Lifestyle Photography
Frequently Asked Questions

​Booking  &  Scheduling

WHAT ARE YOUR WORKING HOURS?

Photo sessions, media pick-up and consultations, please refer to our ​Book Online ​tab for availability. Sundays we are closed for photo sessions but we will open Sundays during Fall Season, starting October 1st - December 31st!

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 1 day before your appointment scheduled. 

​Those who are using Groupon/Living Social, you must send voucher code or screenshot voucher to confirm appointment to 210-901-9070. This will lock and secure your date and time for your photo session. An appointment that has not been confirmed by voucher redeemed may result in being cancelled and rescheduled. Please send your voucher when scheduling!

HOW FAR IN ADVANCED CAN I BOOK?

You may book an appointment 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 available on our schedule.

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 and scheduled time. If you are late to your appointment, your photo session will be shorter. If there is no session following your session, you have the option to add an Additional 30 Minutes for fee. which will be invoiced immediately following your session. If any of the following fees are not payed, Cygni Films 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. ​​

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. We do have a same day rescheduling fee.(following question) Our photographers receive their schedules the day before your session, so we ask our customers to please notify us at least 24 hours in advance.

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

We do have a $10 Same-Day Rescheduling Fee. If you have have an emergency please contact us as soon as possible. Please call us at 210-901-9070 if an emergency arises.

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 by using our Book Online tab.

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 by going to the Book Online ​tab!

Locations & Permits

HOW DO I PICK MY PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS?

 If you have a certain place that you would like, by all means, please tell us where. Below are many popular places to photograph around San Antonio. Some location require photography permits, please refer to the following question. 
Within 10 miles of 78266:

• Bracken Village (Requires Permit)
• Live Oak Park
• Davis Park
• Friesenhahn Park

Additional Mileage is required for photography sessions done at:

• McAllister Park
• Pearl Brewery
• Brackenridge Park 
• Landa Library
• Japanese Tea Gardens (Requires Permit)
• Botanical Gardens (Requires Admission)
• Riverwalk/La Villita/King Williams District
• Denman Estate Park​​

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-$20.00 per day. (WEBSITE)​
Botanical Gardens-Entrance Fee Required Per Person, including the Photographer ($12-Adults). (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 24 hours prior to their session! If we are not contacted 24 hour prior to 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 changes in location.  ​​

Portrait Session

ARE THERE ANY SITTING FEES IN PORTRAIT SESSION?

The 60 Minute Photo Session price is the sitting fee meaning the time with the photographer and the location chosen within the distance purchased. Our sessions includes the # of people chosen. You can add an Additional Person for only $10 per person/pet. Our sessions include up to 150 photos be taken and online proofing. Once you choose your favorites, they will be color-enhanced and you will have the option to purchase digital downloads or prints.

CAN I TAKE 2 SETS OF CLOTHING?

Yes, you can take 2 sets of clothing. As far as a place to change, that all depends on the location chosen. Also note that the length of your session does not change or stop for changing garments. 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. You also have the option to add an Additional 30 Minutes for fee of $25.00 for time to change garments.

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

No, we do not take props to location, however you may and we will be glad to incorporate them in your session. ​​​Those with more than 3 props, we ask that you purchase Additional 30 Minutes to incorporate all the props.

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 1-3 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 to you! Once you receive that email, there will be instruction on how to proof, choose your favorites and how to purchase.

WHAT ARE THE PRICES OF DIGITAL PHOTOS?

All our sessions come with at least 150 photos to proof and choose the photos you want to purchase. We do not give you a limit on how many photos to purchase. We like the fact that you choose what you want and only purchase what you want. All digital photos cost $9.99. The more digital photos you add to your package, the cheaper your photos will be.
Example: For 20 Photos, you will receive 20% OFF/ 30 photos, you will receive 30% OFF/ 40 photos, you will receive 40% OFF

IS MY SESSION I PURCHASED REFUNDABLE?

All purchases through our website are non-refundable but they are transferable.  We do not have an expiration on our purchases therefore they can be used whenever and be gifted to family or friends. As far as additional mileage and/or additional people that have been purchased but location was changed or the number of people has decreased, will be credited to use towards your photo purchase for downloads or prints. We will send you a credit code to enter during checkout. 

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 week but usually the turnaround for digital photos runs between 7-10 business days from the time you make your purchase online. Prints will turnaround in 14 business days. Christmas Season (October-December) is our busiest time of the year. So please purchase 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 normal turnaround time, we do offer Next Day Photo 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. (Digital Photos Only!)

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO PROOF AND PURCHASE MY PHOTOS?

You will have a total of 5 days to proof and purchase your photos from the first email being sent to you. You will receive reminders every other day until photos have been purchased. If your collection expires after 5 days and you did not purchase any photos and are wanting to, a $20 Reactivation Fee will be charged to re-upload your photos and you will have 5 more days to choose your photos. If for any reason you may need a few days extension, please give us a call and we can waive the fee for an additional 2 days!

Once your favorite photo have been purchased, we will process them for color-enhancement. You will receive an email saying "Your Photos Are Ready." You will have 7 days to download your photos.

​WHY CAN'T I 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 collection has not expired. 

HOW LONG DO YOU HOLD ON TO MY PHOTOS?

Cygni Films only keeps your photos for only 60 days from the time your session took place! After that, we usually delete past sessions. 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 only. 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 .