Probably won't be coming back. While my personal experience was 2/5 stars, my friend had a much…read morebetter experience and was happy with both her photos and her overall session.
We booked a portrait session that included four Polaroid photos and another session for a 20 minute shoot using a digital camera. My biggest issue was how differently I felt I was treated compared to others. The photographer only let me practice posing twice before suggesting that I come back another day. Meanwhile, my friend and two other girls who were there at the same time were given many more opportunities to practice, adjust their poses, and play with props.
I also wanted to try a different background and use one of the props, but when I brought it up, the photographer discouraged it and didn't let me experiment. It made the experience feel very restrictive. She made good suggestions, which I was willing to try, but she didn't give me the space to practice my poses for the Polaroids when she did that for the other girls.
My friend and I also did the 20-minute Misty Blue background session, which I genuinely enjoyed. The camera setup was great, but I found the selection of props underwhelming. I also think it's disappointing that you're limited to one background, especially when many similar studios allow multiple sets during a session.
What left the worst impression was what happened afterward. When the session ended, the photographer suggested that I come back another day wearing white or with more makeup specifically for the Polaroid photos. Rather than offering to help me improve my poses or giving me another chance, the solution was essentially to come back looking different. At that point, I no longer felt comfortable continuing, so I paid and went back to my car.
After I left, my friend stayed behind to decorate her Polaroids and told me the photographer asked her why I seemed upset. Later, the studio messaged my friend offering to let me take the Polaroid photos for free because they knew I was disappointed. While I appreciate the gesture, it came after we had already left the area. They knew we had driven a long distance to visit, so it would have been much more meaningful if they had offered to make things right while we were still there.
I don't expect every experience to be perfect, but I do expect to be given the same opportunity to practice, experiment, and enjoy the session as everyone else. Unfortunately, I left feeling rushed, dismissed, and treated differently, which overshadowed the parts of the experience that I did enjoy.
