“The biggest con going ! Apparently well known for it too so wish we done our research before wasting our time!
I have emailed at least 3/4 times querying what we were promised and have been totally ignored each time. I have no other choice but to share so someone else don’t get conned. I would totally avoid using this company! Especially if you’ve won this as a competition or you see them advertise a deal. We won this competition at the baby show in Olympia, we were told that we got the maternity, newborn and 6 month package. We were told to put down a deposit to hold our space which was refundable once we attended and that on the day we would get a complimentary photo of our choice on a 7 day turn around sent to us. We went to this shoot on Wednesday in the Ipswich centre and was told there that we won’t get your maternity pictures until the newborn shoot. Firstly, why the hell does anyone want to wait that long for the maternity pictures and who would even be interested in the maternity pictures when they have a bundle of pictures of their newborn?! Already that has put a dampner on our experience. Once the session was over we sat in reception expecting to see the pictures. We were given a brochure of all of the extortionate packages we could choose from, both my partner and I was taken back since we were told there would an exclusive on the day offer of £99 for 10 of our pictures plus the complimentary picture on a 7 day turn around! We’re now seeing a brochure with the most extortionate prices we’ve seen for a baby shoot. We come home a little deflated, upset and very confused with what it is we’ve actually won here. Since we were also told to email the studio if we had any queries. I emailed 3 times in the end and had no response. I would totally avoid this studio! Policy of having to wait for both sessions to take place should put you off in itself let alone the brochure or prices they offer. I mean for digital files only it’s disgusting, let alone when you’re told you’ve won this as a price and there is no prize other than a complimentary picture of each session. Really?!. They offer “competitions” to reel you in and then shove a load of unrealistic prices in your face. To put things in to perspective. I have since been in touch with another studio who responded immediately. Helpful and full of information so I know where I stand before I booked them. She’s also much cheaper and you’re able to get your maternity pictures in the normal standard time frame! Please do your research.”
“Very bad Customer service! No follow up as to what plans need to be made for the shoot after payment was made. Contacted severally for a complaint and a refund with no positive response. I AM HAVING TO PUT THIS BAD EXPERIENCE HERE AS NO ONE IS REPLYING TO MY MAILS! I NEED A REFUND!”
“The photographer was accommodating and friendly. She captured some beautiful photos of our new born.
It is a shame that the prices are not displayed transparently, especially with signature prints which cost a lot more - in order to get all of these you have to spend roughly £1000. That is more than my wedding photographer who I have for a whole day and will receive 500+ photos from! We would have liked more family photos that one, we could afford (not signature ones) and two, more to choose from, from the whole 4 hour shoot we only got 2 family photos.
We will not be returning to baby arts for the sitting up or cake smash shoot as it is unaffordable.”
“My partner and I were due to welcome our son in May 2022 and I had won a free photo with BabyArt studios as part of a wider package. We drove 4 hours to Dundee and back to Edinburgh for this photoshoot (on 2 separate occasions for the Bump2Baby photo shoot and the newborn photoshoot). We came back to see our photos and of course we fell in love with them. We were told that if we paid for the platinum package (£2195.00) we would be able to have large photo prints all framed across all the photoshoots (including the upcoming sitters photoshoot and cake smash). We paid it without hesitation. The photographer said to whatsapp her when my son is sitting upright so that we can come along for our photoshoot. 7 whatsapp messages later, 2 text exchanges with an Admin from BabyArt studios, phonecalls, 2 emails to the BabyArt Dundee email, and messages to BabyArt studios facebook page....and nothing. We have been scammed of £2195.00 and are forced to take legal action. Disgusting of such a large company to do this to a young new family. Some new mum's I have reached out to have also decided against using this company because of this situation. If you do use this company - please make sure you have all photoshoots booked in and just be very very careful.”
“We took the full 1st year package for our baby and paid £2000 over the £149 that we had paid. They did the new born shoot, and after that they stopped all communications. They even did not bother to inform us that the reading studio (Henley) was shut. So now, we are no where. The second and the third shoot was not done, and I am not even getting replies when I asked for the refund. Horrible Horrible!!”
“Initially on my maternity shoot as I knew my baby’s arrival date I was told a date that would be ear marked for me for my baby’s newborn shoot. When I went to confirm after he was born this date hadn’t been saved. Finally after a couple of months we got our newborn shoot. The photographer was lovely however as he was 2months old she said he would be able to regulate his own temperature and so turned off the heat. With a stripped baby it wasn’t the best idea. He became congested after it and has had bronchitis (not saying it was definitely solely the reason but can’t help wonder if it attributed as we had been so careful otherwise). On shoot day our photographer mentioned we could get some pictures on wall art, we both agreed that’s not our style. When it came to the viewing I was unaware that I couldn’t obtain images unless I purchased the wall art for £395 each. These images admittedly were beautiful (they were what I’d asked for) however, when I asked to speak to the manager via phone to see if we could compromise and receive them digitally or print he told me no as I would only likely leave them in a drawer or delete off my phone when storage was full. I said that wasn’t my way but he told me it was likely as 90% do. I have photo books & email images/videos to an email address I’ve set up for my son. I am not one for sharing too much on social media. He told me his ethos and story as to why the business was set up and I understand this however I felt so hurt to see images of our family -specifically images I’d shown the photographer I wanted of our family to then be told you can’t have them unless you buy it on a block of wood. I wouldn’t have wasted mine or their time if I knew this was the case. I found The owner belittling on the phone and had to say I think we should end this call. I cried (which as a new mum I had only done once since giving birth) and I am not experiencing PND. Would I recommend - no. Please don’t be fooled like I was I wish I had read reviews on this site.”
“Awful experience here. We were enamoured by our newborn shoot so we purchased the first year package at £2,500 to get all the photo's from all 4 shoots, but when we went back to view the little sitters images, the quality was not there at all. Lazy and uncaring work. We felt that once they had the money, they didn't have to bother anymore.”
“Please, do not buy into beautiful ads on social media, their flashy emails and texts! This is a scam! They will make you pay, and then they will put you through torture of humiliation, embarrassment and exhaustion. They know what they are doing - using the most vulnerable period in a family's life to manipulate and steal money. At first they are going to trick you with all possible marketing tactics to make you believe that you are losing the most precious opportunity to capture the moment in your life, because spaces are limited! Then, they will suddenly arrange time for you and you will get to know that they can work only for you even on weekend because you are so special.
I paid for my package, and then I was given the terms and conditions that said it was not refundable, and that they wouldn't provide digital files for free. I didn't agree to such terms, but it was too late, because they have taken money and disappeared. Do not pay a penny before knowing what you are paying for. Be prepared that this photoshoot's price is about 2000£. If you get to have it. And also, if you miss any session in your package they reserve the right to take your money and cancel the whole package. Why, you'd ask, because they estimate to rob you from every session for about 800-2000£. Simply because they don't deal with people without such a budget.
I am looking for the ways to sue this company. All the people in these reviews can get together and write a petition to submit to the court. We should NOT allow shameless people like this to use such a sacred time of family's life to make their profit this way.”
“It is a con you literally have to spend minimum of £395 for 5 images. They will put all your best photos in a different album which is only for canvas only. If you mention something like it’s your favourite outfit from his older brother or you brought something sentimental. They will take pictures of that and put it in the canvas category. Which one canvas is £349 which is a lot and can be cheaper else where. I’ve had friends go else where and they get to select their images from all of them”
“I have never posted a review before. However, baby art have earned this right.
Do not use this company, their High pressure sales tactics could cost you £2000. Everything that has been said in these reviews is true. They manipulate you right from the beginning, their high pressure sales tactics will either make you pay or walk out. We were strong enough to walk, but I fear others might not!
If you do buy you will not see a cute photo on the wall, you will see your own mug shot, as you reflect and process the costs vs the quality. It is a con! The entire show has left me feeling very angry, and as read the other reviews it has made me feel very emotional. Heni made me feel worthless, I think he might have thought we couldn’t afford to pay £2000, offering us payment options! I am happy to agree we may have been naive, but I am not stupid and I am happy to accept our learning! Hopefully my post will help you learn from our mistake! Do not use this company!
PS:
To give you an example, we were shown a real of photos, when they finished we were asked to choose a package. I asked if I could see the photos again, I was told no, if I wanted to see the photos I would have to pay £1000! This is one example of their closing tactics!
I said I wanted to think about it, Heni said if I didn’t agree to pay he would delete the photos that night!
Delete away Heni - however, I hope this honest post has more shelf life!”
“We paid for a Maternity shoot, newborn, 6Month, 1 year and Hand casts.
( bump to baby package)
The company sent us various emails offering deals (7) in total.
Emails were back&fourth responses were quick and they even went to the extent to tell us baby names..
As soon as the money was transferred they stopped responding.
We’re now at 37 weeks and still no response. We’ve sent 3 emails & Facebook messages but still no response.
Yet still they’re posting Daily and still haven’t responded.”
“Had a photo shoot the other week (bump 2 baby) they didn't tell us the prices till after the shoot £395 for 5 photos is a rip off if I knew I that I wouldn't have even bothered.
They're out of the way and I thought it would be just one trip but no the first trip was them taking the photos the second trip is to look at the photos and told the price of them then the third trip is to pick up the complimentary photo so that's 6 journeys back and forth for one photo. Honestly keep your money don't give your hard earned cash to these robbers £395 for 5 photos is disgusting don't fall into the same trap”
“Wolves dressed as sheep.
All nice and charming when they think they can take a large some of money from you. As soon as they realise you cannot afford the overpriced packages the charming turns into sulking like a child. It's embarrassing.
Emotional blackmail is used if you can't afford the packages. Looking at photos of your newborn when you go back for the cheesy presentation with David telling you he will "immediately delete them" if you say the prices are too steep. But don't worry, you will still get low resolution (very low) images (just two ) of your choice and two tiny postcard size hard images. Do not buy Bump 2 Baby package. Give your money to a photographer that has moral ethics not these sharks.
However, if you have money to burn, cost is not a factor, enjoy hearing someone blow their own trumpet about how many awards they have, the celebrities they have worked with and you are happy with mediocre images then you will be extremely happy.”
“We bought the pump to baby package with the four shoots and the four photos, which was ideal for us. The photo shoot for the newborn was lengthy, but I thought the photographer was lovely, treated us really well, and thought we would get a good picture out of it. We had not received the booklet with the additional price packages before going to the shoot, We were given the booklet after the newborn shoot, wow I could not believe how expensive the photos were for the packages, I might as well buy myself props for my baby and take photos on my phone, I can’t believe they think people have that kind of money for photos, five digital images for £400!!! Other packages go up to £2000, are you crazy.
Obviously the packages and the additional costs were not for us as we are on a very restricted budget at the moment considering I’m on maternity leave. We went to view our photos, and were told about the additional packages, we politely explained that these packages were not in our budget and we were happy to just take the prints purchasing our original purchase. The photographer from that moment went from being so nice to us to rude and passive aggressive, I understand that a lot of that it goes into trying to upsell these packages but baby are need to understand that not everyone can afford these, and we shouldn’t be guilt tripped into buying these packages, it felt like some sleazy fake selling tactic. I felt upset, emotional, guilty and couldn’t believe how quickly the switch flipped abs how rude the photographer was to us, You could tell he thought we had wasted his time! Baby art should not sell the bump to baby package if there is such rudeness when you don’t buy additional prints. I wish we never got the photos to begin with and put our babies through the photo shoot. I would not recommend this company it’s such a rip-off and the staff are rude and fake!”
“Basically I agree with the other reviews you go for your photo shoot and you think you will get to select all the photos but your conned into buying wall art worth £349 as they don’t sell those images as prints. It’s a complete rip off the website has different prices compared to the catalog they send you. You only get the catalog after booking.”
“Worst company I have ever dealt with! Sold me a bump to baby package, and failed to inform me the studios were closed until it was too late for my bump shoot! Refused a refund! Still trying to claim back the £150 they have effectively stolen from me. No replies to emails, or calls. AVOID AVOID AVOID”
“I agree with the previous review. The whole thing is a scam. You get roped into a very (very!) long photo shoot with your baby crying and miserable - the swaddling/outfits are all very uncomfortable - you then get taken aside for a viewing and you’re given the HARD SELL to purchase a “signature photo art block”. Essentially this is a canvas print of a gimmicky photo with your baby in an extra outfit. The cost: £345. That’s for one canvas print! As the previous reviewer said, even five USB images are £395. They say they don’t pressure you - hmmm, let’s just say the process reminded me of those greasy salesmen you get in sunny countries who try to flog you a timeshare. When we declined spending more than our monthly mortgage on photos, the atmosphere changed: it got frosty and we felt pushed into explaining ourselves. Out of the way studios too so expect a long car journey. If you want tacky extremely overpriced photos pushed on to you in a high pressure environment, go for it - but for the same price, you could have a much nicer experience with better photographers (not recent grads with no experience) using more natural settings. Our baby was left traumatised by the experience and took hours to settle even when home. Very much regret ever engaging with this company.”
“I decided to share with you our experience, as I felt this company didn’t play fair. I contacted Baby Art UK on messenger to book a photo session (Bump2Baby) as I couldn’t get through by phone. They called me and took my details. They told me what the package offers and that any extras will be charged and that a book with their prices will be sent by post, but they didn’t say anything about the actual price prior booking. After paying for the package and the fee they charge, I have received a few days later the book and the prices they have, are huge. I felt that they tricked me as not anyone affords to pay £75 on one photo only and I consider is fair for them to actually inform you about this prior booking. To get ONLY 5 photos on a USB is £395. I have contacted them for a refund that obviously they refused to do. They said I can get what the package offers(that means 2 photos only) and is no need for me to buy anything else.
I am asking now what is the point of a photo session of 1 hour for a Bump Shoot and a 3-4 hours Newborn shoot to get only one picture free. Why put your newborn baby through all of that for just one photo?
Hope this will help you and you won’t feel tricked by them as I did.”
