FAQ for English-speaking photo clients in Moscow 2026

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 Сбербанк, ВТБ, Альфа, Тинькофф, МКБ 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 Адрес электронной почты защищен от спам-ботов. Для просмотра адреса в браузере должен быть включен Javascript. for written records (contracts, invoices). Phone for urgent same-day matters.

Guarantees

What if the photos do not look good?
For document photos: if the receiving authority (МВД, embassy, ГИБДД) 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:

1. You message us with service type, target date and any specific requirements
2. We send a confirmation message with package, total, deposit invoice
3. You pay 50 percent deposit
4. We confirm session details 24 to 48 hours before
5. Session happens on the agreed date
6. You pay remainder within 3 days
7. 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: Адрес электронной почты защищен от спам-ботов. Для просмотра адреса в браузере должен быть включен Javascript.
On-site chat: bottom-right of every page on fotografmoskva.ru

Moscow business hours, fluent English, response within 5 to 15 minutes typically.

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