A Gothic Portrait Experience at Spooky Empire
Step beyond the ordinary convention Photo Booth and enter The Velvet Room, an immersive portrait experience featuring cinematic sets, professional photography, collectible keepsakes, and a touch of the uncanny.
Choose your path through the elegant Parlor Room, wander the mysterious Grove, or brave both realms to create your own story.
Sessions start at $25
Choose from two immersive realms
$1 from each session donated to The Trevor Project
What Your Journey Entails
The contract is simple. Choose your path, gather your party, and prepare for your portrait.
Whether you travel alone or arrive with up to three fellow adventurers, your journey includes a professionally guided portrait session within one of our immersive realms. Or both, if the Tarot allows. Once your tale has concluded, you'll receive access to a private gallery where your chosen portrait awaits, carefully edited and delivered within 24 hours.
Those wishing to further tempt fate may browse additional portraits, prints, and keepsakes available through their gallery. And, as always, each contract signed contributes $1 to The Trevor Project. In the Velvet Room, your portrait becomes part of something bigger than the shadows.
Not Just a photo booth
The Velvet Room was created to be more than a quick snapshot between convention panels.
Each portrait is crafted using professional lighting, guided posing, and thoughtful editing to create images that feel worthy of your character's story. Whether you arrive in elaborate cosplay, as an original character, or simply as yourself, every session is approached with the same care and attention to detail.
Combined with immersive themed sets, collectible keepsakes, and a reservation system designed to keep you exploring the convention instead of standing in line, the Velvet Room offers an experience unlike any traditional convention Photo Booth.
The parlor room
A Victorian Gothic chamber of velvet, gold, and whispered secrets.
The grove
A moonlit forest where creatures of the night find their true form.
The Monster Compendium
Every traveler needs a record of their discoveries.
For those wishing to document their journey, the Monster Compendium serves as an ever-growing archive of the strange and remarkable beings encountered within the Velvet Room.
Designed to hold your portrait prints within its pages, each Compendium becomes a personalized collection of monsters, heroes, villains, witches, cryptos, and creatures of every variety. You will find mysteries to be solved, games to be played, and spaces for others to leave their mark. No two archives will ever be exactly alike.
Will yours become a catalog of elegant nobles, terrible monsters, fearless adventurers, or suspiciously charming villains? The choice as always, is yours.
For just $15, travelers may claim their own Monster Compendium and begin chronicling the peculiar inhabitants of the Velvet Room. Each Monster Compendium kit includes an adhesive dispenser to cement portraits within its pages, and a PaperMate felt tip pen, the color of which is left up to fate.
Sign Your Contract
The Page
The First Contract
The Royals
The Collector's Contract
The Moon
The Seeker's Contract
The Sun
The favored Contract
The World
The Complete Contract
Claim Your Fate
Turn your portraits into mementos! More prints, complete archives, eternal memories.
The Monster Compendium
The Monster Compendium is a bound archive awaiting your discoveries. The interactive booklet invites you to collect, trade, and inscribe your portraits as you shape your Velvet Room legend.
$15
The Physical Manifestation
Physical Manifestations are fragments of your tale made tangible. These Tear & Share prints are designed for trading, and collecting, allowing your story to pass from one seeker to another.
$5 each or 5 for $20
The Portrait Compendium
Receive the complete set of digital files from your session. Perfect for sharing across the digital realm. Your gallery will stay live for 14 days for easy downloading and safekeeping.
$30
How it works
Step 1
Choose Your Realm
Choose between the Parlor Room or Grove. Or both, if desired.
Your fate must be
decided at booking
Step 2
Sign Your Contract
Choose the Tarot card package that best fits your journey. Sessions accommodate groups of four.
Step 3
Receive Your Arcana
Join the queue and explore the convention while you wait.
Step 4
Enter The Velvet Room
Report to the check-in counter during your approved return window, and we will capture your best look.
Step 5
Manifest Your Rewards
Your session includes 1 high-resolution digital download of your choice per set, viewable through your personal gallery. Love them all? You can easily upgrade to our full digital gallery, order Tear & Share prints, or obtain the Monster Compendium to keep record of your journey.
The velvet room queue system
01.Recieve Your Judgement Card
Visit the Studio Shay Velvet Room Edition in Celebration 3 to begin your contract. After check-in, our attendants will assign your party a numbered Judgement Card and provide your estimated return time. Your group number reserves your place in the Velvet Room so you can enjoy the convention instead of waiting in line.
the contract has been signed
02.Explore the Realm
Once you have your Judgement card, you are free. Go wander Spooky Empire, check out the arcade, browse the vendor hall, attend the panels, meet fellow travelers, or finish your cosplay preparations. Your place in the Velvet Room remains safely recorded in our archive.
time is ticking
03.Heed the Calling
Keep your numbered Judgement Card with you during the convention. Return to Celebration 3 when your assigned time approaches. Our attendants will call groups in sequence to begin their contracts with the Velvet Room.
To respect everyone's convention experience, priority access is reserved for guests who return during their assigned window. Keep a close eye on the clock, travelers!
judgement awaits all seekers
04.Enter the Velvet Room
Present your Judgment Card to the Velvet Room attendant and prepare to begin your session. Your group number allows our attendants to quickly locate your contract and escort you into the experience.
Missed your assigned time? Don't panic. Your contract remains valid. You'll simply be placed into our Standby Queue and admitted at the next available opening.
A note on Delayed Destiny
We know conventions are filled with distractions, side quests, and unexpected encounters.
If you miss your priority hour, your session fee remains valid and your portrait is still guaranteed. However, priority access is only available during your assigned time. Guests who arrive late will be added to the Standby Queue and admitted as openings become available.
FAQ
How long does a session take?
Most sessions take just a few minutes. You'll get access to your digital gallery as soon as it's uploaded, typically within 24 hours.
How do I know when it's my turn?
After check-in, you'll receive a numbered Judgement Card and an estimated return time. Your group number is also recorded in our system, so don't worry if the card goes missing. Our attendants can locate your contract using your group number, name, or booking information.
I visited the Velvet Room yesterday. Do I need to pay again?
Yes. Each Velvet Room session is its own experience, and the session fee applies to that individual visit. Galleries are created separately for each session.
What is included with my session?
Base sessions include:
- Your photo experience at our booth. Choose between The Parlor Room set or the The Grove set. You're welcome to use both if your tier includes dual set access.
- Access to your online gallery for 14 days. Download your images anytime during the active gallery window.
- One digital image download.
Upgrades are available at the sales counter and standard prints can be purchased through your gallery store front.
Can I bring friends?
Yes! But keep in mind that our experience is structured for singles, duos or groups up to 4 per session fee. If you'd like larger group pictures, you may inquire for after-hours pricing.
Do you offer prints on the spot?
The Velvet Room has Tear & Share prints available onsite. They are 4x6 center perforated prints made for trading and adhering into a Monster Compendium. Standard size prints are available for purchase through your private online gallery storefront.
Can I get the full gallery?
Yes. The full digital gallery is included with The World contract. Otherwise, the full gallery may be purchased through your private gallery storefront for $30.
What if I'm in cosplay?
Perfect! This booth is designed for cosplayers, and creators who want clean, flattering portraits.
How do I receive my digital photos?
Your gallery is delivered by email, check your Junk or Spam inbox for emails from hello@shaymckayphotography.com. Galleries will be up for 14 days from delivery.
What kind of payments do you accept?
We accept tap, swipe, chip, and cash. Fast and simple.
Are refunds available?
All sales are final. If you miss your time, your session is still guaranteed through the standby queue.
