Photoshoot or Photo Shoot: Which Spelling Is Correct?
The photoshoot or photo shoot question confuses even professional photographers. You will see the one-word form on Instagram, the two-word form in newspapers, and a hyphenated version in between. The good news: this is not a right-vs-wrong trap. Both main spellings are correct, the choice depends on where you are writing. This guide gives you the dictionary answer, a memory trick, 14 example sentences, and the one form to avoid. For another tricky pair, see our full-time or full time guide.
⚡ Quick answer
Photo shoot (two words) is the classic dictionary spelling and the safest choice in formal writing. Photoshoot (one word) is also correct and widely used, especially online and in casual contexts. Never write photo-shoot as a noun.
🧠 Memory trick: Think two words, two jobs, photo (what it is) plus shoot (what happens). When in doubt, split it: the two-word form is never wrong.
When to use “photo shoot”
Use photo shoot as two separate words in formal writing, news articles, magazines, business websites, and school essays. Merriam-Webster lists it as its headword entry, defined as a photography session where a professional photographer takes photographs for commercial use. When style matters, the two-word form always looks polished.
The magazine planned a photo shoot at the beach.
She booked a photo shoot for her wedding portraits.
The article described the chaos behind the fashion photo shoot.
They arrived early for the product photo shoot.
Her first professional photo shoot lasted six hours.
All models must sign a release before the photo shoot.
When “photoshoot” is acceptable
Use photoshoot as one word in casual, digital, and creative contexts, social media captions, hashtags, blog headlines, and photography branding. It means exactly the same thing, and major dictionaries now recognize the closed compound. Just stay consistent: pick one spelling per document and stick with it.
Behind the scenes of today’s photoshoot!
He runs a small photoshoot studio downtown.
Their engagement photoshoot took place at sunset.
Tag your best photoshoot moments with #studio.
The baby’s first photoshoot was adorable.
We scheduled the photoshoot for Saturday morning.
Spot the mistakes below. Writers who hesitate over spellings like this often mix up other close pairs too, our breathe vs breath guide covers another one.
✗ Wrong: “She booked a photo-shoot yesterday.” (the noun is never hyphenated)
✓ Right: “She booked a photo shoot yesterday.”
✗ Wrong: “The photo shot was really fun.” (a shot is one picture, not the session)
✓ Right: “The photo shoot was really fun.”
✗ Wrong: He missed the photo-shoot on Monday.
✓ Right: He missed the photo shoot on Monday.
The tricky exceptions
Plurals and pronunciation
Both forms pluralize simply by adding s: photo shoots and photoshoots. Pronunciation never changes, say “FOH-toh shoot” either way. There is no US vs UK difference here; both regions accept both spellings. For the full authority check, see Merriam-Webster’s entry for photo shoot.
The agency runs three photo shoots every week.
Her portfolio includes dozens of photoshoots.
The hyphen appears only as a compound adjective
The hyphenated form photo-shoot is not the standard noun spelling, but hyphens can appear when the phrase works as an adjective before a noun. In “a photo-shoot location,” the hyphen links the two words into one modifier. This is the same pattern as full-time job, see our full-time or full time guide for how compound forms shift by role. As a standalone noun, never use the hyphen.
The photo-shoot location was a rooftop garden.
✗ Wrong as a noun: The photo-shoot starts at noon.
Photo shoot vs photoshoot at a glance
| Photo shoot | Photoshoot | |
|---|---|---|
| Spelling | Two words (open compound) | One word (closed compound) |
| Correct? | Yes, dictionary-preferred, always safe | Yes, accepted, especially informal |
| Best for | News, essays, business writing | Social media, captions, branding |
| Plural | Photo shoots | Photoshoots |
| Trick | Two words, two jobs: photo + shoot | One word feels faster, like a hashtag |
Quick practice
Choose the best spelling for each sentence:
- The newspaper covered the fashion __________ last week. (formal article)
- Behind the scenes of my first __________! (Instagram caption)
- Which spelling should you never use for the noun: photo-shoot, photo shoot, or photoshoot?
- The studio booked three __________ this month. (give both plurals)
Answer key:
- 1. photo shoot (two words for formal writing)
- 2. photoshoot (one word is natural for social media)
- 3. photo-shoot (never hyphenate the standalone noun)
- 4. photo shoots / photoshoots (both plurals are fine)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it “photoshoot” or “photo shoot”?
Both are correct. “Photo shoot” (two words) is the traditional dictionary spelling and the safest choice. “Photoshoot” (one word) is an accepted variant, especially in casual and digital writing. Pick one per document and stay consistent.
Is “photoshoot” in the dictionary?
Yes. Merriam-Webster lists photoshoot as its own headword with the same meaning as photo shoot: a photography session, especially a professional one. That said, the two-word entry remains the more established spelling.
Is “photo-shoot” with a hyphen correct?
Not as a standalone noun, write photo shoot or photoshoot. The hyphen only belongs in compound adjectives before a noun, as in “a photo-shoot location,” following the same hyphenation habit as full-time job.
What is the plural of “photo shoot”?
Add s to the last word: photo shoots or photoshoots, matching whichever spelling you chose. Both plurals are standard and pronounced the same way.
Is there a US vs UK difference?
No. American and British English both accept photo shoot and photoshoot. The one-word form is slightly more common in informal online writing on both sides of the Atlantic.
What happens at a photo shoot?
A photo shoot is a planned session where a photographer takes a series of photographs of a person, product, or scene, for magazines, advertising, weddings, or portfolios. The session is the shoot; each individual picture is a shot.
Final thoughts
The photoshoot or photo shoot question is really about register, not right and wrong. Write photo shoot as two words when the writing is formal, and use photoshoot when the tone is casual, just never hyphenate the noun itself. Master this pair and the next compound-word trap falls just as fast, compare it with our farther vs further guide, or test yourself on the spelling quiz and the free grammar checker.
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