TERMS OF SERVICE
Thank you for choosing me as your photographer.
I am thrilled and honored. I love my job, and it means a lot to me to participate in your story and help preserve your memories in time.
Thank you!
I have created this document to inform you about all the details of my wedding photography service and ensure you know its complexity.
My photographic practice is, essentially, an artistic work. Every frame has its story, and the final set of frames needs to tell a whole and coherent narrative.
The photographic reportage of such a unique and extraordinary day must transform itself into something eternal. Only a discerning and well-prepared eye can make that magic happen. I am motivated to do so, and I am sure you are, too.
I appreciate the time you'll take to read these terms. Please fill in the form at the bottom of this page and send it back to me to validate our contract.
Thank you!
STYLE
Choosing me as your photographer means you resonate with my unique approach to capturing light and scenes, as well as my distinct style and aesthetics. As a photographer, I explore various photographic techniques, adapting them throughout the visual narrative of a wedding. I frequently employ techniques such as depth of field or exposure contrast to enhance specific emotions or details. It's essential for you to understand and appreciate my photographic style, as it will define the overall style of your photographic reportage service. Additionally, I often blend conventional and unconventional compositions to craft compelling narratives. Each wedding is unique, presenting me with new emotions, moments, and scenes to capture. My primary objective in wedding reportage is to immortalize the emotions, feelings, and details that narrate the day's story and preserve it for eternity.
CLIMATE AND LIGHT CONDITIONS
To have natural and soft light in photographs, we need particular requirements.
Adverse weather conditions such as cloudy skies, rain, snow, or others will set specific characteristics to the photographs. Indoor spaces and in low light are not the most favorable or ideal for shooting.
However, I will use my expertise to circumvent some of these adverse conditions should they occur.
EMOTIONS
One of the primary focuses of my event photographic reportage is to capture emotions, and I will, at every moment, try to succeed in doing it naturally and spontaneously.
OVERALL CONTEXT
At a event, I concentrate on capturing its essence, considering the overall context and not a particular one.
My event photographic reportage is not only about portraits. I mainly seek to capture happenings, moments, and emotions artistically and creatively,
not only in a symbolic way. As long as it doesn't compromise my style or personal aesthetics, I will attempt to make every guest feel special in photographs.
SPONTANEOUS UNCONTROLLABLE MOMENTS
The complexity of a event photographic reportage resides in capturing spontaneous, uncontrollable and unrepeatable moments.
I can not be held accountable for any actions or conduct of any of the guests at any time of the reportage.
Situations like, for example, closed eyes, hands in front of the camera, inappropriate postures or others are uncontrollable and, as you will understand, out of my control and responsibility.
CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHS
My photographic reportage includes photographs of the bride and the groom with their close relatives.
During the event, I will suggest which, in my opinion, is the best time for shooting regarding photography and aesthetics. If the couple, by any chance, finds this moment to be unsuited for shooting those photographs, the risk of compromising those particular photographs is their responsibility.
I can only shoot photographs with other guests in mini weddings (up to 60/70 guests), and it follows the same opportunity criteria referred to above.
For bigger weddings, I recommend having a second photographer on my team.
DATA SAVING
All the equipment I use to work with is professional. Before starting the photographic reportage, I always check if it is in perfect working condition.
However, one must prepare for any technical failure, such as the information not being recorded or any harm done to the photographic equipment during the event.
These are situations of a technical nature, very rare in my experience, and totally outside the professional responsibility.
If any imponderable happens, I assure you I will make every effort to minimize the damages.
PORTFOLIO & DISSEMINATION
I would like to use your event photographic reportage on my online and physical portfolio (social media, personal website, blogs).
The dissemination of my work is vital to my practice as an independent professional.
Data protection laws protect against the spreading of personal images. I, therefore, ask you to give me written permission for it. In the form available on the last page
of these Terms of Service, you must choose whether you'll authorize the dissemination of your "Wedding Photographic Reportage" images.
Copyright law covers the ownership of the photographic work; hence, all its copyrights and trade rights are reserved.
Any dissemination should credit the photographer, and their use for commercial purposes must have my consent, and its legal assignment requires a previous agreement.
The photographic selection for Portfolio & Dissemination will be a summary of the wedding's best moments and will not compromise personal and family intimacy.
If you wish that your "Wedding Photographic Reportage" images are exclusive and can not be used to disseminate my work, an additional exclusivity fee of 2500€ will apply.
I also rely on you to ensure that any dissemination by others should credit the photographer as Maria Rão.
ONLINE GALLERY
he selection of the "Wedding Photographic Reportage" will be made available to all guests through an online gallery.
The Gallery will be open after I send the photographic work to the Bride and Groom and they've chosen which ones to display.
The Gallery's identification is made by the Bride's and Groom's names and will have an access password resulting from the following scheme combining the date of your wedding: mariarao[day][month][year]
Example: Ann and John's Wedding September 20th, 2016 Password: mariarao20092016
After receiving the Gallery with the "Wedding Photographic Reportage", the couple should share it with their guests. The Gallery is available for 90 days. Note: My computer screen color calibration for a balanced screening of photographs, as are all prints provided by me.
ALBUM
If you have ordered an album, payment must be made at the time of booking the event. Upon receiving your photographs, you will have 90-120 days to select between 100 and 120 images.
The album offer, sized 25x38 cm, includes printing 100 to 120 images spread over 40 pages (20 sheets), with shipping costs covered for European countries.
Clients are responsible for all shipping and customs costs outside Europe. Additional pages, up to a maximum of 50, can be added at €15 per page.
The album offer is valid for 6 months from the delivery of the event photographs. Photographs must be submitted within 5 months of receipt to ensure compliance with the 6-month validity requirement for your album. Failure to provide feedback or other client-related delays may result in the offer expiring after this period, with no possibility of exchange for services, money, or discounts.
OFFERS & SERVICES
All services and offers presented in Maria Rão Photography's proposals are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for other services, offers, monetary compensation, or discounts on services. The Box/Album offerings are non-exchangeable for services, monetary compensation, or discounted services. Shipping one copy of the Box/Album within Europe is included. Shipping outside of Europe will incur an additional cost, which will be calculated on an individual basis.
EXTRA PHOTOGRAPHERS
All professional photographers present at the wedding must exclusively be from my team. If, by any chance, there will be another professional photographer, you must inform me beforehand and ensure that no photographs will be sold or included in another professional photographer's portfolio.
DURATION
The duration of my service is either unlimited or 8 hours, depending on the package you select.
If you opt for the unlimited package, I will inform the newlyweds of my intention to conclude the coverage once I believe I have captured sufficient and quality frames of the party and its significant moments.
The key moments of a wedding typically occur within approximately 16 hours.
Please note: I will need to take periodic breaks throughout the day to ensure I maintain my optimal artistic performance. I will communicate all breaks to the client in advance, and they will never occur during the pivotal moments of the celebration or the party.
DELIVERY
All photographs will be delivered in high-resolution JPEG format through a Dropbox link with an average of 600 images.
The selection of photos is my personal artistic choice. It will be a collection of the best images of the most important moments of the celebration,
the bride and groom, the family and details.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I recommend downloading all images immediately and keeping a safety backup. The Dropbox link and the file storage on my end will expire in one year. You can purchase RAW files at an additional cost calculated upon request.
Usually, I edit around 10-20% of the entire collection of images in Black & White. The choice of Black & White images follows my professional and artistic criteria. Black & White images will not simultaneously have a color version and vice versa.
All photos have post-production color correction. Any other corrections and post-production tasks are extra services you can request separately.
The box is an offer including 100 or 50 prints 10x15cm, depending on the package and cannot be exchanged for services, money or discounted service.
Shipping one copy of the Box to Europe is included. Shipping outside Europe is an extra cost and must be calculated individually.
The client is responsible for all shipping and customs costs to countries outside Europe.
Please note that if the shipped package is returned to the sender, new shipping will have additional charges.
The confirmation of shipping address for the Box / Album delivery will have to be confirmed by email.
Reshipping an Album has an extra charge of 350€ and reshipping a Box of 150€.
MEALS
The client is required to provide meals similar to those served at the event to the photographer and her team, ensuring that the facilities where they are served are adequate and satisfactory. Due to dietary sensitivities, the photographer must avoid spicy food, and therefore, she appreciates clients being mindful of this when planning the team's menu.
If the client chooses not to provide meals, this must be communicated in advance. In such cases, the client will be charged 150€ per person for each member of Maria Rão's Team on the event day, and there must be a restaurant within a 3km radius of the venue. Please note that with this option, the photographer and her team may miss essential event moments due to the extra time required for the round trip to the venue.
PAYMENT
After reading and accepting this contract agreement, you must deposit 50% of the quote's value to book my services*.
This 50% deposit guarantees my availability for the date* of event wedding. This amount is non-refundable under any circumstance.
The initial 50% deposit should be made by bank transfer to a bank account number I will provide by email.
The remaining 50% is due until the wedding day by bank transfer with proof sent two days before the event day, in cash on the event day, or a maximum of ten days after the event. Failure to pay the second installment may suspend the delivery of the work.
A 5% interest fee will be charged for each month of late payment. You must communicate your chosen payment method by email and assume all international bank transfer fees and taxes.
All services and offers in this proposal are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for services, offers, money, or discounts on services.
The work may be withheld until payment of the second installment is made.
*The lack of the 50% bank deposit until three days after the date of approval of this contract agreement invalidates the date booking, and there's a chance that I will book another wedding on the same date.
The payment confirms the reading of this contract and acceptance of the conditions.
CANCELLATION BY THE CLIENT
The client may cancel the event reportage service at no additional cost if communicated up to 120 days before the wedding date.
If cancellation occurs between 119 and 60 days before the wedding date, the client must pay a compensation fee equivalent to 50% of the remaining amount.
Cancellation within 59 days of the wedding date requires payment of 100% of the total initial quote.
The 50% deposit, securing availability for the wedding day, is non-refundable under any circumstances.
The client may cancel the wedding reportage service at no additional cost under a Force Majeure clause for unforeseeable or unavoidable situations or events such as accidents, transport delays, natural disasters, diseases, or others beyond their reasonable control.
Cancellations must be communicated via email or registered post to Maria Rão, R. Rui Sequeira, 62, 2750-190 Cascais, Portugal.
Payment of cancellation fees is due within 15 days of the cancellation communication to the same bank account as the 50% deposit. Failure to do so will result in legal proceedings, with all court expenses charged to the client
FORCE MAJEURE
Like any other individual, I am susceptible to unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances such as accidents, transportation delays, natural disasters, illnesses, and other events beyond my reasonable control that may hinder my ability to perform the photographic reportage service on the scheduled date.
In the event of such occurrences, I will endeavor to arrange for a substitute professional photographer, although this may prove impossible under certain circumstances. In such cases, my service will be canceled.
While I can provide recommendations for other colleagues' services if you opt to engage their services, I cannot be held accountable for their services or actions.
DATE CHANGE
The client has the option to change the date of the service based on my availability.
If the new date is available on my calendar, the client may reschedule the service according to my agenda availability and pay a date change fee of 750€.
However, if the new date is already booked, it will be considered a cancellation of service and must adhere to the terms outlined in the Cancellation policy.
EQUIPMENT
The photographer is responsible for all of their equipment and must ensure its safety throughout the entire day. In the event of theft or damage at the event venue, the client is liable and must cover all restoration costs. The photographer will not be held responsible for damages caused by third parties during the event. Any resulting costs will be the client's responsibility if the third party does not cover the expenses. The photographer reserves the right to decline taking photographs that may endanger the photographic equipment or themselves.
OBSERVANCE
Both Maria Rão and the client must abide by the terms of service described on these pages.
Please fill in the form at the bottom of this page and send it to me after you have filled it out for validation. It is considered that these terms were read and accepted to this date.
Keep a copy of these Terms of Service for reference. Thank you!