Frequently asked questions about Shoott's free 30 minute photoshoot service

Frequently Asked Questions

How it works

How long will my session be?

A standard Shoott session will consist of approximately 25 minutes of active photographing if a client shows up on time and is ready to take the first shot the moment their session begins; the other time is reserved for walking between different spots to create variety in posing and scenery and for photographers to return to the meeting point to begin their next session on time.

What if I don't buy any photos?

It almost never happens, but you are welcome to not choose any photos from your gallery. There is no obligation to buy and no minimum order size. Kindly note that if you decide to buy less than $100 worth of photos, Shoott will require you to make a prepayment on your next session with us, which will be applied towards your purchase order. This is to financially protect our photographers and hard-working team.

Is Shoott's business model profitable for photographers?

Besides helping our clients get great photos, Shoott deeply believes in supporting photographers. Shoott's offer of free 30 minute sessions and pay-by-the-pic model creates demand for photo sessions that wouldn't otherwise happen, bringing photographers full days of back-to-back clients in a single location. We're proud to offer industry-leading rates (averaging $150/hour) with generous commission and regular, sustainable work.

Who can I bring with me to my session?

Bring friends, family, pets or anyone else that makes you happy! We just ask that you limit your party to a maximum of 15. If you party exceeds that number, we ask that you book more than one session. Please make sure to check for any group limits per local ordinances or studio rules in advance of your session. This can be found on the booking page for your event and in your booking confirmation email.

Why is your pricing so low?

Many great photographers today spend more time searching and waiting for jobs than they do taking great photos. Our ability to aggregate demand for our photographers allows us to pass the benefit on to our customers in the form of affordable pricing because we believe that nobody should have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to have amazing photos!

What kind of photo sessions do you capture?

Our team of talented photographers is trained to shoot all different types of portraiture, including but not limited to: lifestyle, family, newborns, maternity, engagements, fitness, business headshots, acting headshots, model portfolios and more. Nearly anything you want to shoot (though we like to keep it PG-13) for non-commercial use* , we’re happy to help you capture it! * Commercial use includes, but is not limited to, stock photos, book covers, album covers, e-commerce.

Booking your session

Why am I being asked to prepay?

There are a few situations in which you would be required to prepay: 1. If you canceled or rescheduled last minute or did not show up for a previous session 2. If you spent less than $100 on one of your previous sessions. 3. If you book back-back sessions or already have at least one other upcoming session. Shoott loves providing our customers with quality photos and a fun experience! That being said, we want to ensure that our business model stays viable for everyone, which means taking some precautions for our photographers and hard-working team. Please note that prepayments are non-refundable. Rest assured, however, that the amount you prepay will be applied as credit towards photos in your gallery. :)

What is the deadline to cancel or reschedule my session?

For pay-by-the-pic sessions, You can easily cancel or reschedule at any time up to 10:00am two days before your session. After this time, cancelling or rescheduling your session will incur a minimum fee of $40 to cover your photographer’s time and forfeiture of other paid gigs. If you do not show up or reschedule or cancel after 8pm the day before your scheduled session, you will be automatically charged a $75 no-show fee. You will find a link on your booking confirmation email to a page where you can easily do this yourself! If you have any trouble, don't hesitate to contact our team. For custom sessions, we ask that you notify us by 10am three days before the session if you need to cancel or reschedule and you will receive a full refund. Anything rescheduled after that timeframe will forfeit the deposit. To learn more about cancelling or rescheduling your session, click here.

Can I book back-to-back or multiple sessions?

Your 30-minute session is sufficient for multiple light outfit changes and poses, we promise! If you book back-to-back sessions or multiple sessions, your photo galleries will be split accordingly based on time, meaning you will receive separate galleries for each 30 minute session. Package discounts will be applied on a per-gallery basis. Additionally, if you already have at least one upcoming session and attempt to make another booking, you will be asked to make a prepayment that can be applied to photos from your session. The prepayment amount depends on the number of upcoming bookings you already have: - 1 session already booked: $100 - 2+ sessions already booked: $150 Your prepayment is non-refundable and will be deducted from your final cart amount in your gallery. If you purchase less than the prepayment amount worth of photos, you will not be refunded the remaining amount. Prepayments cannot be applied to a different gallery. You can learn more about booking back-to-back/multiple sessions here.

Can I book at other dates and locations that aren't listed?

We only offer free sessions with a pay-by-the-pic model at our listed locations. However, we also offer affordable custom sessions where you can choose the date, time and location of your session - click here to learn more.

Why is there a booking charge on my card?

The charge you see is a temporary pre-authorization hold to make sure you have the funds to cover a late fee or last-minute cancellation fee for your session - this hold is never collected and is instantly released! This was noted on the booking form when you entered your credit card info. We’ve had to institute this pre-authorization out of protection for our hard-working photographers.

How do I book?

If you're interested in booking a standard session (free upfront, pay by the pic) you can do so on our booking page where you'll see our calendar of upcoming events. Sessions are bookable up to 90 days in advance. If you're interested in booking a custom session (where you can choose the exact time, date and location) click here.

Your Shoott gallery

Does Shoott offer photo printing services?

Shoott does not offer printing services at this time. However, we offer package deals with select print partners throughout the year. You can find these offers here.

Do I own my photos?

You have full non-commercial rights for the photos you purchase. Please note that you may not post or distribute photos that you have not yet purchased, even with the presence of a watermark. If it is discovered that a Shoott photo is being used that has not been purchased, you will be asked to remove the photo and if you refuse to comply within 24 hours, you will be charged a fine.

Can I get additional photos from my session?

Our photographers curate your gallery to provide as much variety as possible while only including the photos that are the strongest. In certain cases, we may reach out to the photographer on your behalf to see if by any chance the photos you are looking for are available. Please contact our customer service team with details on your session and we'll see if we can help.

Can I request the RAW files?

As a standard policy in the photography industry, we do not provide RAWs or unedited files.

What is your refund policy?

Unfortunately we do not offer refunds of purchased photos. Make sure to check carefully that the photos in your cart are the ones you really want!

How long will I be able to access my gallery?

From the time your gallery is sent to you, you will have 7 days to view, share, and select your photos for purchase. You will have one 7-day complimentary extension. If you need more time beyond this first complimentary extension, there will be a $5 storage fee for every additional 14 day extension. You will have the option to extend your gallery deadline once your gallery expires. Please note: Unless you’ve requested/purchased extensions on your gallery, we cannot guarantee that our system can retrieve your photos after 60 days from when your gallery was initially sent to you.

Will my photos be kept private?

When you receive your gallery, you are provided with multiple options to keep your photos private (in your gallery info tab and at checkout.) If you do not choose to keep them private, Shoott and our partners may post photos taken during Shoott sessions on our website or social media platforms. Our photographers may also use the photos in their personal portfolio if they so choose.

When will I be able to view my photos?

Your gallery will be sent to your provided email 3-5 business days following your session. Please note that the gallery size of 40+ photos only applies if you are on time to your session.

Preparing for your session

What happens if I show up late?

We strongly recommend planning to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early to account for any transportation issues, etc. If you are running late, please text or call your photographer immediately to let them know! If you are 10+ minutes late, you will be charged a penalty fee determined by when you are ready to take your first picture. You will also be required to make a prepayment when booking your next session. You can learn more about our late policies here. Do note that your 'arrival time' is when you have met up with your photographer and are ready to take the first picture.

What if the weather is bad?

Shoott typically works rain or shine, so if you are not willing to be photographed in rain, snow or other various elements, please proactively cancel your session before 10:00am two days prior to your scheduled shoot to avoid being charged. After this time, cancelling or rescheduling your session will incur a minimum fee of $40 to cover your photographer’s time and forfeiture of other paid gigs. If you do not show up for your session or you cancel after 8pm the day before your session, you agree to pay a $75 fee. That being said, in the case of severe weather (lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, and other acts of God) we will proactively cancel your session out of consideration for you and your photographer’s safety! You can learn more about our weather policy here.

Do you provide hair and makeup services?

We do not currently provide hair and makeup services, so come camera-ready with your hair and makeup done how you like. Most of our clients self-style and they look fantastic, but if you want to get your makeup or hair professionally done, go for it!

What else should I bring to my session?

Your session will be outdoors, so make sure you bring seasonally appropriate things so you’re comfortable! We always recommend bringing water, sunblock and perhaps a snack to keep your blood sugar from dropping. We encourage you to bring accessories and props for that special touch! If you are shooting with an infant or a young child, consider bringing their favorite toy, blankets, and things that they enjoy that will also grab their attention so the photographer will more successfully capture them looking towards desired directions. If you are shooting with a pet, bring treats, water, and their favorite toy to help our photographers capture their best angles.

What should I wear?

Wear the clothes that makes you feel your best! We recommend bringing light outfit changes so you can get some variety in your gallery. This can be achieved with items that are easily layered, such as tops, jackets, vests, scarves, hats, jewelry, etc. We also recommend avoiding clothes that are overly stiff or tight-fitting. Ideally, you want something flattering that you can also move in.

Can I bring props to my session?

Yes, absolutely! Basic props (e.g. balloons, signs) should be ok anywhere, but when bringing something more involved (notably smoke bombs), please check with the location authority to verify whether or not it is permitted in advance of your session. Your location details can be found in your booking confirmation email.

Can I bring pets to my session?

We love when clients bring pets to their sessions! They can make a photo shoot extra fun and cute 😻 However, we ask that you please check with the location authority (your location details can be found in your booking confirmation email) to verify whether or not it is permitted in advance of your session.

Shoott photographers

Can I apply to be a Shoott photographer?

Yes! We're actively recruiting new team members. Click here to find out more.

Can I request a specific photographer?

Unfortunately, not for our regular pay-by-the-pic sessions. Our photographer availabilities are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed, but we promise we’ve selected only the best so you’re in great hands no matter who you get! If you've already been a client and would like to book the same photographer again, you would have to book a custom session. Please note in this case we require an upfront payment.

Who will my photographer be?

We assign photographers to events based on their availability and skill set. Our team is experienced in a wide range of styles, including business headshots, acting headshots, dance shots, lifestyle, fitness, family, newborns, maternity, engagement, tourists, and more. We only accept the top 5% of applicants after a thorough interview and training period, so no matter who you get, you can trust you'll be in great hands! Your photographer will text you by 6pm the day before your session. Once they get in touch with you, feel free to continue the conversation to let them know what you’re looking for and make sure you’re on the same page. You can meet some of our photographers here.

About Shoott

Shoott is a female-led company on a mission to make professional photography more affordable and accessible, while also empowering local professional photographers.

For Clients

Shoott offers free 30-minute photo sessions at beautiful and convenient locations. After your session, you'll receive a digital gallery of 40+ high-res, lightly edited photos in just 3-5 business days. You only pay for the ones you love.

For Photographers

Shoott aggregates demand and handles all aspects of marketing, customer service and sales, so they can do more of what they love, on their terms. We're proud to offer a high hourly rate and generous commission.

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