Booking Fee: A 50% non-refundable booking fee and signed contract are required to book an appointment.
Sitting Fee: The remaining balance, a 50% sitting fee is due upon the client’s arrival for the photo session. Full payment must be completed BEFORE the session begins.
Planning The Session: Planning occurs only after payment has been received. The booking fee protects Leona's creative deas, shoot locations, time and ensures the client is committed to working exclusively with Leona on the project being planned.
Communication: All correspondence prior to the session must be in writing to protect both parties and eliminate any misunderstandings. Phone calls are not accepted. You may contact Leona via social media, email or text message.
Rescheduling Policy: Clients may reschedule one time, provided at least 48 hours notice is given and the new session date is within 30 days of the original booking. If these conditions are not met, no refunds or credits will be issued.
Cancellation Policy: No refunds or credits are issued for cancellations, no-shows or appointments missed for any reason.
Late Arrivals: Clients arriving 15+ minutes late will have their session considered missed, and the booking fee forfeited. Sessions will not extended for any reason as each schedule is carefully planned. Arriving on time ensures the client enjoys the full experience booked.
Early Arrivals: If a client arrives early, they are asked to remain in their car until their scheduled appointment time. Arriving at the appropriate time ensures the studio is prepared and that the client receives complete focus and attention from the moment they enter. This policy allows time for: Cleaning and resetting the studio between sessions, Leona’s scheduled breaks and Preparing wardrobe, props, & sets.
Liability: Participation is voluntary and at the client’s own risk. Vertigo Productions Photography Studio and Leona Oates are not responsible for any injury, illness, or adverse health effects resulting from participation in a session.
Client Cooperation: If the clients, including adults, pets and children, do not cooperate during the session, Leona is not responsible for any missed images. Once the client has arrived for the appointment, the session may not be rescheduled due to non-cooperation. All payments made cover Leona’s time and the cost of the studio, regardless of participation or number of images taken. For fussy or very young children it is highly recommended to choose a larger package.
Behind-the-Scenes: No photos or videos may be taken in the studio at any time during the session by anyone other than Leona.
Family Dress Code: For family or child portraits, the client is responsible for providing their own wardrobe and must arrive dressed and ready to begin the session. Because feet are usually visible in at least some images, the client should bring clean, matching shoes for everyone to change into upon arrival, plain matching socks for everyone, or decide ahead of time if all participants will be photographed barefoot. Shoes worn upon arrival to the studio may not be used inside, as the flooring may be carpeted or fabric.
Food & Drink: The client may bring drinks and snacks, as long as they are neat and mess-free, ensuring the studio remains clean for the next studio session.
Scent-Free Zone: The client must not wear body spray, cologne, or perfume on the day of the session. The studio is a scent-free environment, as certain fragrances may cause adverse health reactions for Leona or her other clients.
Posing: Leona will guide clients with posing, movement, and expression throughout the session.
Turnaround Time: Final galleries will be delivered within 3 weeks of the photo session. Early delivery may be negotiated for an additional fee but only before an appointment is booked.
Image Selection: Up to 10 days following a shoot, the client will receive a link to view unedited, watermarked, low-resolution images for the sole purpose of selecting which images will be included in the finished gallery. These unedited images do not belong to the client. The link expires after 5 days, and the client has a 5-day deadline to make their selections. This deadline ensures the process runs smoothly for both Leona and all of her clients.
Additional Images: Each package includes a set number of edited, digital images. Additional images are $20 each. Payment for additional images is due upon ordering.
Copyright License: The final gallery will include high-resolution digital files. The client receives personal-use rights to print and share the delivered images. Editing, altering, or applying filters to any image is not permitted by anyone other than Leona.
Attribution: Completed images are not watermarked; in exchange, clients agree to tag / credit Vertigo Productions when posting images on social media (every time they are posted, no exceptions).
Image Storage: To help keep session prices as affordable as possible, Vertigo Productions Photography does not guarantee permanent storage of the client’s images. The client is responsible for downloading and backing up the final gallery promptly once it is delivered. If the client requires Leona to retrieve lost images from the storage archives and re-deliver them, a fee of $56.50 must be paid before any retrieval work begins. If retrieval and re-delivery are not possible, a refund of the $56.50 fee will be issued.