Frequently asked questions
We are located at:
147 17th Ave #A
San Mateo, CA 94402
We are searchable on google/apple maps. Our studio is located inside a building. Not ADA compliant. There are 2 flights of stairs.
Tuesday-Saturdays from 2pm-7pm
Sundays from 11am-4pm
CLOSED Mondays
Last appointments are 1 hour before closing
We are by appointment only, so make sure to book a slot ahead of time. Same day slots are available for booking (if available). Please call for same day slots.
Please click "book" through our website. Select the package, date and time, then complete the booking with credit card payment. You will receive a confirmation email once your booking is confirmed.
Any assistance please email info@fotogenicstudio.com
CANCELLATION & RESCHEDULING:
Cancellations for a full refund are permitted up to 3 days after booking. No refunds are available for requests made after this period or for reservations within 3 days.
Rescheduling is allowed up to 24 hours before the reservation. Requests made within 24 hours may incur a 10% fee; contact us for assistance. No-shows are not eligible for refunds or rescheduling.
Any no-show sessions are not eligible for rescheduling requests.
Please text or email us at info@fotogenicstudio.com for cancellation and rescheduling requests.
There's a parking lot and you're welcome to find an open spot! Plus, there are many street parking options nearby. Best of all, parking is free!
We do not accept walk-ins at this time. However, you may book a same-day appointment if available! Please text us for same day bookings.
We only accept debit/credit cards and Apple Pay.
Additional fee applies when there’s additional members. Other add-ons such as purchasing original files and ordering extra prints are paid at the end of your studio session.
Colored Studio: 6 max (but we recommend 4!)
White Studio: 8 people max
If you have more people, please check in with us before booking. We can fit more people in the room, however it will be a tight fit in the frame!
There is an additional charge of $20 payable at the studio for each person or pet joining the session.
Yes, pets are allowed as long as they are well behaved!
One pet is free in your session. Additional fee of $20 per pet applies. A maximum number of 2 pets per session.
Kids under 2 years old are free.
Due to limited space, you will only be allowed to enter 10-15 minutes earlier to avoid overcrowding.
Please arrive at the studio on time or 10 minutes earlier to enjoy the full session. Arrivals over 10 minutes late may result in a shortened or canceled session, and refunds are not allowed. We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise; however, late arrivals can impact other clients who have appointments. Please consider the travel time to our studio as well as any preparation time you may need prior to your session.
Rescheduling your session can only be made 24 hours prior to the reservation date. If within 24 hours, a 10% service fee may apply. However, you are able to transfer your reservation to anyone who is able to make it!
If you no-show, you are not eligible for any rescheduling requests.
Yes, you do not need to inform us beforehand.
Absolutely! You can purchase gift certificates. Click "book" and scroll all the way down to choose your option.
You're welcome to bring a friend or helper to assist you with taking photos. If they don't appear in the photos, there's no need to pay the extra fee.
Currently we only offer one room per session. If you want to try both rooms, you will have to book an appointment for each room! Please make sure the timing does NOT overlap, for example:
White Room 20 minutes booked at 1pm, and then Color Room 20 minutes booked at 1:30pm
Unfortunately, our space is in a mixed use commercial building so any events/gatherings are not allowed!
Unfortunately the building does not have an elevator. There are two flight of stairs to our studio.
When you fill out the waiver, there is an option for you to opt-out!
If you change your mind and want your photos removed, please contact us through email info@fotogenicstudio.com
We do not allow studio rentals for photographers at this time.
You can take unlimited amount of photos during the given time in the package you chose.
If available, you may add 10 minutes for a fee of $15. You may also book more than one session if you need more time.
We do not offer any retouching at this time.
Any of your photos posted on our social media or website will have the skin retouched.
The photos you chose for prints will be sent through Google Drive link/Airdrop.
We only keep your photos for 30 days. Please make sure to download all your photos as soon as you receive them.
We are a self-portrait studio, meaning you are the photographer!
We do not have an in-house photographer, except for our pet photography service!
Yes! You may bring your own props. We recommend coming a bit earlier if you need time to setup. You can also bring food props.
We ask not to bring any props that are hard to clean like glitter, confetti, etc. or there will be a cleaning fee of $10.
You can bring food props inside the studio. Please note there will be a $10 cleaning fee if there is any mess.
If it's not a food prop, we do not allow food nor drinks allowed inside the studio rooms. You can leave them outside during your session.
No cake smashes!
We don't recommend taking passport photos here since we don't print out the required size for the passport photos. We recommend going to Walgreens/CVS for passport photos.
You may change your outfits in the studio or in the restrooms located in the hallway right outside our studio. Please keep in mind if you need to change during your session, the time will still be ticking!
Unfortunately, the camera can only take single shots at a time. Burst shots are not possible.
Yes, the staff can adjust the height of the camera and angle. You can call the staff over anytime to adjust it.
Our lighting is fixed but we have different concepts you can try out! If the photos turn out too bright/dark, let the staff know!
We can only take photos in portrait mode.
The photos will be taken in JPEG.
RAWs can be taken for an additional fee of $25; please notify the staff before your session starts.
The staff will show you how to change the backdrops when you arrive!
Children under 2 is free, but there is minimum charge of 1 person.
You can book a SOLO package for 1 person and bring your children (under 2 years old) for free!
No confettis, party poppers and cake smashes allowed. Any excessive mess will incur a cleaning fee of $50.
Please notify the staff if you want to switch to a different lighting mode!
DUO Package (4 prints included) : 2 pc (4x6") , 2 pc (3x4")
GROUP Package (2 prints per person) : 1 pc (4x6") , 1 pc (3x4")
The dimensions are approximately 8" x 25".
The price for XL Photo Strips for an existing self portrait session:
$20 each
$30 for 2
We do not edit the photos. You will get the photos straight from the camera!