Mary is a highly skilled photographer, highly recommend for any special occasion. She's great at finding good settings, directing poses, and capturing authentic moments. Very happy with the photo shoot and final photos! -Mike

Mary did an awesome job capturing photos of my proposal. She scouted out locations in Central Park ahead of the proposal date and sent videos and pictures to help me decide on an exact location.

She was easy to communicate with throughout the entire process and I highly recommend her! -Ryan

We had a fantastic photo shoot in New York and loved the photos afterward. In addition, the photo shoot went very well, and Mary had great tips when taking the photos, but this all felt very relaxed and natural.

Also, she really took the time for us, both prior, when discussing how I wanted to propose to my girlfriend and during the photo shoot on the day itself. What we found really special is that Mary also managed to capture the short, beautiful moments. -Jelle

At first, I was a bit worried about the quality of the photos since Local Lens was so affordable. It seemed too good to be true! However, we are very pleased with our photos.

Mary was so responsive, thoughtful, and incredibly talented. I'd highly recommend her to anyone looking for a skilled photographer great with providing direction and also taking direction. Thanks for being part of our special day, Mary! -Diana & Gary

We were visiting New York for my birthday and we booked Mary for a photoshoot around the city. We cannot recommend her enough. We requested her to take full control of direction.

It was super comfortable. She guided us through the whole process. She gave us a lot of local recommendations as well.

We were so glad to have booked her for our photos. They came out very beautiful. Lovely colors and frames, casual and a bit candid - Just the way we wanted them. Thank you. -Annie

Mary was absolutely fantastic. She communicated with us so well and knew just where to take us for the best shots. She was efficient and did more than we asked in our 30-minute session.

So happy with how our pictures turned out! Thank you, Mary!!! -Lindsay

Simply amazing! Would definitely recommend and hire again. Love her enthusiasm and passion for great photos! -Marlon W

Let me tell you why Mary is... THE BEST!!

Since the very beginning, she stood out, going above and beyond, suggesting multiple locations, times, things to do, and much more.

Planning was crazy and stressful but Mary made it as smooth as possible.

Again, she was very involved, she was on point all the time, paying attention to all the little details to make sure I was going to have the time of my life with my fiance.

Mary made our surprise engagement a dream come true!

We flew in from Florida and she was a huge help when it came to the location. The day of the engagement she made us feel so comfortable and guided us to an amazing photoshoot.

She is hands down, the best photographer on this website, I would recommend her 11/10 times -Chris

I booked Mary for my engagement photos and she was fantastic! She was so helpful in finding the perfect spot for the proposal and was able to get the surprise picture without my fiancée noticing!

She then walked us around WV and got so many amazing pictures by the water/skyline with a range of candid and posed pictures! She made the planning process easy and taking the photos was comfortable and fun.

A number of our friends said that they thought the pictures were the best engagement photos they’ve seen, and of course, we agree! I highly recommend Mary! -Will

Mary was fantastic, we would 100% use her again! Mary was very helpful right from the start, whether it was providing insights on locations, timings, advice, help with poses, and even assisted with recommendations on places to eat in the area.

Our photos turned out great, Mary went above and beyond our expectations! -Matthew

This is a (late, apologies!) review based on 11th March 2023 and a thank you to Mary for being so great at both the pre-planning, coping with my messages and giving us some amazing photos for our surprise engagement!

I had never used Local Lens before and came across it after looking for ideas to book a photographer to shoot my surprise engagement in NYC. I typed in the location and after looking at various photographers' portfolios including Mary's, she was my first choice given her photos were exactly what I was after and thankfully, she responded advising she was available on my requested dates.

I had already provided Mary with details as to where/when I wanted the shoot to take place (so much so, she thought originally I was a NYC resident as opposed to being from the UK haha!), we bounced back and forward ideas together and she gave honest ideas about how things may look and gave example photos too from her other shoots in these locations, which helped me towards my final decision.

Apart from one occasion where Mary was unavailable due to being ill (thankfully this was only a very short time), Mary responded to messages always the same day. Time difference was a factor which meant we could only exchange 1-2 messages a day but that is not a reflection on Mary herself. I also made it difficult due to the fact the engagement was a surprise, so I could only respond when not with my significant other which delayed responses on my side too! I said to Mary I preferred to not communicate via text/WhatsApp to avoid spoiling the surprise, thankfully she advised of the Telegram App where we communicated instead as an alternative.

Once the decision was made about where and when the shoot would take place, I had obvious concerns as to how the "surprise" element would work - Mary eased these and told me where she would be sat close to the location (but not suspiciously so) pretending to photograph the scenery and would be ready and waiting to capture the moment at the agreed time. I had to send over a quick photo of what I was wearing on the day and Mary sent a photo of herself too so we both knew what to look for. Thankfully, Mary was still at the spot when I arrived 10 minutes late due to stalling too much, when I was originally worried about arriving early!!

When the moment was about to happen, I could see Mary ready with her camera and thankfully the answer was yes! Mary also agreed to video the proposal simultaneously which was an added bonus. Once the proposal finished, Mary introduced herself to me (our first in-person meeting) and my new Fiancee (to her shock!!), she offered her congratulations and it was a lovely moment.

From this point, Mary took charge in her professional capacity and guided us in how to pose for the photoshoot, originally in the proposal location and then took us around various spots in Brooklyn (Time Out Market, DUMBO, walked across the whole Brooklyn Bridge for many shots) to complete our photoshoot, she accompanied us the whole way and even though we were amateurs to a photoshoot, she remained patient and created some beautiful photos even though we were a little stiff at first!!

The finished photos we received are absolutely stunning and a full credit to Mary and her skills. I couldn't think to recommend Mary anymore, do not hesitate if she is available on your dates to contact her for an engagement shoot!!

We also spent some time walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with Mary just after the shoot finished getting to know her a little, her story and her background so it was a lovely human touch too.

(One of our many images attached - I had to scale down the image for it to be sent over here, the real image is much better)

Take care and best wishes.

Tom & Nicole -Tom & Nicole

Mary was so great! We did family photos, and my teen was very shy. She pulled her out of her shell, and we ended up with excellent photos.

We wanted iconic NY vacation photos, and pre-shoot Mary suggested a ton of options. Once we met, she led us around our selected location to get a variety of different shots. We had fun and got much more than the few images we were hoping for.

I would recommend Mary to anyone. It was such a good experience I’m already considering doing a larger family shoot when we visit family in a different city in the Fall! Thank you so much, Mary! -Jenn

Mary was very helpful in assisting me with planning my surprise proposal, by providing me with many location options and working with me to find a perfect spot.

During the photoshoot, she was very professional in helping with our poses and also worked with us to capture the pictures that we envisioned.

Overall, we would definitely recommend Mary to our friends for future photoshoots in NYC! -Cyrus

I recently had the pleasure of working with Mary, for my engagement photoshoot in DUMBO of Brooklyn, New York. I cannot express enough how delighted my fiancé and I are with the entire experience and the stunning results that Mary captured.

From the moment we met Mary, her warmth and enthusiasm put us at ease, creating a comfortable atmosphere that made the entire photoshoot enjoyable and relaxed. She effortlessly found the perfect backdrops and unique angles while being very patient with her non-model models.

Mary's professionalism and expertise were evident throughout the entire process. She took the time to understand our vision for the engagement photos, and her ability to seamlessly blend her artistic style with our preferences resulted in a collection of images that exceeded our expectations. Her guidance on poses and expressions was invaluable, ensuring that every moment was captured authentically and beautifully.

Additionally, communicating with Mary was so easy. Before the shoot, she texted me to discuss the location of the shoot and the hidden details of the shoot (a paparazzi type of moment at the start of the engagement) and was very organized.

Thank you, Mary, for making our engagement photoshoot an unforgettable experience. -Kurri & Jen

I had the pleasure of booking Mary from Local Lens to capture the special moment of my proposal to my girlfriend Jess. From the moment I reached out to Mary, her passion and attention to detail shone through. It was evident that she genuinely cared about making our engagement shoot a truly memorable experience.

In the days leading up to the shoot, Mary and I had several conversations to discuss the specifics and ensure everything was perfectly coordinated. She arrived at the proposal location near Jane's Carousel overlooking the magnificent New York Skyline before the scheduled time to assist with the setup and ensure every detail was picture-perfect.

When the proposal moment arrived, Mary seamlessly captured the raw emotions and excitement of the moment. She then proceeded to spend the next hour with us, expertly guiding us through various poses and backgrounds to capture the essence of our love and joy. Mary's creativity and energy were infectious, and she constantly surprised us with new ideas to make each photo unique and meaningful.

One aspect that truly stood out was Mary's genuine enthusiasm throughout the shoot. Every few minutes, she would pause to show us a glimpse of the stunning photos she had captured, adding to our excitement and anticipation. It made the entire experience incredibly enjoyable and interactive.

I wholeheartedly recommend Mary to anyone seeking a photographer who not only possesses exceptional skills but also brings a contagious passion and dedication to their work. Mary made our engagement shoot an unforgettable experience, and we are forever grateful for her talent in capturing such precious memories. -Justin

Mary was absolutely amazing! We booked a shoot with her a bit last minute for our family trip to NYC. We had a larger group of 6 and she did a great job of directing us and making sure we got plenty of different shots. I let her know a few days before the shoot that my sister may want some additional shots to use for her senior graduation and she delivered!

The photos were beautiful and my younger sister couldn't be more happy. We would 100% recommend Mary to anyone looking to shoot in New York. -Reina

I cannot express how thrilled my fiancée Teresa and I are with the incredible job our proposal photographer did! This was our first-ever photoshoot experience, and she made it truly unforgettable. From the moment we met, she went above and beyond to capture every precious moment beautifully.

What stood out the most was her ability to make us feel at ease. Being the first time, we were both super jittery, but she skillfully talked us through the entire experience, calming our nerves and creating a relaxed atmosphere. Her friendly and reassuring presence was invaluable.

The variety of photos she took was exceptional – from perfectly posed shots to candid, natural moments, she managed to capture the essence of our special day. The locations she helped us choose were stunning, adding an extra layer of magic to the entire proposal.

Overall, this photoshoot was one of the most memorable and best experiences from our proposal weekend, thanks to our amazing photographer. We are beyond grateful for her talent, professionalism, and the beautiful memories she has given us. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for a skilled and personable photographer! -Alex & Teresa

Mary was wonderful! She not only captured incredibly beautiful and memorable photos, but she also went above and beyond what I expected.

She was great at calming nerves and was very supportive, on time, helpful and detailed. Thank you!!! -Castenzio

Maria is THE BEST!!!

From the beginning, Mary was very supportive and willing to help me through this special time.

I proposed to my girlfriend and Mary helped me A LOT! She helped me find the perfect place for us and suggested many other options just in case. She also suggested ideas to make the proposal even more special.

Mary did an excellent job capturing the moment and I am forever grateful for helping us. She really knows what she's doing and all I can say is that I recommend her 100%. You won't regret working with her, and believe me when I say that you will have a beautiful lifelong memory.

Thank you, Mary! -Gerardo

Mary was GREAT! There was a lot of coordination needed for this surprise proposal. Mary communicated well, she helped in picking out a beautiful location for the proposal after I told her the area we would be in.

After the proposal, she had several areas picked out for additional pictures that were beautiful.

Once I got the photographs I was thrilled with how they came out. -Samuel

I absolutely enjoyed working with Mary. My fiancé is very reserved and it feels like pulling teeth with him in order to get a photo done and show affection in them. She had him do exercises and it loosened him up and he became more comfortable.

I love our photos and can’t wait to get them printed and placed in our home. -Brittany

Seamless Fit! It’s no secret that Mary loves her craft. Her art gravitates towards making you comfortable in front of her lens.

She was not just a photographer but she became a friend who showed me the New York City highlights and taught me the train systems.

Her whole being is such a seamless fit for anyone who loves art, beauty, and rawness. -Leah

I used Mary for our proposal and she was excellent to work with. She was communicative before the shoot and was able to perfectly capture the moment. After the proposal, we did a posed shoot in a few locations.

The pictures came out quickly and were beautiful! We'll certainly be using them for our Save the Date -Adam

Our engagement shoot with Mary was absolutely perfect. Mary communicated with me ahead of time for every detail and she helped me decide on the perfect location. She arrived ahead of time to scope out locations to make sure they weren’t too busy. Mary even videoed our proposal which was an extra treat. Her photos are amazing! Her work really speaks for itself.

It was fun getting to know her and she made us feel so comfortable. She also gave us great recommendations after the proposal. I highly recommend her to anyone doing an NYC photoshoot. -Coltyn

It's coming up on one year since our engagement. Mary was excellent! Her communication and attention to detail was phenomenal. She kept me at ease every step of the way even helping to devise a plan to keep it a surprise.

Thanks for making this day just as special and magical as I had hoped! -DG

Could not be happier with our photographer Mary! We were doing a surprise proposal in NYC on Sept. 29th when all the flooding took place. Mary was a true professional helping us plan on the fly when our first spot was underwater! She was so knowledgeable with lighting and angles that it really showed in our pictures.

We are so happy with the way the pictures turned out. I would recommend her to anyone! -Ray

Kathy and I had been dating for over nine years, across many cities (San Jose, San Francisco, Chicago, Philly, New York), including a long-distance period. We're perfect for each other, so it was time! I wanted to capture the emotions around the surprise proposal. Mary, our photographer, did an amazing job with the logistics and planning around the proposal and subsequent photoshoot. She suggested a beautiful location in Central Park for us and was flexible on adjusting the date to account for the weather. On the day of, we agreed on where and when to meet. Kathy thought we were just going for a walk to see the cherry blossoms. When we got to the location, Mary was pretending to take photos of the flowers and trees. I went up to her and asked her if she could take a picture of Kathy and me on my phone. She did, then afterward asked if she could take one with her own camera to promote her website. We agreed, and after the first couple shots, I got down on one knee and made the proposal! Kathy was shocked and it took a few seconds for her to compose herself, but happy she said yes!" -Heerad

We haven't had professional pictures in a long time and what a wonderful way to document our vacation! We went to Washington Mews, Washington Square and Greenwich Village area. It was a very cold day but when you book a photo shoot weeks in advanced you just have to go with it. Mariia was great to work with. She gave us a little tour guide while we were walking around finding some great spots to take pictures. She worked with us to relax and have fun with them. Easier said then done when your cold. She went up and beyond to make the whole experience worth it. She was kind, polite and very professional. I would definitely book with her again. -Melissa

We booked a shoot because we live in New York and I wanted to do a Central Park engagement shoot. Mary did an amazing job of setting the scene and getting great photos not just at the location of the proposal but also in multiple locations near the proposal. -John

We booked a shoot to capture the memory of the engagement! I chose Mary from Local Lens because it was so clear from her initial message how passionate and detail-oriented she was. She had a million ideas on how to do the proposal, and she was so excited to help out.

Mary and I communicated back and forth for a few days leading up to the shoot to iron out the exact details. Mary showed up to the proposal a half hour early to help set up and make everything look picture-perfect. The proposal happened, and then Mary spent the next hour with us taking pictures. She had all sorts of ideas for different backgrounds, poses, etc. to capture the moment in different ways. Mary brought so much energy and excitement to the shoot, and one of my favorite things she did was while she was taking the pictures, she would pause every 5 minutes or so to show us how they were coming out. Mary made the photoshoot extremely fun, and now that I've seen the photos, I have to say she did an unbelievable job. The photos are everything my fiancée and I could have asked for and more. I would absolutely recommend her! 🙂 -Brahm

It lined up with a trip we were already taking. It was our yearly vacation. About 10 minutes into our photo shoot, Mary took us to a scenic view of the city and told us to do the Titanic pose. I knew this was my queue, so I knelt down and furnished a ring from my late grandmother. She said yes! The photos from that day are so special, and we couldn't be happier. Mary is clearly very talented, very knowledgeable about NYC, and very friendly. -Aaron

We booked a shoot because it is our 2nd time back in NYC and love it there. Wanted to create a lifelong memory. -Dirk

Mary was the best photographer we could have asked for for our engagement photos. Mary's photos not only came out AMAZING, but her communication, excitement, and dedication throughout the entire process made this a perfect experience.

Mary knew all of the good places around NYC, and suggested multiple locations for me to consider to optimize our time together. She even sent a video to let me know of a possible location, allowing me to review it as an option for the proposal.

Throughout the photoshoot, Mary was so much fun! She really made us feel comfortable in front of the lens, and cared about us as humans, getting to know us throughout the photoshoot (as well as leading up).

Leading up to the photoshoot, there was much back and forth via text to plan our special day. She wanted to get to know us as a couple, making us know she really cared and loved her job.

I strongly strongly suggest booking Mary. She is great to work with, a wonderful person, and her photos are amazing! Thank you so much, Mary! 😀 -Justin & Matt

Mary did an incredible job with everything, I couldn't have hoped for a better photographer! She helped lay out the best location options, gave great direction for setting up the best surprise angle for the proposal, and helped us with amazing poses and locations for the rest of the photoshoot. -Alec

She was fantastic! A joy to work with and made us all feel comfortable. -Kari

Mary was absolutely incredible. I could not have imagined a better person to shoot our proposal! From the moment we booked her, she was incredibly communicative and helpful. As someone from out of town, I really appreciated all of the time and effort she put in to helping me find a perfect place for our proposal (and tips, tricks, and suggestions on how to make it perfect). During the day of, she went above and beyond and really made our time in NY a phenomenal experience. -Derrick

Mary was amazing! She helped coordinate everything and provided extremely helpful suggestions on timing and location. She was great at communicating, and made sure to address all my questions. Also, needless to say, the photos turned out great too . -Max

I love our photos! Thank you so much! You’re very easy to work with and are amazing. I’ll recommend all my friends to you. -John