Thornton, and it was extensive.
I loved looking for my Waldo, didn't even mind the stripes at all. As a photographer myself I totally understand their need to protect their work.
However, their work is unacceptable in my eyes. A complete rip-off. We bought 25 5x7 downloads, which were ok, nothing earthshattering, but ok. We also purchased the Plebe Summer DVDs. What a joke!! The companies and platoons were completely mislabled, they made excuses that it is sooo difficult to get this right... it is not! The content was repetitive, they showed the same clips several times.
Of course we fell for the portrait offer as well. Ended up purchasing 2 poses, one of which is completely out of focus. I had asked them if it was only the proof that looks iffy, if a 5x7 would come out sharp? I was re-assured that it would be perfect, Larry is a genius at post-processing. I know, I should have known better. No professional or even amateur would call what we received acceptable. Did I mention that the pics arrived in a regular manila envelope, with just a thin cardboard insert? Of course they were bent upon arrival. What professional photographer mails portraits in this manner?!?
Next: the interview. I can't remember all that happened, but it was re-scheduled on their end several times because they LOST the first one. In the end my Mid had enough of their nonsense and we gave up.
I don't know why, but we ended up going for the Sea Trials/ Herndon DVDs as well. We never learn, do we? Totally unprofessional and repetitive again. The change from one segment to the other can be done better by a Kindergardener, and, as I said, they showed the same segments twice. Pathetic editing! My Mids company was featured for maybe 5% of the time. We haven't bothered watching the Herndon DVD.
It is a real shame that these guys have open access to our Mids, our hearts and wallets. You can find better photographs from other free sources, you may not get anything from the O-Course or shooting range, but you won't feel like a su**er either. I know I do, and I probably left out half the things that bugged me about them this year.
Whew! Now I feel better