Took me a few weeks to write this review in order to say what I needed to convey tactfully without bias or lingering frustration. Our overall maternity shoot with Mary Bosotu Photography was an experience we won't forget, but not in the memorable way we were anticipating. Would not recommend...4/10.
Mary Bosotu Photography came highly recommended by a family member so when my first choice was booked solid I reached out for Mary's availability. Her business appealed to me because of her variety of dress offerings and photos of previous clients in her social media page. Her assistant Vivian was amazing and very timely in answering emails. However after paying the initial deposit Mary was harder to reach which I totally understood and gave time before following up. Five days prior to the scheduled photoshoot, late October 2021, I was finally able to speak with Mary on the phone for a consultation. She seemed pleasant enough on the phone and answered all of questions.
Fast forward to the day of the maternity shoot we were running about 15 mins behind. I called and texted Mary about 45 mins prior and recieved no answer. Upon pulling up to her home we were unsure where to park so again I called but no answer. We happened to see a woman staring at us from her driveway so we stopped and asked if she was Mary. She stated yes and told us where to go very flatly. The lackluster greeting and non response to calls made me a bit weary but we proceeded anyway. Upon walking into the studio, the ambiance was be off putting. Lights were turned off, untidy bathroom and floor messy with props & flowers that we had to step over to pass. Mary was not very welcoming and seemed to be having a bad day as soon as we entered the studio. Again against our better judgement we tried to be optimistic that things would get better. I tried to remain upbeat, however a mixture of hormones and annoyance left me trying to shake the disappointment off. Long story short(ish)...I had to ask several times for her to change the backdrop and to include props for the different outfit changes. These requests were made due to other photos we liked on her IG page, not arbitrarily. However she seemed impatient and annoyed anytime I spoke or asked for something. Also I was under the impression that I would be able to try on the dresses in her inventory at the time of the shoot but was rudely informed that I could only try on two dresses because she did not want to launder unused dresses. If that's your policy I respect that but would have been nice to mention during our phone consultation!
Fast forward to the raw unedited photos being delivered via email. She requested we chose our favorite poses and stated that the photos would be edited and returned. Upon seeing the photos I was sadden to see the frustration in my facial expressions, lack of direction for proper positioning, etc. However I wrote back inquiring about the editing process because I was interested in having some imperfections removed from my belly & curious about the ability to adjust awkward leg positions, if possible. I don't believe she understood the true intent of my question because her response was very defensive and condescending. In response, she recommended that I "review my website or Instagram to get an understanding of how final images look". Are you kidding me?! Without seeing unedited to compare to edited photos, how is that supposed to help me ma'am. At that point I knew she wasn't having a one off bad day but was not capable of communicating effectively, being empathetic, professional or courteous. In order to not further upset myself I chose not to engage with her anymore after receiving the final digital shots.
As a first time mom I wanted these keepsake photos to commemorate my pregnancy and to cherish for years to come with my new family. I didn't view the questions I had as too demanding but rather typical for not knowing what to expect. I strongly dislike the way our photos came out for the amount of money spent. Her newborn pics are adorable and appear to be her strong suit. However due to our ordeal we won't be returning or recommending to others. My sincere hope is that our experience is a one off and others have a more pleasant maternity session outcome. Cheers! read more