Refund Policy

1. General Refund Policy

Our refund policy is designed to be fair to both our clients and our business, recognizing that when you book a session or event, we reserve that time exclusively for you and decline other potential bookings.

1.1 Deposits and Booking Fees

• A non-refundable booking fee/deposit (typically 30% of the total service fee) is required to secure your photography session or event date
• This deposit confirms your booking and removes the date from our availability calendar
• Deposits are non-refundable as they compensate us for time spent in pre-session consultations, administrative work, and the opportunity cost of declining other bookings

1.2 Full Payment

• The remaining balance is due as specified in your service agreement (typically 7-14 days before the scheduled session/event)
• For small portrait sessions, full payment may be required at the time of booking
• For wedding and large event photography, a payment schedule will be outlined in your contract

2. Cancellation Policy and Refund Eligibility

2.1 Client Cancellations

For standard photography sessions (portraits, family, commercial):

• More than 30 days before the session: The deposit is non-refundable, but any additional payments made will be refunded in full
• 15-30 days before the session: The deposit is non-refundable, and 50% of any additional payments will be refunded
• Less than 15 days before the session: No refund will be provided for any payments made

For wedding and event photography:

• More than 90 days before the event: The deposit is non-refundable, but any additional payments made will be refunded in full
• 60-90 days before the event: The deposit is non-refundable, and 50% of any additional payments will be refunded
• 30-60 days before the event: The deposit is non-refundable, and 25% of any additional payments will be refunded
• Less than 30 days before the event: No refund will be provided for any payments made

2.2 Rescheduling

We understand that circumstances may require rescheduling your session:

• One reschedule request may be accommodated without penalty, subject to our availability
• Rescheduling must be requested in writing at least 14 days before the original session date (30 days for weddings and events)
• The new session date must be within 6 months of the original date
• Additional reschedule requests may incur a fee of £50 per change
• If we cannot accommodate your requested new date, our standard cancellation policy will apply

2.3 Photographer Cancellation

In the rare event that we need to cancel:

• If Layered Rate cancels for any reason, we will provide a full refund of all payments made
• Where possible, we will attempt to find a suitable replacement photographer of similar style and experience
• If we are unable to perform due to illness, accident, or circumstances beyond our control, our liability is limited to a full refund of all payments made

3. Special Circumstances

3.1 Weather Conditions

For outdoor photography sessions:

• Sessions may be rescheduled at no additional cost if severe weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, extreme temperatures) would negatively impact the quality of the photographs
• The decision to reschedule due to weather will be made by the photographer and communicated at least 24 hours before the session when possible
• Light rain or overcast conditions are not considered severe weather and sessions will proceed as planned unless both parties agree to reschedule

3.2 Personal Emergencies

We understand that genuine emergencies occur:

• In cases of serious illness, death in the family, or other significant emergencies, we may offer more flexible rescheduling options at our discretion
• Documentation of the emergency may be requested
• Even in emergency situations, deposits remain non-refundable, but may be applied to a future session

3.3 COVID-19 and Public Health Emergencies

For cancellations related to COVID-19 or similar public health emergencies:

• If government restrictions make it illegal to proceed with the session/event, you may reschedule without penalty or receive a credit towards future services
• If you or essential participants test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days of the session, you may reschedule without penalty (documentation may be requested)
• Deposits remain non-refundable but will be applied to the rescheduled date

4. Product Refunds

4.1 Digital Products

For digital photographs and products:

• Due to the nature of digital products, no refunds are available once digital files have been delivered
• If there are technical issues with the files (corruption, inability to download), we will address these at no additional cost
• Style, color preferences, and artistic interpretation are subjective and do not qualify for refunds

4.2 Physical Products

For physical products such as prints, albums, and frames:

• If products arrive damaged or with manufacturing defects, we will replace them at no additional cost
• Claims for damaged products must be made within 7 days of receipt, with photographs of the damage
• Custom-designed products (such as wedding albums) that have been approved by you during the design process are not eligible for refunds due to changes in preference
• Returns of undamaged products may be accepted within 14 days of receipt, subject to a 20% restocking fee

4.3 Satisfaction Guarantee

We stand behind the quality of our work:

• If you are genuinely dissatisfied with the technical quality of your photographs (focus, exposure, etc.), please contact us within 14 days of delivery
• We will work with you to address your concerns, which may include additional editing, partial refund, or a complimentary mini-session
• Artistic style, creative direction, and subjective preferences are not covered under our satisfaction guarantee

5. Refund Process

5.1 How to Request a Refund

To request a refund or cancellation:

1. Submit your request in writing to [email protected]
2. Include your full name, date of service/order, and reason for the refund request
3. Attach any relevant documentation (for emergencies, product damage, etc.)
4. Specify whether you are seeking a full refund, partial refund, or credit for future services

5.2 Review Timeline

Our refund review process:

• We will acknowledge receipt of your refund request within 2 business days
• Standard refund requests will be processed within 5-7 business days
• Complex cases may require up to 14 business days for review
• You will be notified of our decision in writing

5.3 Refund Methods

Approved refunds will be processed as follows:

• Refunds will be issued using the same payment method used for the original purchase when possible
• Credit card refunds typically appear on your statement within 5-10 business days
• Bank transfers may take 3-5 business days to process
• Credits for future services will be valid for 12 months from the issue date

6. Exceptions and Special Cases

6.1 Gift Certificates and Prepaid Sessions

For gift certificates and prepaid sessions:

• Gift certificates are non-refundable but are transferable to another person
• Gift certificates expire 12 months from the date of purchase unless otherwise specified
• Prepaid sessions follow our standard cancellation policy once a date has been reserved

6.2 Promotional Offers and Discounted Services

For services purchased at a discount or through a promotion:

• Special offers, sales, and discounted sessions may have modified refund terms, which will be specified at the time of purchase
• Refunds for discounted services will be based on the amount actually paid, not the regular price

6.3 Third-Party Vendors

For products or services involving third-party vendors:

• Products manufactured by third-party vendors (such as specialty albums or frames) may be subject to the vendor's refund policies
• We will assist you in resolving issues with third-party products but cannot guarantee refunds outside our direct control

7. Limitation of Liability

Our maximum liability is limited to the amount paid for the specific service or product in question. We are not liable for:

• Indirect or consequential losses resulting from cancellations or rescheduling
• Additional costs incurred related to the photography service (such as venue bookings, makeup artists, attire, etc.)
• Emotional distress or disappointment resulting from cancellations or perceived quality issues

We strongly recommend that clients of significant events (particularly weddings) consider event insurance that covers vendor cancellations.

8. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Refund Policy at any time:

• Changes will be posted on our website with the updated effective date
• The policy in effect at the time of your booking will apply to your transaction
• We recommend reviewing our Refund Policy before making a booking

9. Contact Information

If you have questions about our Refund Policy or need to request a refund, please contact us at:

We aim to handle all refund requests fairly and promptly, and we appreciate your understanding of our policies.