Currency and pricing
What currency do you quote in?
All prices are quoted in Russian rubles (RUB). For your reference we include approximate USD and EUR equivalents at the exchange rate at the time of writing. Final invoice is always in RUB, but we are happy to confirm the USD or EUR equivalent at the day's rate before invoicing.
Are prices negotiable?
Standard packages have fixed pricing posted on each service page. Larger projects (school yearbooks, corporate retainers, wedding-plus-anniversary bundles) are quoted bespoke based on hours and deliverables.
Is VAT included?
Yes. All quoted prices include applicable Russian VAT for end clients. For business clients with VAT-deductible Russian entity, we issue invoices with VAT line itemised. For international business clients (no Russian VAT), the invoice removes the line.
Payment methods that work in 2026
Russian-issued bank cards. All Russian cards from Sberbank, VTB, Alfa-Bank, T-Bank, MKB and others work directly. ApplePay and GooglePay are not available in Russia but YooKassa (our payment partner) supports MIR, SberPay, T-Pay and bank-app QR.
Foreign-issued bank cards. Visa, Mastercard and AMEX issued outside Russia generally do not work for direct online payment in Russia. The exception: cards issued in some CIS countries (Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia) work in some cases. If you are visiting and your card does not work online, you can pay in cash on the day of session.
Bank transfer (SWIFT). For corporate clients we accept SWIFT to a partner account outside Russia for invoice values above 100 000 RUB. Settlement takes 5 to 10 business days. We confirm receipt before scheduling.
Cash. RUB cash on the day of session is always accepted. USD or EUR cash converted at the day's rate is also accepted but we prefer RUB equivalent.
Cryptocurrency. USDT TRC-20 or BTC accepted by prior arrangement for sessions over 50 000 RUB. Standard 1 percent processing fee added. We confirm wallet address by Telegram.
Wise / Revolut. Wise transfers to Russian RUB accounts have been intermittent since 2022. We can sometimes accept Wise via partner Kazakh account. Confirm with us before booking if this is your only payment option.
Deposit and cancellation
Do you require a deposit?
50 percent deposit on booking for sessions over 15 000 RUB. The deposit secures the date. Remainder paid on the day or by bank transfer within 3 days of session.
What if I cancel?
Cancellation more than 7 days before session: full refund less 10 percent processing.
3 to 7 days before: 50 percent refund of deposit.
Less than 72 hours: no refund unless the cancellation is due to documented medical emergency or government travel restriction.
What if you cancel?
We refund 100 percent plus 10 percent inconvenience. We have not cancelled a booked session in 5 years of operation but the policy stands.
Delivery and rights
How are photos delivered?
Private password-protected gallery link sent by email plus Telegram confirmation. Full-resolution JPEG download. We hold the gallery online for 12 months minimum. Optional cloud backup beyond 12 months for additional fee.
Can I share the photos publicly on social media?
Yes. All session photos delivered to you are yours to use personally, share on social media, print, gift to family. No attribution required (though appreciated).
Can I use the photos commercially (publish in a magazine, sell prints)?
Personal commercial use (using a portrait as your profile picture on LinkedIn for example) is included. Commercial publication or print sales require a separate commercial licence,typically 50 percent of the original session fee added. Ask us if unsure.
Do you retain rights to publish my photos in your portfolio?
Default yes for adults, with the right to opt out. For minors, default no,we only feature with explicit parent consent. If you opt out of portfolio use, tell us by email and we honour the request permanently.
Can you send printed prints or albums to my home country?
Yes. We ship internationally via Russian postal courier or commercial courier (DHL when available). Standard delivery 2 to 6 weeks depending on country and the geopolitical context of the moment. We confirm tracking number on dispatch.
Languages and communication
What languages do you speak?
English (fluent), Russian (native). On request we can arrange Spanish, French or German-speaking second photographer for sessions.
How quickly do you respond to messages?
Moscow business hours (9 AM to 9 PM Moscow time, Mon to Sat): under 15 minutes typically. Evenings and Sunday: within 2 hours. Replies sometimes delayed during weddings or all-day shoots.
Telegram, Telegram, email or phone?
Telegram is fastest. +7 927 624-99-67. Telegram @may1298 equally fast. Email
Guarantees
What if the photos do not look good?
For document photos: if the receiving authority (MVD, embassy, GIBDD) rejects the photo, we re-shoot at no charge within 60 days.
For portrait sessions: if the final delivered gallery does not contain photos you like, we offer a complimentary re-session within 30 days. This has been invoked twice in 5 years,we work hard to align expectations before the session.
Privacy of my photos?
Photos stored on encrypted private servers. Galleries password-protected. We do not share files with third parties. We delete originals after 18 months unless you request long-term archive.
Booking process
Standard flow:
- You message us with service type, target date and any specific requirements
- We send a confirmation message with package, total, deposit invoice
- You pay 50 percent deposit
- We confirm session details 24 to 48 hours before
- Session happens on the agreed date
- You pay remainder within 3 days
- We deliver gallery within stated timeline (varies by service)
For document photos this entire flow compresses to same-day for urgent cases.
Try our free online document photo tool
If you need a document photo and are not sure whether to book a full session, try our free in-browser photo tool first. Upload a selfie, the tool crops to standard formats (Schengen, US 50×50, Russian residency 35×45, driver licence 30×40), removes background and exports a ready-to-print JPEG. Free, no signup, no data retention.
Related services
For any specific service: document and visa photos, family photography, wedding photography, business portrait, tourist photoshoot, urgent ID photos.
Contact
Telegram: +7 927 624-99-67
Telegram: @may1298
Email:
On-site chat: bottom-right of every page on fotografmoskva.ru
Moscow business hours, fluent English, response within 5 to 15 minutes typically.
Frequently asked questions
Do you speak English well enough for a full photo session and event coverage?
Yes. Our team works in fluent English, and Russian is our native language. We talk easily with the couple, the guests and the event planner, work from briefs by email and Telegram, and discuss shots, poses and timing without an interpreter. When the audience is mixed, for example Russian relatives and international colleagues, we switch between languages during the shoot so nobody is left out. On request we can also arrange a Spanish, French or German-speaking second photographer.
How much does a photo session cost for an English-speaking client in Moscow in 2026?
Prices are the same for every client, with no surcharge for English. Standard packages have fixed prices listed on each service page: for example, document and visa photos from 1 500 ₽, pre-wedding sessions from 15 000 ₽ and maternity sessions from 18 000 ₽. Larger projects such as events, school yearbooks and corporate work are quoted after a short brief in the chat on this site.
Can you do US visa, UK and Schengen photos in one visit, and do you guarantee acceptance?
Yes, we can shoot US, UK and Schengen photos in one visit. We work to the official consular specifications, including the 51 × 51 mm US format on a white background, print on matte photo paper and deliver a digital version as well. If the receiving authority rejects a document photo, we reshoot at no charge within 60 days.
What is the turnaround time for edited photos after the shoot?
It depends on the service. Document photos are ready the same day, pre-wedding sessions are delivered in 7 to 14 days and newborn sessions within 21 days. Photos arrive as a private password-protected gallery link by email, with a confirmation on Telegram.
How do I book a session if I am still abroad and arriving to Moscow next week?
Message us in the chat on fotografmoskva.ru or on Telegram with your dates in Moscow, the type of shoot and any locations you have in mind. We send a confirmation with the package, total and deposit invoice. For sessions over 15 000 RUB a 50 percent deposit secures the date, and we confirm the session details 24 to 48 hours before.
Do you cover business events, conferences and corporate parties for foreign companies in Moscow?
Yes, we cover conferences, product launches, corporate parties and team-building events for international teams. Events are quoted after a short brief based on hours and deliverables. We sign an NDA on request, issue invoices in RUB with VAT itemised for Russian business clients, and can work together with a videographer from our team.
Can you shoot at the Red Square, Zaryadye or other Moscow landmarks without permit problems?
Yes. A private or couple session with one photographer and hand-held gear needs no permit at Red Square, Zaryadye, Sparrow Hills, the MGU campus or Moscow City. Permits come into play for studio lighting kits on Red Square, tripods inside some palace interiors and drones, which are prohibited around the Kremlin. For commercial shoots such as a brand campaign or lookbook a permit is needed, and we help arrange it in advance.