This is a review of my pregnancy photoshoot on Friday 21 July 2017 in their South Yarra branch. I won a $700 voucher on Facebook and that prompted this photoshoot. Overall I would have to say I was extremely disappointed with my experience.
On their website, it featured that the shoot was currently reduced from $395 to $95 yet they wouldn't honour that on the day of the shoot because I had a voucher, even though the voucher/gift card did not specify that on the actual card.
With regards to makeup, I asked for a natural look, and I understand that for a studio shoot, heavier makeup is required. Even still, I felt that the makeup was too heavy handed, especially the blush, and didn't look good in the photos, particularly the ones in my dress. I have had two similar photoshoots in the past and have loved going out after the shoot with my face made up, but this time I came home and immediately washed my face.
As for the photoshoot itself, it felt very rushed. It would have been nice to have more discussion at the beginning of the session as to what direction the shoot was going to take. It would have been nice for the photographer to show me some images so I could get an idea of what look he was going for. As for the images I showed him for inspiration, they were nothing like the images he took of me. Most of the shoot was of me wearing fabric that was provided to me by the studio, and I didn't realise it was going to feature so heavily in the photos. I imagined the fabric would be more soft and floaty, as in the images I showed at the beginning of the shoot. But I gave the photographer the benefit of the doubt, as I assumed there would be softening with lightening or blurring of parts of the image, but I was wrong. I also had other outfits, including basic black underwear, a beautiful robe, and jeans that I was expecting to have photos in but we didn't. This is a time in my life when I feel most comfortable about my body, yet I found a lot of the images had me posing awkwardly rather than naturally, and surely it's the photographers job to make me relax and feel more comfortable. As I was constantly rushed from one pose to another without seeing any photos or getting any feedback as to how the shoot was going, I assumed that I my postures and expressions had been ok, so was quite disappointed to see so many photos that I didn't like at the end.
I expected the "hard sell" at the end of the shoot, but again I felt my needs weren't listened to. I never intended on putting the photos on the wall, yet was pressured by all the various options for this. I only ever wanted smaller images and digital images yet was presented for limited options for this. It was disappointing how few images I liked, and also that I couldn't take any time to make a decision. I was more than happy to spend money on photos I loved, rather than be pressured to purchase photos just so I could leave and get some lunch (being hungry, pregnant, and diabetic is never good for making decisions).
Then, the images arrived via email and USB and weren't the exact images I ordered so I've had to email back and forth to get that sorted out too.
I have provided written feedback regarding my experience, and a week later they still haven't had the decency to respond to my email, which I feel reflects on poor customer service on their part.
Overall, not an experience I would recommend to others. And very disappointing in that I have now had to book a session with another photographer just so I have some memories of my pregnancy that I can share with family and friends. I'm pleased to report that my subsequent session with a different photographer was brilliant, not rushed, and was much more value for money.

Approximate cost: $1300