Seeing advertisements for this new professional photographer company Shoott? Looking to book but just not sure it’s worthwhile? Check out my in-depth Shoott review. I hope my experience is helpful for you before you make your booking!
Shoott.com offers a brilliant business model and I wish I thought of it first. Now in over 600 locations U.S. nationwide, Shoott offers FREE 30-minute photoshoots for clients. There’s no obligation to purchase your photos and you can pay per photo or pay for an entire package. It is a woman-owned business and was founded by Jennifer Tsay and her partner Jennifer Yeh.
Shoott’s mission is to “democratize access to professional portrait photography by disrupting the traditional business model for freelance photographers.” Shoott’s business model works because they aggregate demand at their locations, which allow them to pass along the benefits to both clients and photographers.
Booking Your “Shoott”
My Shoott review and overall experience has been positive – from start to finish. Booking my Shoott was super easy. I found them from a quick search for “Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms Photoshoot.” My husband and I were celebrating our 3-year wedding anniversary with a quick day trip to DC. I knew I wanted to commemorate the occasion with a photoshoot near the famed cherry blossoms. A beautiful gift from Japan.
After narrowing down my location to Washington, DC, and more specifically the Tidal Basin, I just scheduled my FREE 30-minute session. Took just a few minutes – super easy! Just a heads up, a credit card is required for booking. $40 is charged as a hold to ensure you commit to your booking. After I booked, I received an email confirmation confirming my meeting details. It was so helpful to have an actual landmark/meeting point. In my case, I was told to meet at the Japanese Lantern within the Tidal Basin.
Cancellation Policy
24-Hour Reminder
The morning before our photoshoot with Shoott, I was sent a 24-hour text message reminder about my family’s photoshoot. In this reminder email, I’m given my photographer’s name and phone number. Afterwards, I was told to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to my scheduled photoshoot.
Prepare for your session with Shoott’s helpful tips:
- Find examples. Browse online for examples of style, vibe and poses you’d like
- Accessorize. Bring clothing options such as tops, vests, and accessories. Maybe a blanket if you plan on sitting on the ground. Or props like balloons for any birthdays, announcements, holidays, etc.)
- Bring a friend. Bring a friend or a pet (if location permits) to get a variety of shots and content.
- Pack your bag. Arrive fed and hydrated but also bring snacks, water, and a backup outfit. As a mom, this is a must REGARDLESS of a photoshoot happening!
Day Of Photoshoot
The day of the photoshoot, it was recommended not to park near the Tidal Basin. Given that I’ve been to DC many times, I’m quite familiar with this area. My husband and I were able to find parking in the city and walked to the Tidal Basin area.
Mai, our photographer, texted me that she was ready. I sent her a selfie of my family so she knew who to look for. Highly recommend doing that! We had our 30-minute FREE photoshoot, as promised. Afterwards, we were tired from museum fun and photoshoot fun. Time to head home!
Awaiting Photos
3 Days after our photoshoot, I was sent in email from Shoott. “HOORAY” for completing your Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms Spring Blooms session. Yes, that’s quite a mouthful! They let me know what would happen next.
Within 3-5 business days, I would receive my digital gallery of 40+ photos. This timeline allows Shoott to receive and quality check my gallery. They let me know if I enjoyed my experience, I would be able to tip Mai, our photographer.
Pro tip: TIP!
Purchasing Photos
I’m sure you might be wondering about the price. After all, there MUST be a catch if the 30-minute photoshoot is free, right? Well, photos were incredibly reasonably priced! For my full stack of 92 images, I paid a total of $295 + TIP. That is insanely cheap for the amount of professional photos! You have companies like Flytographer.com charging almost $300 just for the photoshoot!
Retouching Costs Extra
Download Photos
After completing my purchase, I was able to download all of the photos to my computer. You have 1 week to download everything before the gallery erases so be sure to do it ASAP!
In Conclusion
Overall, I am VERY happy with our DC Cherry Blossoms photoshoot. It’s the perfect idea, especially if you just need a few headshots but aren’t trying to pay an arm and a leg. I highly recommend. If you’re looking to lock in your vacation package, I can also assist with adding on any photoshoots, tours & excursions in the area, and setting up dinner reservations. Just shoot me an email and let me know what you’re planning at cassandra@accent-on-travel.net.
Planning your next vacation? Adding a photoshoot?
