Service formats and prices
The visit lasts roughly forty minutes from arrival to the moment you have prints and digital files in hand. We bring a backdrop, two soft lights, a professional camera and a portable dye-sub printer.
| Format | Best for | Includes | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single visit, one person | routine document photo at home or office | 2 sets of prints + digital JPEG | 1500 ₽ |
| Family visit (2-4 people) | renewing several passports in one go | 2 sets per person + digital files | 2500 ₽ |
| Office team session | 10-30 employees in one shift | matching format for company IDs, badges, intranet | from 200 ₽ per head |
| Hospital or care home visit | bedridden or limited-mobility client | extra time, gentle posing, extra prints | 2000 ₽ |
| Express visit (under 1 hour after booking) | last-minute consulate appointment | standard kit, surcharge for speed | 3000 ₽ |
| Outside Moscow (within 30 km MKAD) | Подмосковье residents | same kit, travel time included | standard + 1000 ₽ |
Documents we routinely shoot
We keep templates for every standard format on the laptop so the photo is cropped and exported on the spot, ready to upload to a government portal or hand over at the consulate window.
| Document | Size | Background | Special rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russian internal passport | 35x45 mm | white | matte print, neutral expression |
| Russian biometric travel passport | 35x45 mm | white | face area 32-36 mm chin to crown |
| Schengen visa | 35x45 mm | white or light grey | recent photo (within 6 months) |
| US visa (B1/B2, F1) | 50x50 mm | white | 5 MB JPEG max for DS-160 |
| UK visa | 45x35 mm | off-white | both prints and digital required |
| DV Lottery (Green Card) | 50x50 mm | white | strict head proportions, no glasses |
| Russian driving licence | 21x30 mm | white | no headwear except religious |
| Pensioner / student / health card | 30x40 mm | white or light grey | simplified requirements |
| Residence permit (RVP, VNZh) | 35x45 mm | white | 4 prints on matte paper |
How the visit works
- Book a slot. Telegram, Telegram or our online form. Tell us the address, the documents you need photos for, and the timing window. We confirm within 15 minutes.
- We arrive. The photographer brings a portable backdrop (white, light grey, or whatever the document needs), two soft lights, a tripod, a full-frame camera and a dye-sub printer.
- Setup, 5-10 minutes. The backdrop goes against a wall, the lights at 45 degrees, you sit in front. No bigger than a 2 by 2 metre area is required.
- Shoot, 5-10 minutes. You sit, look straight at the camera, neutral expression. We take 5-10 frames per document, pick the best, show it to you on the laptop.
- Edit and crop, on the spot. White-balance, light skin retouch if needed, crop to the exact size requirement, export to digital file.
- Print and email. Standard 2-4 prints on matte photo paper, then the digital file emailed to you for online submissions.
Why a home visit and not a photo studio
- Mobility limitations. Elderly relatives, post-surgery patients, parents with newborns. A photo studio means a taxi, queueing, undressing and dressing again. We come to you.
- Schedule. If you work 9 to 9, getting to a studio between business hours is impossible. We work evenings and weekends.
- Team shoots. Photographing a team of 15 employees at the studio costs them an afternoon. We do it in your meeting room during lunch break.
- Babies. A 6-month-old needs the same passport photo specs as an adult. Getting a baby to face the camera in a busy studio is its own circle of hell. We snap them at home on the family bed in a backdrop tent.
- Urgency. A last-minute consulate appointment, a visa interview tomorrow morning, a flight you must catch. We have express slots that get you photos within an hour of the call.
Preparation checklist
The shoot is fast if you do a few things ahead of time. None of it is complicated.
- Clear a 2 by 3 metre space against a wall. Move the chair or sofa out of the way.
- Wear a colour that contrasts with the required background. For a white background, a dark blouse, jumper or shirt works best.
- Avoid heavy makeup. Light, natural is fine. Heavy mascara and lipstick read as caricature in passport-size crops.
- If you wear glasses daily, keep them on but expect a couple of retakes to eliminate reflections.
- For babies, time the visit between feed and nap, when the child is most likely to keep eyes open and not cry.
- For elderly clients with hearing aids, leave them in unless the document explicitly forbids it.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can you reach me?
Standard booking window is 24-48 hours ahead. Same-day appointments are available for an express surcharge: typically 1-2 hours from call to arrival in central Moscow, 2-3 hours for outer districts and inner Подмосковье. The photographer carries the kit pre-assembled in the car for speed.
What if my prints are rejected at the consulate?
If the rejection is on technical grounds (wrong size, background, head proportions) we redo the photo at our cost. This has not happened in over 12 years of working with consulates, but the guarantee is on the receipt. Subjective rejections (you smiled too widely, you should not have worn that scarf) are not covered, but we coach you on the shoot to avoid them.
Can you take a photo for an electronic submission only?
Yes. Many applications now accept only a digital file: DS-160 for US visa, UK visa portal, Госуслуги for Russian biometric passport. We export the file in the precise size and colour profile required by the portal and email it within the same visit. Prints become optional.
Are you available on weekends and holidays?
Yes. Saturday and Sunday count as standard pricing; New Year holidays carry a 50 percent surcharge. Major bank holidays (May 9, June 12) are by arrangement only. Late evening visits after 9 pm carry a 30 percent surcharge.
Do you photograph babies for passports?
Yes, this is one of our most common requests. We use a soft white backdrop tent that fits on the bed or sofa. The baby is held by a parent off-frame so only the head shows in the final crop. Each baby session usually takes 20-30 minutes to catch the moment with eyes open and a neutral mouth.
What if I do not speak Russian well enough to coordinate?
English is fine. Most consulate and visa-related requests come from expat clients in central Moscow, and we coordinate the entire shoot in English. The photographer carries a printed list of common document specs in both languages for clarity.
How is payment handled?
Cash in roubles on the spot is the default. Bank card via SBP transfer also works. For corporate office visits we issue an invoice in Russian or English and accept transfer within 7 days. Promo codes from email subscribers (FOTO-XXXXXX, 100 ₽ off) are accepted on single visits.
Areas we cover in Moscow
We work across the city and the inner suburbs. Most expat clients are based in the central districts and along the metro lines into the office clusters around Moscow City, Belorussian and Paveletsky stations. Suburbs within 30 km of MKAD are routine. Past that we agree the slot and price by message.
| Area | Typical clients | Travel time from centre |
|---|---|---|
| Tverskoy, Patriki, Khamovniki, Ostozhenka | diplomatic, expat, finance | under 20 minutes |
| Moscow City, Presnensky, Frunzensky | finance, tech, legal | 20-30 minutes |
| Arbat, Sokolniki, Krasnoselsky | media, embassies, hotels | 15-25 minutes |
| Maryino, Kuzminki, Lyublino, Vykhino | family residential | 35-50 minutes |
| Khimki, Mytishchi, Reutov, Lyubertsy | relocated employees, families | 50-70 minutes |
| Skolkovo, Krasnogorsk, Odintsovo | corporate parks, business districts | 60-80 minutes |
| Other Подмосковье towns within 30 km MKAD | by arrangement | variable |
Why clients book us instead of a studio
Some of the recurring reasons we hear at the start of a booking call:
- The expat moved to Moscow last week, needs a residence permit photo by tomorrow, and the studio queue is taking the entire morning.
- An elderly parent who came over for a few months and cannot navigate a Russian-speaking photo salon.
- A diplomatic family with three kids who would rather not drag everyone across the city.
- A consulate visit was rejected once for the wrong background, and the client wants the photo done right the first time with a clear guarantee.
- A startup hires 8 new people in a week and needs matching ID badge photos done in the office during lunch.
- A new mother needs a passport photo for her 2-month-old baby without taking the child outside the building.
What is included in the visit
- Portable backdrop (white, light grey, or custom shade) appropriate for the document type.
- Two professional softbox lights with portable battery, no need for clear floor power.
- Full-frame camera with portrait optics calibrated to the consulate colour profile.
- Dye-sublimation printer for matte prints, the type required by Russian ГУВМ and most consulates.
- Laptop with templates for every standard document size, so the file is cropped and exported on the spot.
- Receipt of the visit in Russian or English for company expense filing.
- Digital file emailed to your address before the photographer leaves your building.
What is not included
- Document forms or application paperwork: we are the photographer, not a visa agency.
- Translation of consulate requirements: we follow the spec you give us, you confirm correctness.
- Outdoor or non-document photography: this is a separate service in our portfolio.
- Hairdressing or makeup: bring your own touch-up kit, we provide a basic mirror.
- Photo retouching beyond document-compliant levels: removing tattoos, scars, or moles is not allowed in passport photography by law.
More questions answered
Can you photograph documents themselves, not just people?
Yes. For visa applications that require photos of accompanying documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, bank statements) we bring a colour-calibrated scanning setup. The price is the same as a person session and includes 5-10 documents scanned and exported as PDFs.
Do you photograph passport pages or notarised translations?
We do. Each page is photographed with even lighting and exported as a flat PDF or JPEG at the resolution required by the receiving authority. For court-grade copies we recommend a notary or your embassy instead.
I am pregnant or recently gave birth. Are there special precautions?
None on our side. The shoot is fast, low-stress, with the option to sit or recline if you prefer. For newborns we photograph them in their familiar environment without flash and without prolonged exposure to bright lights.
How are GDPR concerns handled for non-Russian clients?
We retain the digital file on our server for 30 days after the visit in case you need to re-download. After that the file is permanently deleted. We do not share photos with third parties, period. If you require an earlier deletion, message us after receiving the file and we delete it within 24 hours.
Can I get an invoice in English for company reimbursement?
Yes. The invoice includes the company name and address, service description in English, VAT-equivalent details where applicable, and acceptance date. Most corporate clients use it directly for finance department filing without translation.
What if I need to reschedule?
Up to 24 hours before the visit you can reschedule at no cost. Within 24 hours, half the deposit is forfeited (this is to compensate for the booked slot). Cancellation of an active visit (photographer already en route) is charged in full.