I booked a double session with Chelsea (estella c and Co photography aka tender love photography) during her black friday special after seeing and falling in love with her work and being recommended by a friend. It's my first pregnancy so not only was I excited to get my maternity and newborn pictures done by someone I liked, it was also at a GREAT price!! HOWEVER, I did not realize that she would be impossible to get ahold of to book the sessions. I wanted to hold off to do pictures until it snowed, but after I accepted that it was not going to snow for them, I contacted her to set up a date. I heard NOTHING from her for a week and a few days. I finally got ahold of her and booked a day... it poured. All day. My schedule with my husband's is very odd and she was unable to rebook with me until a few days before my DD. I did not want a huge pregnant swollen face to ruin my pictures so I had to find a different photographer and spend MORE MONEY that I did not plan for, to have my pictures done. I wasn't happy, but I figured at least I will get the newborns done and maybe use the other one for another time. Then I contacted her after my baby was born and did not hear back from her for a week and a half of me bothering her on both her fb and her photography fb... nothing. My baby was losing her newborn size and squish and she wanted to do them when she was 2 weeks old. Thats was too old. I asked for a refund since both shoots that I bought it for fell through due to lack of communication on her end...however, she insisted that there was no refunds given due to it being in the contract. Upon reviewing the contract however, refunds were not in the contract as she said they were, and I asked her to just refund so that I could help recoup costs of the other shoots. She gave me a very hard time about this and was unprofessional, but eventually agreed. I again shelled out MORE MONEY that I did not plan on for ANOTHER photographer who said even when I took her that she was too old for newborn photos at 9 days old because she is not as sleepy or posable (she was so understanding and kind and went overy our time in the studio to try to make me happy... it was the most stressful photos shoot ever... she wouldn't sleep, wouldn't be posed, etc) i missed out on her tiny newborn pictures. After arguing back and forth with me for a while, she Finally she said that I would get refunded in two weeks time. My baby was 1.5 weeks old...she is now 16 weeks old and I have gotten EVERY EXCUSE in the book and I feel like my kindness has been completely taken advantage of...I still do not have money and have been promised this at least 4 times. (She will say that she was in the hospital and that's why and she has no money etc, however this was supposed to be taken care of long before this AND I NEVER contacted her until AFTER I saw she was out and about, going to weddings and improving her house) I even suggested to get on a payment plan to get it taken care of. Please Please DO NOT book with her... or at least do not pay her until you have photos delivered. It's sad because she does look like she does a great job... but her customer service is severely lacking...
She has been reported to the BBB TWICE under a different business name with with the with the same issues that my friend and I are having having with her. But don't just take my word for it..
Attached is the BBB summaries. Please do your research before booking a photographer
http://www.bbb.org/connecticut/business-reviews/photographers/tender-love-photography-in-moodus-ct-87120057/ read more