Most people aren’t
afraid of cameras.
Phixo is a small portrait studio in West Island Montréal, built around the people who don’t think of themselves as photogenic. The whole studio — the room, the lighting, the tethered screen, the pacing of a session — is set up so you can see what we’re making, ask for what you want, and leave with a portrait that feels like the version of you you’d actually use.
Quiet room. One coffee. Your music if you want it.
Sessions are by appointment, one client at a time. Doors closed. No drop-ins. No overlapping shoots. The space is climate-controlled and built to be calm — so the only thing in the room is you and the work we’re doing together.
You see every shot as we make it.
The defining piece of a Phixo session: every frame previews on a 27-inch screen beside you in real time. No “trust me,” no waiting until the gallery to find out what you look like.
No “trust me” moments — every frame previews on a 27″ screen beside you, full size, full colour.
You can ask to redo any shot, any time. The pacing of the session is built to make that easy and unawkward.
You leave knowing you have the photos you wanted. No surprises in the gallery, no “I wish we’d tried…”
The questions people quietly worry about.
Most clients arrive with the same five doubts. Here they are, answered before you have to ask.
What if I’m awkward in photos?
Most of our clients say exactly that. The room is set up for it. You won’t be asked to pose; you’ll be directed, frame by frame, with each shot landing on the screen beside you. By the time you stop checking the screen, the portraits we keep are usually already taken.
What if I don’t know what to wear?
The wardrobe call covers it. Bring two options if you’re torn — we’ll talk through which reads on camera in the lighting we’re using. Solid colours, mid-tones, sleeves rather than bare arms for headshots. Nothing fancy, nothing brand-new.
Can I see the images during the session?
Yes — every single one. Every frame previews on a 27″ screen beside you, full size, full colour, in the moment. You can ask to redo any shot, change angle, change expression, take a break. The pacing is built for it.
How much retouching is included?
Light, tasteful, by default. Stray hairs softened, temporary blemishes calmed, lint or wrinkles on clothing removed, distracting background bits cleared. Skin texture stays. Permanent features stay. The bar is “you on a good day” — never “you in a magazine.” If you want more or less, just say.
Can I buy more than the included number of images?
Yes. Additional retouched selects are available à la carte after you’ve seen the gallery, priced transparently per image. No bundles, no minimums, no “upgrade” pressure on the day of the shoot.
What if I hate every photo?
It hasn’t happened in five years of shooting. The tethered preview means we don’t leave the room until you’ve seen frames you like. If something goes truly sideways, we re-shoot. No charge, no awkwardness — just put a new date on the calendar.
West Island, Montréal.
The studio is in Pointe-Claire, easy from anywhere on the West Island, twenty minutes from downtown on a good day. By appointment only — there’s no walk-in counter and no waiting room. When you come in, the room is yours.
Get directions →Come and see the room.
Sessions are by appointment. Studio visits before booking are welcome — bring a coffee, take a look, see if it feels right.