Snappr Photography — Local services in New Haven

I am writing this review with regards to my Snappr photo shoot with Snappr photographer Elizaveta. To say the least, it was a horrible experience, where I believe I was dishonestly taken advantage of and forced to pay a fabricated fee by this mediocre photographer. I would absolutely NOT recommend using Snappr and especially NOT booking this photographer. Moreover, I reached out to Snappr Customer Service without any attempt to fix this disastrous situation and photo shoot.

This is my story...

I booked Elizaveta for Snappr's 4-hour photo shoot package for more than $550, which per Snappr's website includes all photos taken within that time.

In planning for the day, I had attempted to communicate through the Snappr platform with the photographer, Elizaveta, but she insisted on communicating through offline text messages. As such, through text we agreed to speak on the phone the day before about expectations for our shoot the next day - which would be a 4 hour photo shoot of my daughter’s first communion at the church, at a park on the way to our reception, and our reception itself, which she confirmed sounded good and would not be a problem.

Much to my surprise, on the next day (the morning of my daughter’s communion) about 90 minutes before the agreed upon 930am start time for the shoot we had agreed to the night before, I received a text message from Elizaveta outside of the Snapr platform that she was now demanding an additional $200 fee to do the shoot, that we had agree to day prior. She was demanding this payment because she invented a Snappr policy limiting any shoot to 25 photos per hour, and that she thought my shoot could be greater than this amount.

In the texts, Elizaveta went on and on about an imaginary Snappr photo limit policy, for which she was not able to provide proof of, despite my repeated request(s) for it. Since she was now making me late for my daughter’s event, I asked her to discuss the fee at the venue after when pressed she could not present the policy within Snappr that she was quoting. But she made it clear that she would not show up at the shoot – which was now starting in less than 90 minutes - unless she was paid now. Mind you, most of this conversation took place on text, until I, for my consumer protection, forced it back onto the Snappr platform.

Under duress, I only paid the additional $200 fabricated fee at this point of despair (which I paid in protest) noting in the Snappr conversation, that it was important to me to get the photos of my daughter's Communion day and is the ONLY reason for payment, and NOT because under any agreement with the photographer about her made-up policy, and in FULL DISAGREEMENT to the imaginary photo policy behind it from Elizaveta.

After paying Elizaveta's fabricated incremental fee, the photographer did show up for a shoot which itself was subpar and well below the quality that I had experienced with other photographers (Snappr and independent). Elizaveta showed up 15 minutes late for our 930am start time and had to be implored many times throughout the shoot, to actively take pictures as events were happening. Additionally, she repeatedly tried to ask me to leave shoot locations early, such as a park, which I had paid for transportation for all of us to get to and even subsequently requested to leave our event reception 15 minutes early. Moreover, at the reception itself, she took ONLY ONE picture of my immediate family all together, in which my son’s eyes were clearly closed, where she did not bother to check her camera, and lost a key family memory with her careless and lackluster photography skills, resulting in that moment being lost forever. Overall, it was a disappointing shoot, to say the least, made significantly worse due to the obvious fabricated fee, which made a $550 shoot, a $750 shoot, which I NEVER would have knowingly booked with Snappr or this photographer.

I caution those interested in Snapr and / or Elizaveta to not make the same mistake I did and...

The prices are great and it is nice that you are offered few options 1 hoyr, 2 hours etc...I m shy person and I m not crazy about photo shoots so 1 hour was more than enough for me. It was perfect. And my photographer was great, polite and not pushy but helpful with advises and ideas of light and background. I just don't like when other photographers convince you do 2 hours session or even more, because it so important for goid photo shoot, wear this or that, pose in some certain way etc . While booking there was a question if I want studio photos or outdoors while booking. I choose studio hoping i will be taking shoot in some studio in my zip code area...and that was an issue ...seems there were no addresses fot certain studios. May be I should have read more carefully about conditions...but I tried and didn't find any additions about studio shoot anyway. So we did it outdoor with my photographer, thanks God weather was nice and Andrey was creative enough trying to find some building walls where I would look like I m in studio/apartmen/building etc. And we did few amazing pictures outside. Overall I think it is a great project just some small details sbout booking need to be elaborated. But idea is great by itself. I believe it is good for photographers and customers both. Prices are very fair...especially of you compare with all that crazy instagram photographers who all believe they are the stars and charging prices over $500. As I mentioned before my photographer Andrey was very good, polite and professional. Also I received all my pictures in 24 hours...or may be even a bit less! Which is great bonus! I will definitely consider to do another photo shoot later on....probably family one....

What an amazing experience I’ve had with Snappr! I always complain I’m never in family photos because I’m always taking the photos!, so for Mother’s Day my husband presented me with a gift certificate to book a photo shoot. I dragged my feet for months to schedule the session (not having the “perfect” outfits, not having the “perfect” weather, etc) The year deadline was quickly approaching to use the certificate, and then the pandemic hit! Snappr Customer Service very generously extended the deadline - thank you!

Booking our photographer and setting the location was extremely easy via the App, but Customer Service was at the ready to assist if needed. Selecting a photographer was fun - you can view their work and read a little about them. We selected Debbie-Jean because not only was her photography beautiful, but her bio just felt like someone we’d get along with and feel comfortable with in front of her camera. Our hunch was right: she engaged our four year old daughter and captured great moments for our family. It was scorching hot outside, we were sweating like crazy, and our daughter was often running wild...but the pictures are amazing! I’m not sure what magic Debbie-Jean worked, but we look better in her pictures than we maybe ever have!

I was so pleased with the photography and the great customer service that I booked another session just four weeks later! Snappr gives so many high quality photos at a very reasonable price; I will be booking again and again. We cherish these wonderful family photos (that thanks to Snappr,...