P H O T O G R A P H Y
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Policies
SESSION PRICING
Sessions chosen include the photographer’s time, talent, and artistry, and private online gallery of images.
RETAINER FEES
Retainer fees (deposits) are due at time of booking to secure the session date. In order to reserve the date and time of your session, this retainer is required. It is due prior to your session and will be credited towards any session that you choose. Late or incomplete payment can result in loss of your session time slot as Melanie reserves the right to offer unsecured session slots to other inquiries. Retainer Fees are non-refundable and non- transferable. Session choices must be decided upon and paid prior to or on the date of the session.
ILLNESS
Please contact Melanie as soon as possible upon noting your child or family members’ illness so that the session can be rescheduled to a mutually convenient alternate date. 24 hours’ notice is appropriate however Melanie also understands that some illnesses can occur with short notice. Rescheduled shoots must occur in the same calendar year
as retainer fee payment.
RESHOOTS
Re-shoots are at the discretion of the artist and are not available for circumstances due to regretful choice (such as hairstyles, clothing options or unhappy children, fussy babies etc.)
CLIENT SAFETY
Please note that Melanie will NEVER compromise safety for the sake of an image. All poses/images will be done at the discretion of the photographer.
RECORDING POLICIES
Melanie’s cameras are the only cameras allowed at your session. Any and all types of
recording devices, including smartphones, cameras, video cameras etc. are strictly prohibited. Please respect the time, talent and skill that goes into creation of final images and support Melanie’s livelihood by respecting this policy.
LATENESS/MISSED APPOINTMENTS
Melanie understands that, at times, we all run a bit behind. The photographer will happily wait up to 10 minutes from your scheduled session time for your arrival. All minutes late will be deducted from the length of your session. After 10 minutes, Melanie reserves the right to leave the session meeting place and/or cancel your session. Please contact Melanie PRIOR to your session start time if you are running late.
At this time the retainer may be lost. If less than a 12-hour notice is given to reschedule a session, a $50.00 rescheduling fee will apply. With mini sessions, the 25 minute local sessions as well as the milestone sessions, it is imperative that you are on time for your session. Your time will not be held if you have missed your time slot entirely, as this interferes with the sessions scheduled after yours and for the rest of the day. For each minute late, you will be deducted that amount of time from your
session.
GALLERY OF IMAGES
Your gallery will be ready for viewing within 3 weeks of your scheduled session date. Personal, Facebook &/or Instagram sneak peeks will be shared within one week of the session. The proof images are chosen at the artist’s discretion. Galleries will remain active for 14 days, where any revisions are required within this time frame. After the gallery link
expires, there will be a re-upload fee of $50.00 should the gallery need to be uploaded again. Melanie does NOT provide online file storing. Files not shown are purged from the system and are not available for viewing. Images will be kept on an external hard drive for up to 6 months after the session has been completed.
RATIOS and IMAGE SIZING
Please note that images may be presented in an 11 X 15 aspect ratio. Images ordered with a different cropping or aspect ratio will be cropped at the artist’s discretion unless otherwise noted. Many factors are considered when cropping images including the rule of thirds, creative display and artistic license. Images are sized to print up to 16 x 24.
MINOR AND MAJOR RETOUCHING
Minor retouching is completed at the discretion of the artist and is included in the package for most sessions. All extra or major retouching (such as braces removal, teeth whitening, and multiple or large scale skin enhancement / cleaning) is available at a rate of $50 / hour. Payment for retouching must be completed in full before work may commence. Retouching will not be available once the gallery has expired and the images/transaction have been approved.
PAYMENT
Full payment of the chosen package must be paid prior to or on the day of the session (unless a payment plan has been arranged). Melanie Johnson Photography accepts payment by interact online through EMT. Payments can also be made through cash or personal cheque either through the mail or through a drop off appointment. Please contact Melanie upon order submission to arrange for payment drop off. NSF cheques will be charged a $35 fee.
REFUNDS
Due to the custom nature of custom photography prints and products, all sales are final. Refunds will not be issued. Reprints will be ordered if there are major defects in any prints or products. All work delivered is a representation of the photographer’s portfolio and no refunds will be given for dissatisfaction based solely on personal preference.
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Melanie Johnson Photography reserves the right to use the negatives, digital files and / or reproductions of such for display, publication or other. Negatives, digital files and originals remain the property and copyright of Melanie Johnson Photography. Melanie Johnson Photography reserves the right to include a blog, Facebook or Instagram posting of your
session, as well as submitting galleries for blog/magazine publications.
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
All images remain copyrighted by Melanie Johnson Photography. Images may not be cropped, altered or edited in any way.
APPOINTMENT DATES/TIMES
As with any business, my hours and working days offered are the days that I have available at the time of booking. These will vary depending on the week, and work around previously booked appointments as well as my personal schedule. Please note that in booking with me, this does not guarantee that I am available on any given date and time, but I will offer all possible appointments I do have to try and best work within your schedule. Refunds will not be given based on the photographer's availability, as long as there have been numerous options and times given.