About the photography studios with online booking
A photography studio is a space set up to take pictures under controlled light, with backdrops, flashes and the kit ready so the result does not depend on the weather outside. The most common bookings are passport and ID photos, individual portrait sessions, family and couple sessions, newborn sessions and product photography for a shop or a menu. Each studio decides which sessions it offers, how long they last and what each one includes (number of edited photos, retouching, prints), and you see it on its page exactly as the studio has set it up.
To choose, look through the studio's gallery and check whether its style matches what you are after, whether plain or styled backdrops, soft or contrasty light, colour or black and white. Check the opening hours and how close it is too, especially if several of you are coming or you are bringing a baby.
As for timing, a passport photo takes ten or fifteen minutes and is usually handed over on the spot. A portrait or a couple session takes about an hour. A family session, an hour and a half. A newborn session can run past two hours because it follows the baby's rhythm, with breaks for feeding and settling. Product photography is booked by the hour depending on how many items need shooting.
Before you go, ask what clothes work best (plain colours, no large logos) and how many outfit changes the session includes. If you are coming with children or a baby, pick the time of day when they are usually calmest. Edited photos take days rather than hours, and the studio will tell you the delivery time at the end of the session.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear for a portrait session in the studio?
Clothes you feel comfortable in, in plain colours, without large logos or very fine patterns, which look odd on camera. If the session includes several changes, bring two or three different options. The studio usually says in the session description how many changes are included.
How long does a passport photo take and do I get it straight away?
Ten to fifteen minutes. Most studios print it on the spot in the format you need (passport, driving licence, ID card) and can send you a digital copy as well. Come without tinted glasses and with your hair away from your face.
Can I book a family session with small children?
Yes, it is one of the most common sessions. Book a time when the children are usually rested and fed, and allow an hour and a half, as part of the time goes on them getting used to the space. Say how many of you are coming when you book.
At what age is a newborn session done?
Usually between five and fifteen days old, when the baby sleeps deeply and can be posed. Many studios suggest booking before the birth with the due date and adjusting the appointment once the baby arrives. The session runs over two hours with feeding breaks.
When do I receive the photos from my session?
It depends on the studio and the kind of session. A passport photo is handed over on the spot. Portrait, family and newborn sessions are selected and edited afterwards, and the usual turnaround is one to three weeks. The studio will tell you at the end of the session.
Is product photography booked by the hour?
Yes, you normally book a block of one or more hours depending on how many items you bring. Count them beforehand and ask the studio how many it usually shoots per hour on the kind of background you want, so you book just the right amount of time.