Frequently asked Questions

I offer three types of Portrait Playdates for individuals. Each experience is personalized to meet you where you are and what you hope to express.

Ultimate Playdates are my flagship, half-day experience — the deepest dive into artistry, self-expression, and transformation. Whether you’re refreshing your professional image, documenting your reinvention, or reawakening the parts of you that exist behind the résumé, you’ll have space to breathe and become as we co-create a visual narrative for the season of life you’re in.

Signature Playdates offer the perfect blend of pampering, planning, variety, and efficiency. They follow the same intentional process and include the same professional glam as an Ultimate, but in an abbreviated format. This option is ideal for busy executives, entrepreneurs, and creatives who want to express a few sides of themselves without committing to a half-day shoot.

Headshot Playdates are the most streamlined option, designed for those who want modern, personality-filled portraits that make an impact. Headshots can also be incorporated into any Signature or Ultimate Playdate for clients who want both professional and personal portraits in one experience.

Team Headshots are also available for companies and small businesses, either on-site or in-studio. Reach out for a custom quote tailored to your team’s needs.

Not sure which session is right for you? That’s what the consultation is for. I’ll help you choose the experience that best fits your goals and vision.

Ultimate Playdates are the full experience — up to 4 hours total, including glam — with more time for outfit changes, creative exploration, and optional outdoor shooting.

Signature Playdates can take up to 2.5 hours, including about an hour for hair and makeup.

Headshot Playdates typically take 30–45 minutes, but it’s best to budget a full hour just in case.

Sessions are designed to feel spacious, not rushed. If you have a hard stop, just let me know when we’re scheduling so we can plan accordingly.

Perfect. You’re my specialty. You don’t need to know what you’re doing — that’s literally what I’m here for, and part of the experience you’re investing in.

Believe it or not, 99.999% of my clients aren’t models. Many haven’t been professionally photographed in years (if ever). They usually arrive feeling a mix of nerves and excitement, and every single one ends up with images they love. Most are surprised by how quickly they get comfortable in front of the camera, and you will too.

I’m here to direct you and hype you up the whole way through. I’ll demonstrate poses, offer easy prompts, and help you drop into your body so your expressions feel real, relaxed, and aligned with the vision we’ve set. Any body confidence highs or lows we discuss during planning will stay top of mind so I can highlight what you love most about yourself.

We’ll pause to breathe, follow what feels good, and let confidence build quietly in the background. You’ll get the hang of it before you know it.

Here’s the thing: there are no right answers, so there’s nothing to get wrong. We’ll pace ourselves, chat as we go, and find your rhythm together. All you need is a little openness and a willingness to trust the process, and I’ll take care of the rest.

Many of my clients feel the exact same way before their shoot. You’re in good company.

Allowing yourself to be photographed with care and intention isn’t about seeking attention; it's about slowing down to finally give yourself some — and then watching what happens when you let yourself take up space.

A Portrait Playdate isn’t a spotlight-and-smiles performance. It’s a quiet rebellion against all the ways you’ve been taught to shrink and hide. It’s where you get to shed the shoulds, play with possibility, and remember who you were before the world told you who to be.

And here’s the good news: your Portrait Playdate doesn’t come with an audience. It’s just you and me in the studio. No outside eyes. No judgment. No pressure to strut in like a supermodel. Just a safe, private space where you can exhale and get curious about who you are and who you’re becoming. 

My job is to hold space for your unfolding. To mirror back your power, softness, strength, sensuality — whatever you’re ready to reclaim or step into.

What we create together doesn’t have to be for anybody else’s eyes, either. These portraits are for you, first and foremost. You get to decide who you share them with, if anyone at all.

I’ve got you. Styling is a team effort, and we’ll start with what’s already in your closet.

For Headshot Playdates, you’ll receive a prep guide with wardrobe tips and outfit inspiration to help you choose looks that flatter and feel authentically on-brand.

For Signature and Ultimate Playdates, you’ll get a few helpful do’s and don’ts to start, and then we’ll curate colors, textures, and silhouettes together during your pre-shoot styling consultation. We’ll uncover what looks good, feels good, and photographs beautifully.

Your Playdate is the perfect excuse to dust off that bold leather jacket, the slinky dress, or the power blazer that makes you feel unstoppable. And if there’s something you’ve been dying to be photographed in, let’s make it happen.

When in doubt, bring more than you think you’ll need. I’ll help organize your lineup when you arrive, and we’ll leave room to pivot, mix and match, and follow creative sparks as they arise. My studio wardrobe also includes a curated selection of jackets, scarves, and accessories we can incorporate if something feels right in the moment.

It’s not about needing it — it’s about beginning your Portrait Playdate with a relaxing, confidence-boosting ritual that helps you ease out of everyday life and into creative mode. When you feel amazing, it shines through in how you photograph.

Professional hair and makeup are included with all Signature and Ultimate Playdates, tailored entirely to your preferences and vision. My artists specialize in glam that looks like you, just camera-ready. Whether that means a natural glow or full-on Hollywood glam, the choice is yours.

You’ll share your preferences during the planning process, and I’ll pass everything along to your artist ahead of time so we’re aligned. On shoot day, you’ll have time to chat, tweak, and settle in. Your artist will check in with you throughout, and we don’t start shooting until you feel amazing about how you look.

Portrait Playdates are a premium, personalized experience, and your investment depends on your vision and how many images you fall in love with.

Headshot Playdate clients typically invest between $650–$1,850, while Portrait Playdate clients (Signature and Ultimate) usually invest $2,200–$10,000+, depending on image selections and whether they’re commissioning custom wall art to treasure for years.

A session fee is due at booking to reserve your shoot date. It covers everything that happens before, during, and after your session — all the planning, coordination, and artistry that make your experience seamless and unforgettable.

What you invest beyond the session fee is completely up to you, and you don’t have to decide until you’ve seen the magic we’ve made together at your dedicated Selection Appointment.

We’ll go over pricing in detail at your consultation, so you’ll know exactly what’s included and what’s possible — no pressure, no surprises, no hard sell. Just the clarity and confidence you need to move forward with ease.

Yes, but not to change who you are. Every image you purchase gets individual, high-end retouching. My approach is magazine-quality but subtle: smoothing distractions while keeping your skin texture, features, and essence intact. 

You’ll have a say in how your images are retouched at your Selection Appointment, and you’ll give final approval after edits are complete at your Reveal Appointment. If anything feels off once you receive your images, you’re covered by my Happiness Guarantee.

Retouching includes things like blemish removal, skin smoothing, brightening eyes and teeth, removing flyaways, minimizing wrinkles in fabric, unifying skin tone, smoothing backdrops, and adjusting color or composition to create visual balance. It does not include major body modification, heavy reshaping, or removing elements we haven’t discussed in advance.

We all have different relationships with our appearance, and I handle your preferences with care. If there’s something specific you’re self-conscious about — from shirt folds to asymmetry to gender-affirming edits — we can talk about it and I’ll carry those preferences into the post-production process.

Retouching serves to enhance without erasing. The final result should feel clean and polished, and reflect you at your best.

There’s a 0% chance you’ll walk away without images you love. Really. Most clients actually have the opposite problem: narrowing down their favorites.

That’s because your Portrait Playdate is designed with intention. We align on your goals, vibe, and vision upfront, and during your shoot, I guide the lighting, posing, and pacing so you can relax and let your real self shine through.

At your Selection Appointment, you’ll only purchase the images you can’t live without. I’ll help you through the process, but ultimately, you’re in charge. And it’s totally normal not to love every photo — that’s not the goal. The goal is to love the ones you choose. And you will.

Every selected image receives polished, professional retouching with your input. And if something feels off when you review your finals at the Reveal Appointment, you’re covered by my Happiness Guarantee: just let me know then or within 7 days, and I’ll make it right.

I want you to love your images. We’re talking can’t-stop-staring-at-them kind of love. That’s why I offer a Happiness Guarantee.

Because we’ve been aligned on your goals from the start and you’ve had a say in the retouching process, it’s extremely rare that clients need revisions after delivery.

But just in case, you’ll still have 7 days after your Reveal Appointment to sit with your final images and let me know if anything feels off.

Your satisfaction matters, and I’m committed to making sure you walk away with images that look and feel like you, and that you’re truly proud to own.

All Playdates are designed as solo portrait experiences to fully focus on you. For that reason, I generally recommend coming alone so you can drop into the experience without outside eyes.

Space is also limited once we’re in full creative flow. We’re going to make a beautiful mess of the studio together once backdrops, lights, stools and chairs, and props are involved, so having another body present the whole time isn’t ideal. 

However, I totally understand wanting to share this experience with someone special. If you'd love a few frames with your mom, grandmother, bestie, partner, or even your pup, let’s talk about it at your consultation. There’s often an option to bring them in toward the end of your shoot for a look or two together, and with a little planning, anything is possible.

Most Headshot and Portrait Playdates happen in my cozy and colorful Belltown studio. It’s a private, distraction-free space where you can relax, be yourself, and try things on (literally and figuratively). We have full control over climate, lighting, styling, music, and pacing, and endless flexibility for outfit changes, creative setups, and intimate moments that might not feel as comfortable in a public space.

That said, I love taking the show on the road when it makes sense! Ultimate Playdates include the option to step outside for a short photo field trip to a nearby location, like the Olympic Sculpture Park or one of the textured, urban backdrops right here in Belltown. It’s a fun way to infuse your images with a different vibe, whether that’s natural greenery, the backdrop of Elliott Bay, or the color pop of a downtown mural.

If you have a specific location or concept in mind, let’s dream it up together. I’m always open to on-location shoots, though additional fees will apply to cover any additional shoot time, travel, permits, or location rentals.

For group or team headshots, we can photograph everyone on-site at your office or workspace, or schedule individual sessions in the studio. Reach out to schedule a consultation and get a custom quote based on your team’s needs.

Yes! If you're self-employed, your Headshot or Portrait Playdate session fee, any images you purchase, and even related expenses (like wardrobe or props) may be tax-deductible if your photoshoot is for business purposes. That could include updating your website, promoting your services, creating content, or building your brand. Many clients who book Playdates for personal branding opt to invoice their business and use a business card for payment.

In Washington State, if your photoshoot is for business purposes only, you may also qualify for a sales tax exemption on your session fee and digital image purchases. Just complete this exemption certificate (PDF) from the Washington Department of Revenue and send it over at the time of booking.

As always, be sure to check with your tax advisor to confirm what applies to your specific situation.

Absolutely — and you should! Your images are yours to use for any non-commercial purpose, whether that’s updating your LinkedIn, adding a face to your website, submitting a speaker headshot, or creating social content for Instagram and beyond.

Non-commercial use means you’re not making money from the images themselves, like selling them, licensing them, or using them in paid ads for other businesses. You can use them for personal promotion and self-representation across social media, websites, bios, press kits, speaker profiles, and more — no separate licensing fees needed.

If you’re submitting your photos to a publication or want to use them in printed materials, I’m happy to help prepare print-ready versions or formatted crops — just let me know. Additional fees apply depending on what’s needed, and we can talk through this during your consultation.

The images you receive are professionally retouched and web-promotion-ready, so I kindly ask you don’t apply filters or make edits beyond cropping. If your photos are published or shared online, crediting me as your photographer always appreciated! Linking to my website (“Photo by Shannon Johnson, Portrait Playdate”) and tagging me on socials (@portraitplaydate) helps support my business, and I love seeing where your photos end up.

If you’re ever unsure whether a particular use is okay, just reach out! I’m happy to clarify and cheer you on.

Only if you say yes — and even then, only the ones you're fully comfortable with. I’ll always ask for your written permission before sharing any images from your Playdate. Some clients love seeing themselves featured in my portfolio or social media; others prefer to keep their photos private, or share just a few select images. Some want to remain anonymous or untagged, and that’s totally okay.

This is part of the personalization you’re investing in: you get to decide what’s shared and what stays just for you. We’ll discuss it during planning and again after your images are delivered, so there’s no pressure and no surprises.

I love showcasing client work because it helps me grow my business, but your privacy, comfort, and consent always come first.

Most clients book Headshot Playdates at least 2 weeks in advance, and 4+ weeks out for Signature or Ultimate Playdates.

This gives us time for:

• Pre-shoot prep (wardrobe planning, any retail therapy, hair or beauty appointments)

• Completing your questionnaire + Pinterest board to clarify the vibe

• My review and prep time — I like to sit with your vision at least 2 weeks before your shoot

Book early, stress less. The sooner we get your date on the books, the smoother (and more fun!) the process — and the faster you’ll be flaunting those fancy new photos.

Headshot Playdate images are delivered digitally 1 week after your Selection Appointment, while Portrait Playdate images are delivered digitally 3 weeks after your Selection Appointment. Any custom-designed ARTchive Albums or wall art are ordered once you’ve signed off on your retouched images at your Reveal Appointment and take an additional 3-4 weeks to arrive.

First, we’ll schedule a complimentary consultation to get to know each other and talk through your goals, questions, and any nerves you might be bringing to the process. I’ll help you determine which Portrait Playdate is right for you, walk you through what’s included, and give you a clear sense of what the experience and investment look like so you can make an informed, confident decision about moving forward.

I know hopping on a video call with a photographer you’ve never met can feel a little daunting, but this first bit of face time is one of the most important parts of the process. It’s how we build trust, find our rhythm, and make sure we’re aligned before you ever step in front of the camera. It’s also your first glimpse into the collaborative, personalized approach that defines every Portrait Playdate.

There’s no hard sell, only a relaxed conversation to help you feel grounded, prepared, and excited about what we can create together.

If you decide to move forward, we’ll talk scheduling. A signed portrait agreement and session fee secure your date, and from there, the planning magic begins.