Frequently Asked Questions

​Booking & Scheduling

WHAT ARE YOUR WORKING HOURS?

Our customer service phone lines are open 9 AM-9 PM Monday-Saturday. (210-901-9070) For photo sessions, media pick-up and consultations, please refer to our Book Online tab for availability. Sundays we are closed for our team's family day. We will open Sundays during Christmas Season; starting November 1st -Christmas Eve only!

HOW DO I CONFIRM MY APPOINTMENT?

You are able to book a photography session, media pick-up, and consultation online by going to the Book Online tab. Once you have booked your appointment, you will receive an email immediately following your submission online. You will also receive a reminder a 1 day before your appointment scheduled. Photography sessions that are booked prior to purchased session can only be confirmed when payment has been received.

Those who are using Groupon, must send voucher code to confirm appointment. This will lock and secure your date and time for your photo session. A appointment that has not been confirmed by either payment or voucher redeemed can be cancelled and replaced by a confirmed appointment.

CAN I SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION BEFORE MY SESSION?

Yes, you most definitely can! We enjoy working closely with our customers when planning for their specific needs for a session. Please schedule your consultation online. ​

HOW FAR IN ADVANCED CAN I BOOK?

You may book an appointments as far out in advance as you like. Our online booking is synced up in real time. So what you see available online is what we see open in our schedule.

ARE CONSULTATION'S FREE?

All our consultations are free. You are able to schedule online using our booking page. All our consultations are done online via Vsee and are flexible with your schedule. Schedule yours today!

WILL I BE CHARGED FOR CANCELING OR RESCHEDULING THE SAME DAY AS MY APPOINTMENT?

If you have have an emergency please contact us as soon as possible. Our photographers prepare equipment 1 hour before their scheduled session, so we ask our customers to please notify us at least 1 hour prior. If we do not hear from you until after the photographer has left for your session, you will incur a $10.00 rescheduling fee and will need to pay prior to your rescheduled day. Please call us at 210-901-9070 if an emergency arises. Thank you

WHAT HAPPENS IF IT IS RAINING ON MY SCHEDULED PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION?

Cygni Films loves to get great photos rain or shine. Our team knows exactly how to shoot in the rain. We do not cancel appointments for weather unless local stations have issued a watch or warning. If you are looking for a sunny day, please check the forecast the day prior to your session if you would like to reschedule.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM RUNNING LATE?

Please arrive to your location promptly and already dressed. The session begins upon the arrival of photographer to location, so if you are late the session will be cut short.  You have the option to add an additional 30 minutes for fee of $30.00, which will be invoiced immediately following your session. If any of the following fees are not payed or are in default, Cygni has the right to refrain from uploading your images for proofing and/or withhold all images pertaining to your session until the fee(s) have been resolved. ​​

WILL I GET MY FULL SESSION IF THE PHOTOGRAPHER IS LATE?

The session begins upon the arrival of photographer to location. You will not incur any chargers or have a shortened session if your photographer is running behind schedule! Each customer will receive equally the right amount of time for each session. Just because the photographer arrives late does not mean your time will be cut short!

10, 20, 30 Mile Radius

Locations & Permits

HOW DO I PICK MY PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS?

Cygni Films & Photography uses the landscaping of the Hardgrove Suites located on the serene road of FM 2252 in Garden Ridge, Texas; down the road from Rolling Oaks Mall and 1604. You do not have to choose one of our locations. If you have a certain place that you would like, by all means, please tell us where. Please remember we do travel up to a 10 miles radius from 78266. Below are many popular places to photograph around San Antonio. We have already calculated the mileage. If you would like one these places, click the Session Add-On link.

No Additional Mileage Needed:

• Hardgrove 
• Bracken Village
• Old Evans Rd.
• Live Oak Park
• Davis Park

Additional 10 Miles is required for photography sessions done at ($15.00):

• Brackenridge Park
• Japanese Tea Gardens
• Pearl Brewery
• Botanical Gardens
• Alamo/Riverwalk/Arsenal Bridge
• Hays Street Bridge​

These locations also require a permit/entrance fee:
​Bracken Village
Japanese Tea Gardens
Botanical Gardens
Please refer to next question for more information.

DO YOU PAY FOR PHOTO PERMITS IF THEY ARE REQUIRED FOR A LOCATION?

​Cygni Films does not pay for permits. We ask that you pay for the permit prior to your scheduled time so that you get the full length of your purchased session. Many places you are able to purchase the day of or online. Below are places that we know require permit. Please call ahead to the location you are interested in, if you are unsure if they do or do not require a permit.

Bracken Village-$10 per day. Call 210.651.6935 (Website)
Japanese Tea Gardens-1 to 5 people $20.00. (Website)​
Botanical Gardens-Entrance Fee Required Per Person, including the Photographer. (Website)

​IS THE PERMIT REFUNDABLE?

The permit prices and refund policy are not controlled by Cygni Films but are set and issued by the locations you wish to photograph at. Cygni Films does not handle permit policies and any other rules and guidelines set by the location. Please ask the location in which you like to purchase your permit for any further questions. ​​

HOW MUCH ADVANCED NOTICE DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE A LOCATION?

If you decide that the location you have selected is not the one you want, we ask customers to contacts us at least 2 hours prior to their session! If we are not contacted within the 2 hours of your session and the photographer is on his way to the original location, your length of session may be cut shorter due to the photographer having to reroute. We will not extend session due last minute change in location.  ​​

Portrait Session

ARE THERE ANY SITTING FEES IN PORTRAIT SESSION?

The 60 minute photo session price is the sitting fee. Our sessions include up to 3 people unless otherwise stated. You can add an additional person for only $10. Our sessions include up to 100 photos to choose from and 15 photos to be color enhanced. Once the photos have been enhanced, you have the option to purchase downloadable images or prints.

CAN I TAKE 2 SETS OF CLOTHING?

You can very well take 2 sets of clothing. As far as a place to change that all depends on the location that you choose. Also note that the length of your session does not change or stop for dress changing. Example: If you have a 60 minutes session, it may be cut down to a 45 minute session depending on how fast you change and where restrooms may be located. Please tell the photographer before the session begins if you will be changing outfits.

DO YOU TAKE PROPS OR CAN WE TAKE SOME TO THE PHOTO SESSIONS?

We do not take props to location, however you may and we will be glad to incorporate them in your session. ​​​

WHAT IS THE TURNAROUND TIME FOR PORTRAIT PHOTOS?

Our turnaround time for portraits and photography depends on the volume of sessions we have for that month but usually the turnaround runs around 1-2 weeks. However, turnaround delivery time for portraits also depends on how fast you proof and pick your photos. Christmas Season (November-December) is our busiest time of the year. So please choose your photos sooner rather than later. ​We do offer​ Next Day Photo Rush Delivery (See Below).

WHAT IF I NEED MY PHOTOS SOONER THEN THE EXPECTED DELIVERY DATE?

If for any reason, you may need photos prior to the estimated delivery date, we do offer single photo next day rush delivery. Rush delivery would move your selected photo(s) to the front of our retouch line and guarantee them delivered to you by digital download the next business day. Add Next Day Photo Rush Delivery

HOW DO I VIEW MY PHOTO PROOFS ONLINE?

Once your session is complete, your photographer will return to the studio and upload all your photos for proofing the same day as your scheduled session! Depending on how many sessions may be scheduled that day, we usually have it up for proofing within 2-3 hours following your session but guarantee by midnight. We know and understand our customers anticipation and excitement about proofing their photos. Which is why we make it important to us to get you your proofs uploaded quickly. A link with a password will be emailed into your inbox before midnight! Once you receive that email, there will be instruction on how to choose your favorites. ​

WHAT ARE THE PRICES OF PHOTOS?

Once you receive the email on how to proof your photos, their is also the price list of prints and downloads. We do not give you a max # of how many photos to choose. We like the fact that you choose what it is you want and in your budget. We are seriously more affordable than you franchise photography studios. Check our out Prices Tab to learn more.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO DOWNLOAD OR CHOOSE PRINTS OF MY PHOTOS?

You will have a total of 7 days to Proof your photos from the 1st email being sent to you. You will receive reminders on proofing your photos every other day until the photos have been shared with the photographer. If your collection expires after 7 days and you did not choose what favorites you are wanting, a $20 Reactivation Fee will be charged to re-upload your photos for proofing and you will have 7 more days to choose your photos. 

Once your favorite photos have been color enhanced and are ready for purchase, you will receive an email saying "Your Photos Are Ready." You will have 3 days to purchase photo downloads and/or prints. If your collection expires after 3 days, a $20 reactivation fee will be charged to re-upload your photos and you will have 3 more days to purchase your photos. 

​WHY CAN'T DOWNLOAD MY PHOTOS?

There can many reason you may not be able to download your photos. First, make sure you are only downloading onto a laptop or a desktop. Even though proofing of photos is done conveniently on your phone or tablet, you can not download your files on your phone or tablet because the size of the high-resolution photos you be be buying. Secondly, please make sure that the expiration date has not been met. If the date is past, you will need to pay a $20 reactivation fee so that they can be re-uploaded. ​

HOW LONG DO YOU HOLD ON TO MY PHOTOS?

Cygni Films only keeps your photos for only 3-6 months from the time your session took place! After that, we usually clear and delete our hard drives. Once they have been deleted, we can NOT recover any photos. ​​

ARE YOU GOING TO USE MY PHOTOS?

Yes, Cygni Films will feature your photos on our website for promotional use. Our company will not resale, distribute and/or issue rights to any of the photos taken to third party companies.  Here is a link for any more questions in regards to our 
​Media Licensing Agreement .

   Photo Booth

HOW MUCH SPACE DO I NEED FOR THE PHOTO BOOTH?

Our closed photo booth is 10 x 10 x 10. So we need ceilings that are at least 10 feet tall and a space that is 10 ft. in width and length. Why is it so big? That's what make us different then other photo booths. With our photo booth you can fit up 12 people in there to take a photo. Look at our Photo Booth Photos!

We also have a open air photo booth. Basically, we just use the back drop and 2 tables for props and screen. We can be limited to a smaller space with the same great quality. ​

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE VENUE IS NOT OPEN PRIOR TO OUR EVENT?

Our services begins upon the arrival of the attendant to the location. If the venue does not let your attendant to setup your photo booth this will be marked as services that exceed the time paid for, you will incur an additional fee for 60 minutes of extra time which will be invoiced immediately before your service time has ended. If any of the following fees are not payed or are in default, Cygni has the right to refrain from setting up until the fee(s) have been resolved. ​​

CAN I GET PHOTOS OF ALL MY GUEST WHO TOOK PHOTOS IN THE PHOTO BOOTH?

We are now offering a option to add to your package and receive all the digital images of your guest by downloading them right to your computer for only $20.00. You can print the photos anywhere and add to your scrapbook. ​