PORTRAIT FAQ

Here are a list of a few of the most common questions we get. However if anything is not answered, send your question at the bottom of the page.

  • We take a variety of portraits including branding, maternity, couples, fashion and creative. We specialize in creative portraits with unique set design and studio lighting.

  • Yes! We require a 50% non-refundable booking fee to reserve the date, which can be paid through our online invoice system. This booking fee ensures your date, and in the event of a cancellation, it is non-refundable.

    The remaining balance is due on the day of the photoshoot.

  • Our availability varies during seasons, but we generally suggest booking 3 weeks to a month in advance to better plan for your shoot. The earlier you book, the better to ensure you get the date/time you want!

    Please make sure to plan accordingly as well! We take a standard two weeks to deliver your photos after the photoshoot.

  • Generally, this is the usual timeline our clients can expect, starting from booking to the delivery of the final photos:

    Submit an inquiry form where you select the package you’re interested in and shoot details

    We will contact you for more details! If we are available we will send an invoice for a booking fee, and a contract to sign

    We begin planning your photoshoot

    Have an awesome time during your session! Final payment is due on the photoshoot date.

    Receive a preview gallery a week after your session where you’ll be able to select your favorite images

    Receive your final image gallery the following week. Here you’ll be able to download the entire gallery or individual images

    Share your photos with your friends and the world! And make sure to tag @mxtvisuals on social media!

  • YES!! We do not expect you to know how to hit all the poses during your shoot, so no need to worry about posing or direction! Our number one goal for shoots is to make you feel comfortable and confident during your session. However, it is helpful if you practice poses you know you want to do in the mirror.

  • It usually takes us a standard two weeks to fully edit, retouch, and deliver your photos.

    We take about a week to send the first gallery of watermarked “previews” which are around 50+ of the best photos from the shoot. This is where you will select your favorite photos to keep, with the number of photos based off the package you booked. Any additional photos you select after that is $15 each. We then take another week to do final edits to the selected photos, such as skin retouching, remove distracting things, final color editing, etc. When we officially deliver the photos, they will be fully edited and retouched.

    If you need your photos earlier, expedited delivery is available at $150 for 1 week, $200 for 3 days, and $250 for next day.

  • Yes, you will choose your final photos! We take hundreds of photos during a shoot and narrow down to the best 50+ images for you to choose from. The final photos are your favorite photos that we will do final retouching to.

    This includes light retouching such as skin, teeth whitening, distracting elements in the backgrounds, etc. Additional photoshop edits or requests may be subject to additional costs.

  • We use a website called “Pixieset” for preview galleries, which is where you will view the best photos from the shoot and select your final photos. We deliver our final images through Pixieset and will share these images to your email! We will host the gallery for a year, giving you enough time to download the images before the link expires.

    We only deliver digital images, and do not deliver physical copies, however we will give print release to our clients.

  • The remaining balance is due on the day of the photoshoot. We will email you an invoice to pay the remaining balance.

  • We understand that unexpected events happen in life, but please let us know as soon as possible if you need to reschedule to accommodate and work around our schedule. We do not charge any fees if you reschedule up to 48 hours before the shoot, but will charge a $50 rescheduling fee after that. In an event of a cancellation with no rescheduling, the booking fee is nonrefundable.

  • If your photoshoot is outdoors and there is bad weather (such as heavy rain), we will try our best to accommodate and reschedule at our next available date, or shoot in an indoor location instead. We will message you a week prior to check in on the weather.

  • We give a grace period of 10 minutes after a shoot starts, but if you arrive later we can not guarantee to provide the full photoshoot time if our schedule does not allow for it. If you are over 30 minutes late without any communication, your shoot will be cancelled.

  • We take pride in all the images that we produce. Each image is processed in Lightroom & Photoshop where we edit the lighting, color-tones, retouch blemishes, smooth skin, whiten teeth and remove distracting elements. This is a time consuming process and one that differentiates the work we do; quality over quantity. Don’t worry, your preview gallery will have plenty of photos from which you’ll be able to select your favorites.

  • You will be able to choose any additional photos you want in your preview gallery! Additional photos are available at $15 each.

  • We will not deliver unedited/raw photos as that does not reflect our work. If there is a change in edit you’d like us to make we will try our best to accommodate. If you are inquiring for a project that requires raw photos, please contact us at our Project Form.

  • Choosing an outfit for a photoshoot can be daunting, but we can definitely help give input for your outfit(s)! We generally recommend sticking to your style, well-fit clothing, as well as something that makes you feel confident and comfortable!

    If you plan on wearing heels/uncomfortable shoes during your shoot, we recommend bringing a pair of comfy shoes to change to walk at a location.

  • An outfit change is quite literally a whole outfit change. We do not count an outfit change as taking off/putting on a jacket. If you end up having an outfit change, we provide a mobile changing tent that we will set up and break down for you.

  • We can take photos any time of the day! However we advise to book outdoor shoots closer to sunset or sunrise as that is when the natural lighting is the best. We suggest aiming for around 2 hours before sunset or 2 hours after sunrise, however feel free to reach out if you are unsure about the specific time to book. For studio shoots, we use off-camera flashes so the time of the day does not affect studio lighting.

  • The photo location depends on the vibe and outfit that you have in mind of your shoot! A good place to start is to think about if you want a nature, urban/city, or a studio location/background, and from there we can send more specific recommendations.

    We have our own photo studio in South Seattle that could comfortably fit 5 people for a shoot, and charge a flat $50 fee for studio use. However, if you’d like to use a different studio (for example, a lifestyle studio) you will have to pay for the studio rental, subject to the studio’s hourly costs and availability.

    If you’d like to travel outside of the Greater Seattle area for your photoshoot we will charge a small travel fee depending on the location.

  • Yes, we have our own photo studio in South Seattle! Our studio uses seamless backdrops & artificial lighting. We charge a flat $50 fee to use, and this includes the use of 1-2 backgrounds depending on your package.

    If you are looking for a natural light or styled studio, we can send other studio recommendations subject to their rental fee.

  • The base photo package does not include props or our studio. If you’d like to use our studio, we charge a flat $50 studio fee.

    Any set design or additional props that we buy or set up for your photoshoot will be subject to an additional fee.

  • Yesss, we would love to meet and pet your furry friend at your photoshoot! You’re welcome to bring your pets in our photo studio, however other locations and studios may have different pet policies. If bringing your pet is important to your shoot we can help decide locations with you.

  • No, we do not charge for additional people for our photo packages. You can also definitely split the photoshoot with another person, however the amount of final photos and photoshoot time will remain the same.

  • Tina is the main photographer and will be the one taking your photos and giving direction. Miguel will also be at the session to assist and help with lighting/direction if required.

  • We are die hard Sony users and have been shooting with the brand and several iterations of their cameras for the past 6 years. For photography we currently use the Sony A7RIII and for films we use the the Sony FX3 Cinema line of cameras. Tina’s favorite lenses are the Sony 35mm GM and the Sony 24-70 GM. Miguel’s favorite lenses are the Zeiss Batis 25mm and the Sigma 24-70mm.

Have a question we didn’t answer? Contact us!