Service Contract & Policy
Terms & Conditions
BOOKING:
For wedding packages; a 30% retainer is due immediately to book and hold the date of your event and also serves as a cancellation fee. The remaining sum is expected to be paid over four weeks to cover the outstanding amount.
PAYMENT: All packages (plus taxes) can be paid via cash or EFT.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
For weddings and events, if for any reason the client cancels before the wedding date, the photographer will keep the event retainer fee paid to hold the wedding or event date as a cancellation fee. Cancellation must be made in sent in writing, by mail, or by e-mail. If the client needs to change the wedding date, I will do my best to accommodate the change and will not charge a fee as long as the new date is available and within five months of the original event date. If I am not available for the new date, the original contract will be canceled and subject to the cancellation policy.
If Elric Arendse Photography cannot perform this Contract due to fire or other casualties, strike, the act of God, or other cause beyond the control of the parties, or due to the Photographer’s illness or emergency, then the Photographer shall return the retainer fee to the Client but shall have no further liability with respect to the Contract. This limitation on liability shall also apply in the event that photographic materials are damaged in processing, lost through camera or other media malfunction, lost in the mail, or otherwise lost or damaged without fault on the part of the Photographer.
Confirmation:
A signed “Contract for Wedding Photography Services” and payment of the booking fee are necessary to confirm the stated wedding services from the Photographer.
Pre-Wedding Consultation:
This normally happens at the time of booking. The clients will outline broadly what is required, and the photographer will advise on planning, logistics, and timing where needed. If required, the clients are welcome to pop in for an additional chat closer to the time of the wedding (about 2 weeks) to iron out the remaining details. In any case, we will contact you by phone a few days before the wedding to ensure that there have been no last-minute changes.
Cooperation:
The Clients and the Photographer consent to happily cooperate and communicate with each other to achieve the best possible result within the understanding of this contract. We recommend that the Photographer be provided with a helper (usually the best man) who will point out key individuals to be photographed. The Photographer may also require the assistance of the best man in organizing family groups. The Clients also agree to give the Photographer sufficient warning of key events at the wedding to give the Photographer time to prepare e.g. Bouquet throwing, cutting the cake, speeches, etc. Please note that not all guests at weddings like having their photos taken. In such cases, the Photographer will use his discretion but cannot be held responsible for a lack of photos of these people.
The Schedule:
Our shooting schedule, style of working, and experience are designed to achieve a great set of wedding photos for the Clients, accomplished with good humor and enjoyed by all concerned. Both the Clients and the Photographers, therefore, agree that punctuality and cheerful cooperation are essential to producing outstanding photographic results. In cases where the wedding does not run on time (for example, extreme lateness by one of the Clients arriving at the church) we cannot guarantee to take our normal set of photos although in such circumstances we will do our absolute best to compensate.
Paparazzi Wedding Guests:
All your guests will have digital cameras and all your guests will want to photograph the Clients. In the spirit of cheerful cooperation, the Clients agree to give the Photographers precedence over the guests in order to take the photographs required for the wedding services described above. We cannot be held liable for a lack of wedding photos if guests taking their own photos of the Clients continually interrupt the Photographer’s work.
House Rules:
Note the Photographers are sometimes limited by rules imposed by registrars, ministers, and venue management as to what can and cannot be done. For example, some ministers insist that no flash photography is allowed, and others will insist that the Photographers shoot from a specific location. In such circumstances, the Clients agree to accept the technical limitations that may be imposed on the equipment used. We advise the Clients to make themselves aware of the rules of the venue concerned and if necessary negotiate with the personnel concerned.
Copyright Law:
The copyright of photographs remains with the Photographer. The Photographer grants the Clients permission to make copies of the images under the following conditions. The images taken by the Photographer are for personal use by the Clients and their friends and relatives. Sale, Publication, or any Commercial use of the photographs is not allowed without prior written permission from the Photographer.
Model Release:
The Clients grant the Photographer and its legal representatives, heirs, and assigns, the irrevocable and unlimited consent to use the photographs of the Clients for editorial, competition, advertising, and any other purpose and in any manner, to alter the photographs without restriction, and to copyright the images. The Clients hereby release the Photographer and its legal representatives, heirs, and assigns from all liability and claims in connection with the images.
Delivery time:
All wedding packages include an online gallery link that you can see and download. The photographs will be available for 3 months after the couple receives the link. The pair are responsible for downloading and saving the photographs to their hard drive/laptop/PC. If the couple does not download the photographs from the internet gallery link, the photographer is not responsible for the loss of their images. If the couple is unhappy with the design of the photo album, they can have it altered to their liking. If this is the case, the couple will have 30 days to supply an updated/redesigned album for publication. If the couple does not submit the album within 30 days, they will be charged an extra fee.
4 – 6 weeks for all images to be completed and the online gallery link to be sent.
7 – 10 business days for the album to be printed and delivered.
Entire Agreement:
This agreement contains the entire understanding between the Clients and the Photographer.
We have understood the contents of this contract and agree to the terms therein.