St. John Photo Studio

General

1. How can I avail of your services ?

   
   Because we dismantle all lighting equipment after every shoot, we are not immediately ready to serve anyone else. Hence, we do not accept walk-in clients.
   
   If you wish for a shoot, you need to book at least a week ahead of it. For this booking, just send us a private message via our Facebook Business Page - click this.

2. How are you going to take pictures of me?

   
   For your headshot, we'll ask you to do the following:

   1. Place yourself in the center of lighting setup we have prepared for you.
   2. Wait for us to measure and adjust the intensity of light falling in several areas of your face: forehead, left cheek, right cheek, and chin.
   3. Cooperate with us as we find the angle that displays your best facial features. Here, you will be asked to move your head in several ways.
   4. As we take each shot, make sure your eyes and over-all facial expression displays the emotion (happy, sad, funny, etc.) you want viewers to see.

   
   For your full-body shot, we'll ask you to do the following:

   1. Place yourself in the center of lighting setup we have prepared for you.
   2. Wait for us to measure and adjust the intensity of light falling in several areas of your body: head, abdomen, and knees.
   3. As we take each shot, make sure to pose correctly. Please watch and learn posing from these videos:
      How To Pose Like a Model
      How to Pose Like A Model - Posing Rules, Types Of Poses, & Facial Expressions
      How to Pose like a Supermodel - Positing Tutorial From A Model
      Photo Shoot Tips For Men (Model Poses For Facial Expressions)

3. How much do I pay for one photoshoot session?

   
   Breakdown of fees are as follows;

   A. Booking fee	:	P 300		See note a
   B. Prof'l fee of photographer	:	1,000	per client per session	See note b
   C. Prof'l fee of photo editor	:	300	per photo	See note c
   D. Prof'l fee of hair and makeup artist	:	2,000	per client per session	See note d
   E. Studio use	:	500	per hour	See note e
   F. Copies of raw image files	:	0	free	See note f
   G. Prints	:	-		See note g

   
   Notes

   1. Please pay booking fee one (1) week before the shoot. Because this covers our expenses on preparing for the shoot, this is non-refundable.
   2. This is the fee of photographer Rolito N. Ortilano for simple, non-conceptual, non-editorial photoshoot.
      Others may charge differently and ask for a downpayment.
   3. This is the fee of photo editor Rolito N. Ortilano, but first two (2) is free if he is the photographer.
      Others may charge differently and ask for a downpayment.
   4. This is the fee of HMUA Mary Claire.
      Others may charge differently and ask for a downpayment.
   5. For those who just want to rent the studio, rate is also P500 per hour for a minimum of four (4) hours.
   6. We do not have commercial printing machine, so we'll just help you on this matter for free.

   
   Without the makeup artist fee, a client pays at least P1,800.00 for a one hour session.

   .

4. For these fees, what can I expect during the shoot?

   1. By the time you arrive, a lighting setup is ready for you.
   2. A small dressing room is provided in case you need to change outfit.
   3. A makeup section is provided in case you need one. Note that time to do makeup is inclusive of the one-hour session.
   4. A sound system is waiting to play that music that is in your mobile phone - music always sets the right mood, which is important for the shoot.
   5. Actual shoot will start as soon you feel relaxed.
   6. Copies of the raw image files will be given; hence, bring a flash drive.
   7. Note that CCTV camera is always in operation both inside and outside the studio.

5. How do I prepare for the shoot?

   1. Most important of all is that you feel happy about being photographed.
   2. Make sure that you have slept well, not tired, and not under any stress.
   3. At home,you may need to practice bringing out your best facial and eye expressions as well as your killer body poses.
   4. Do not put on makeup that makes you face unnaturally white - you will end up looking like a kabuki actor.
   5. Unless you really want a glam makeup, always go for clean, fresh, natural-looking makeup.
   6. We'll discuss the clothes and accessories that you will wear using the account that we will create for you on our website.

6. Who will be there during my photoshoot?

   1. Too many people inside the studio distracts the photographer, hence bring only one companion.
      If you are a minor, bring one of your parents or a guardian.
      Do not ever come alone.
   2. Your chosen photographer - just make sure you and this photographer agreed on everything - fees, dress, makeup, poses, etc.
   3. The Studio Administrator with one or two of staff who will operate on the lighting equipment.

7. Can I bring my own photographer?

   1. Yes, you can bring only one and he will serve as your companion. He will act as the second shooter.
   2. If you won't hire any of our affiliated photographers, you are basically renting the studio, not actually availing our photographic service. For this, rent rate applies.

8. How long will it take for my photos to be edited.

   1. With me as the photographer of the photos to be edited, photo editing may take up to one week.

9. What about prints?

   1. It is best that you handle the printing because you get to see what type of photo paper and print size you like. We will refer you to a reputable commercial printing company that uses a large printing machine - one that gets routinely calibrated for color accuracy.
      Do not get your photo printed by a computer shop - colors get messed up.

10. What about photo sharing on the Internet?

    1. With your consent, we (the studio admin, photographer, makeup artist, and people who clothed or accessorized you) may display your photos on the Internet.
       For this, you neeed to sign a so-called Client Release Form - click this.

11. Do you offer in-home (off-studio) sessions?

    1. Yes, only when fifty (50) or more persons are to be photographed, electricity is available to power up our lighting equipment, and our glam team is to be hired.

12. Do you do wedding, pre-nuptial, and other event-related shoots?

    1. No, but please check our Photographers page as some of them may be of service to you - click this. Sample of their in-studio work and contact information can be also be found here.