I soooo wanted to love my pictures. The owner was nice/accomodating plus I spent almost $400. But honestly I was disappointed in the end. First…if you’re traveling via ride share do not use the Rusty Pelican landmark/3201 Rickenbacker Cwy address. This will take you inside and all the way in the back of the marina While technically yes it is directly across from the location, the “street” is multi lanes, high speed, high traffic Instead use Hobie Island Beach Park and once there look for the food trucks. Use the park as your drop off location to save yourself a hike thru the marina and a mad dash across the causeway. Also…once you’re there, don’t bother looking for signs to locate the area…there are none. Just find the lady with the clear kayak and drone. #2…the seaweed took over! And here is where I own some of the blame in the outcome. No she could not control the seaweed. And even though she assured me she could edit all of it out of the pics, there was no way this amount of seaweed wouldn’t hurt the quality of the pics. I should have known better. Turns out at the time, Miami was experiencing record levels of seaweed. See 8/19/26 Fox weather article below. My appt was 8/22. It was at this point that I should have asked for a reschedule or some other resolution. I did not. My bad. Wait till you see the unedited pic—I should have known better. But we forged ahead and she was so patient with me while helping me get the poses right. But then the pics came. Heavily edited…AI looking backgrounds that capture none of the beauty of Miami😢. The pics weren’t horrible but in hindsight for $365 and my last morning in Miami, it was not worth my time or money. The owner offered additional edits after I expressed my disappointment, and there actually were slight improvements. I so wanted an authentic Miami feel from my pics, but the amount of editing needed to remove the seaweed made that next to impossible https://www.foxweather.com/lifestyle/record-amounts-sargassum-miami-beaches-new-solution.amp?fbclid=IwdGRjcAUD28BwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNlDifcL1DqsQU0eOFHiiUQQTFzjRWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR62KqT94enc_1ieg59ZozLuGG6n8tWLgMLdBCAOSVJTUfKDzRkGWqp4htLj5Q_aem_ecBm3HWzArKynl3D1hqVUg
As a photographer I've learned that I will not please everyone. You told me you preferred the shots with seaweed vs my edits. I then sent you 6 additional re-edits (none of which had seaweed) and you're still not satisfied. Miami's water is not always what's advertised in promotional material/tv and I place the disclaimer that I cannot control the clarity of the water. But unless you request it, my edits will always be VOID of seaweed but apparently not always meet a preconceived view of what Miami's authenticity should be. As far as the directions, reading comprehension is required. I've made them simple enough considering most of my clients are from out of town. As explained in the booking, the restaurant is a landmark. I don't expect you to go there considering this is a clear kayak photoshoot and not an excursion involving food.
