retainers, rescheduling& payment plans

A NON REFUNDABLE retainer is required for booking sessions. This will lock in your session pricing and date.  Sessions will not be booked unless a retainer is made.
FAQ:Why are they non refundable?
A: I get several inquiries for available dates. Especially during peak season.  Your retainer holds your spot and guarantees your date and price incase you book before an annual price increase..  I turn other work away and sometimes without booking at all because the availability just doesn't align. If a client No shows or cancels a booking I am out that opportunity of a full session.  The retainer is the minimum to lesson the damage to me.

RESCHEDULING- 

I try to accommodate everyone who has to change session dates because life happens.  It happens to me too. However, sometimes it can get out of hand and that affects other clients trying to find dates that would have been otherwise available. This is the policy for date changes NOT due to weather or illness
The first date change there is no change in the retainer.
The second change a new retainer must be made and will fall under the non refundable terms as the first.
If I have to reschedule no changes will be made to the retainer 
Rescheduling due to weather or illness is exempt.  

PREPAYING/MAKING PAYMENTS-

I will no longer be accepting PREPAYMENTS for sessions.  There have been too many situations where payments have been made, sessions get rescheduled then cancelled and clients expect a refund. This is unfair to my clients looking for my limited availabity, and the burden of returning large chunks of money at once its too much of a stress on my small business.

 
I still want to offer payments plans to those who will honor and appreciate the gift.
The retainer to secure plus first payment must be made at the first session.
The gallery will be held until the session is paid off. Once the session is paid off the gallery will be edited and released.  I WILL NOT BEGIN WORK ON EDITING until it is paid in full.  You will then get on my editing queue with everyone else that was paid if full.

Im sorry for the extreme changes, especially for those who have been with me for years  Most of the time I am very willing to work with people even when I get the short end but recently as times get tougher people forget the small businesses operate differently than large corporations and that few hundred dollars is my electric bill, my studio rent, or my gear insurance. I have not raised my prices since before covid and I try to be one that puts community before checkbook.This only works when the respect is mutual.  I am of the few photographers that still does force Ironclad portrait session contracts (other than weddings) and make agreements based on a good word and a handshake. This disclosure is my last attempt before I have to switch to a contract basis with each client.  
thank you for understanding.