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 specific conditions.
Adverse weather conditions, such as cloudy skies, rain, snow, or others, will influence the characteristics of the photographs. Indoor spaces and low-light environments are not the most favorable or ideal for shooting.
However, I will use my expertise to work around some of these adverse conditions should they occur.
EMOTIONS
One of the main focuses of my event photography reportage is capturing emotions, and I will strive to do so naturally and spontaneously at every moment.
OVERALL CONTEXT
At an event, I concentrate on capturing its essence, considering the overall context rather than focusing on a particular aspect.
My event photographic reportage is not just about portraits. I primarily aim to capture happenings, moments, and emotions artistically and creatively, not merely in a symbolic way. As long as it does not compromise my style or personal aesthetics, I will strive to make every guest feel special in the photographs.
SPONTANEOUS UNCONTROLLABLE MOMENTS
The complexity of an event photographic reportage lies in capturing spontaneous, uncontrollable, and unrepeatable moments.
I cannot be held accountable for any actions or conduct of the guests at any time during the reportage.
Situations such as closed eyes, hands in front of the camera, inappropriate postures, or other unforeseen circumstances are uncontrollable and, as you will understand, beyond my control and responsibility
CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHS
My photographic reportage includes photographs of the bride and groom with their close relatives.
During the event, I will suggest what I believe to be the best time for shooting, considering both photographic and aesthetic aspects. If the couple, by any chance, finds this moment unsuitable for taking those photographs, the risk of compromising them will be their responsibility.
I can only take photographs with other guests at mini weddings (up to 60–70 guests), following the same opportunity criteria mentioned above.
For larger weddings, I recommend having a second photographer on my team.
DATA SAVING
All the equipment I use is professional. Before starting the photographic reportage, I always ensure that it is in perfect working condition.
However, one must be prepared for potential technical failures, such as data not being recorded or damage occurring to the photographic equipment during the event.
These are rare technical occurrences in my experience and are entirely beyond professional responsibility.
If any unforeseen issue arises, I assure you that I will make every effort to minimize any potential damage.
PORTFOLIO & DISSEMINATION
I would like to use your event photographic reportage in 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 safeguard the distribution of personal images. Therefore, I ask you to provide me with written permission for this. In the form available on the last page of these Terms of Service, you must indicate whether you authorize the dissemination of your 'Wedding Photographic Reportage' images.
Copyright law protects the ownership of photographic work; hence, all copyrights and trade rights are reserved.
Any dissemination must credit the photographer, and their use for commercial purposes requires my consent. Additionally, any legal assignment of usage rights must be subject to a prior agreement.
The photographic selection for Portfolio & Dissemination will be a summary of the wedding's best moments and will not compromise personal or family privacy.
If you wish for your 'Wedding Photographic Reportage' images to remain exclusive and not be used to promote my work, an additional exclusivity fee of €5500 will apply.
I also rely on you to ensure that any dissemination by others credits the photographer as Maria Rão.
ONLINE GALLERY
The selection of the 'Wedding Photographic Reportage' will be made available to all guests through an online gallery.
The gallery will be accessible after I deliver the photographic work to the bride and groom, and they have selected the images they wish to display.
The gallery will be identified by the bride’s and groom’s names and will have an access password generated using the following format, which combines the wedding date:
mariarao[day][month][year]
Example: Ann and John's Wedding on September 20th, 2016 → Password: mariarao20092016
After receiving access to the gallery with the 'Wedding Photographic Reportage,' the couple should share it with their guests. The gallery will be available for 90 to 120 days.
Note: My computer screen is calibrated for accurate color display, ensuring a balanced viewing experience for all 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 to 120 days to select between 100 and 120 images.
The album offer, sized 25x38 cm, includes the printing of 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 (if not included in your collection).
The album offer is valid for 12 months from the delivery of the event photographs. Photographs must be submitted within 5 months of receipt to ensure compliance with the 12-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 service discounts.
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 Europe will incur an additional cost, which will be calculated on an individual basis.
EXTRA PHOTOGRAPHERS
All professional photographers present at the wedding must be exclusively from my team. If, by any chance, another professional photographer is present, 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 a sufficient number of high-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.
In the package with a time limit, any additional hours will be communicated to the client for approval. Each extra hour, without fractioning, will be charged at €750/hour.
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 for the photographer and her team, ensuring that the dining facilities are adequate and satisfactory. Due to dietary sensitivities, the photographer must avoid spicy food; 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 a restaurant must be available within a 3 km 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 restaurant.
PAYMENT
To secure my services, a 50% deposit of the quoted amount is required upon reading and accepting this contract."
This deposit guarantees my availability for your wedding date. Please note that this amount is non-refundable under any circumstances."
The deposit must be made via bank transfer to the account details I will provide by email."
The remaining 50% is due by the wedding day and can be paid by bank transfer (with proof sent two days before), in cash on the day, or within ten days after the event. Please keep in mind that delays in this final payment may put the delivery of your photos on hold.
In case of late payment, a 5% interest fee will be applied per month. Please also ensure that any bank transfer fees or taxes are covered on your end.
All services and offers in this proposal are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for other services, discounts, or cash alternatives.
Final note: If the 50% deposit isn’t received within three days of approving this contract, the date may no longer be available, as I might book another wedding."
By making the payment, you confirm that you have read and agreed to these terms.
CANCELLATION BY THE CLIENT
I understand that plans can change, so here’s how cancellations work:
Free cancellation is available if requested at least 120 days before the wedding date.
If you cancel between 119 and 60 days before the wedding, a 50% cancellation fee of the remaining balance will apply.
If you cancel within 59 days of the wedding, the full remaining balance (100%) will be due.
The 50% deposit made to secure your wedding date is non-refundable under any circumstances, as it guarantees my availability for your event.
However, if the cancellation is due to Force Majeure—unforeseeable situations beyond your control (such as accidents, transport delays, natural disasters, or serious illness)—there will be no additional cancellation fees.
To cancel, simply send me an email or a registered letter to:
📍 Maria Rão, R. Rui Sequeira, 61, 2750-190 Cascais, Portugal
If any cancellation fees apply, payment must be made within 15 days of the cancellation notice via the same bank account used for the deposit. Failure to do so may result in legal proceedings, with any related costs being the client’s responsibility.
I truly hope everything goes as planned, and I can be part of your special day! But if changes arise, I appreciate open communication to make the process as smooth as possible.
FORCE MAJEURE
Just like anyone else, I may occasionally face unexpected situations beyond my control—such as accidents, travel delays, natural disasters, or illness—that could prevent me from being present on your wedding day.
If this happens, I will make every effort to find a trusted professional photographer to take my place. However, in rare cases where this isn’t possible, my service will need to be canceled.
I can also recommend other skilled photographers if you wish to make your own arrangements, but please note that I cannot be held responsible for their services or actions.
DATE CHANGE
The client has the option to reschedule the service, subject to my availability.
If the new date is available on my calendar, the client may proceed with the rescheduling by aligning with my agenda and paying a date change fee of €1,750.
However, if the requested date is already booked, it will be treated as a cancellation and will be subject to the terms outlined in the Cancellation Policy.
EQUIPMENT
The photographer is responsible for their equipment and must ensure its safety throughout the event.
In the event of theft or damage at the venue, the client will be liable for all restoration costs. The photographer cannot be held responsible for any damages caused by third parties during the event. If the responsible third party does not cover the expenses, the client assumes full responsibility for the costs.
Additionally, the photographer reserves the right to decline taking photographs in situations that may pose a risk to their equipment or personal safety.
OBSERVANCE
Both Maria Rão and the client must adhere to the terms of service outlined in this document.
Please complete the form at the bottom of this page and send it to me for validation.
By submitting the form, you confirm that you have read and accepted these terms as of today's date.
Keep a copy of these Terms of Service for your records.
Thank you!