POLICIES & PROCEDURES

1. Booking & Payment

• —A non-refundable 50% retainer is required to reserve your date and time.
• —The remaining balance must be paid before the session or event begins.
• —Accepted payment methods include Cash App, Zelle, Apple Pay, PayPal, and cash.
• —A booking is not confirmed until both the required payment and signed photography agreement have been received.
• —Dates are booked on a first-paid, first-confirmed basis.
• —An inquiry, quote, verbal agreement, text message, or unpaid invoice does not reserve a date.
• —Bookings made close to the scheduled date may require payment in full.

2. No-Refund Policy

ALL PAYMENTS ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE.

• —Retainers are non-refundable.
• —Completed payments are non-refundable.
• —Client cancellations do not qualify for a refund.
• —No refunds will be issued because of a change of mind, scheduling conflict, personal circumstance, dissatisfaction with appearance, event changes, or failure to participate in the scheduled session.
• —Once photography services have been performed, no refund will be issued.
• —Once images have been delivered, no refund will be issued.
• —Rescheduling does not convert a non-refundable payment into a refundable payment.
• —The only exception may occur if Malik Zambezi is unable to perform the contracted services and cannot reasonably provide a reshoot, replacement, or rescheduled date.
• —By submitting payment, the client acknowledges and accepts this no-refund policy.

3. Cancellations & Rescheduling

• —All bookings are final.
• —Client cancellations do not qualify for refunds.
• —A $50 rescheduling fee applies to client-requested changes to the scheduled date or time.
• —All rescheduling requests are subject to availability.
• —A new date is not guaranteed until confirmed by Malik Zambezi.
• —Multiple rescheduling requests may require a new retainer.
• —Requests made with insufficient notice may be treated as cancellations.
• —Failure to appear for a scheduled session is considered a cancellation and all payments will be forfeited.
• —If severe weather or an emergency on Malik Zambezi's end prevents services from taking place, the client may reschedule at no additional charge.

4. Turnaround & Delivery

• —Standard portrait sessions are generally delivered within 5–10 business days.
• —Weddings, concerts, galas, corporate assignments, and large events may require 14–28 business days.
• —Business days exclude weekends and holidays.
• —24-hour rush delivery may be available for an additional $500 and must be approved before or immediately following the assignment.
• —Final photographs are delivered through a private online gallery.
• —Galleries remain active for approximately 30 days unless otherwise stated.
• —Clients are responsible for downloading and securely backing up their photographs before the gallery expires.
• —Gallery expiration does not entitle the client to a refund.
• —Re-uploading an expired gallery may be subject to a $150 administrative fee if the files remain available.

5. RAW & Unedited Images

• —RAW photographs are not included.
• —Unedited photographs are not included.
• —Rejected images, duplicate images, test photographs, missed-focus images, or images that do not meet professional standards will not be delivered.
• —RAW or unedited images will only be provided when specifically negotiated and included in a separate paid written agreement.
• —The final edited gallery represents the finished Malik Zambezi photography product.

6. Editing & Creative Control

• —All final photographs are edited according to Malik Zambezi's established artistic style.
• —Malik Zambezi retains creative discretion over image selection, editing, composition, cropping, color, and final delivery.
• —Booking a session confirms that the client has reviewed and accepts the photographer's portfolio and documentary photography style.
• —Extensive retouching, body reshaping, facial reconstruction, major object removal, background replacement, or advanced manipulation is NOT included unless specifically purchased.
• —Requests for additional editing may result in additional fees.

7. Documentary Photography Style

Malik Zambezi specializes in documentary photography.

• —Some direction and traditional portraits may be provided when appropriate, but the primary goal is to document the experience naturally.
• —Because documentary photography captures moments as they happen, Malik Zambezi cannot guarantee a photograph of every guest, interaction, expression, pose, or moment.

8. Copyright & Personal Usage

• —Malik Zambezi retains copyright ownership of all photographs unless copyright is specifically transferred through a separate written agreement.
• —Personal clients receive permission to download, print, display, and share their delivered photographs for personal use.
• —Clients may share their photographs on social media.
• —Images may not be sold, commercially licensed, materially altered, or provided to a third party for commercial purposes without written permission.
• —Applying filters or edits that significantly change the finished appearance of the photographs is strongly discouraged.

9. Portfolio & Promotional Usage

Unless otherwise agreed in writing before the assignment, Malik Zambezi may use selected photographs for:

• —Clients requiring complete privacy, confidentiality, an embargo, or restrictions on image usage must communicate those requirements before booking.
• —Additional restrictions may require a separate written agreement.

10. Commercial Usage & Licensing

Personal-use photography does not automatically include commercial licensing. Brands, companies, organizations, agencies, publications, and other commercial clients may require a commercial-use license.

• —Commercial usage outside the original agreement must be approved in writing.

11. Client Responsibilities

• —Clients are expected to arrive on time and fully prepared.
• —A 10-minute grace period is provided.
• —Clients arriving 15 minutes late may be charged a $25 late fee.
• —Clients arriving 30 minutes or more late may have their session canceled without refund.
• —Late arrival does not automatically extend the scheduled session time.
• —Hair, makeup, wardrobe, and props should be ready before the scheduled start time.
• —Guests must be approved in advance for portrait sessions.
• —Clients are responsible for communicating important requests before the session whenever possible.
• —Clients are responsible for reviewing dates, locations, times, and package information before submitting payment.

12. Event & Wedding Responsibilities

For events and weddings, clients are responsible for providing accurate information regarding:

• —Malik Zambezi is not responsible for missed photographs resulting from inaccurate schedules, undisclosed changes, late-running events, restricted access, or important moments occurring without reasonable notice.

13. Late Events & Schedule Changes

• —Coverage begins and ends according to the contracted time.
• —Event delays do not automatically extend photography coverage.
• —If an event begins late, the original scheduled end time remains in effect unless additional coverage is purchased.
• —Malik Zambezi is not responsible for reduced coverage resulting from delays caused by the client, venue, planner, vendors, transportation, guests, or event schedule.

14. Overtime

• —Coverage beyond the contracted time must be approved by Malik Zambezi.
• —Overtime is subject to photographer availability.
• —Additional time will be billed at the current overtime rate.
• —Payment for approved overtime may be required before final gallery delivery.

15. Travel & Locations

• —Standard travel within Chicago city limits is included unless otherwise stated.
• —Locations outside Chicago are subject to a minimum $100 travel fee.
• —Travel pricing may increase based on distance, travel time, transportation requirements, parking, tolls, airfare, lodging, or other expenses.
• —Out-of-state and destination assignments receive custom travel quotes.
• —Studio rental fees are the client's responsibility unless included in the selected package.
• —Admission fees, permits, parking costs, venue fees, and location fees are the client's responsibility unless otherwise agreed.
• —If the original location becomes unavailable, Malik Zambezi will reasonably assist in identifying an alternative.

16. Permits & Location Access

• —Clients are responsible for determining whether a location requires a photography permit or special authorization.
• —Unless specifically agreed otherwise, clients are responsible for obtaining permits and permissions.
• —Malik Zambezi is not responsible for sessions interrupted or canceled because permission was not obtained.
• —Venue security, property owners, management, government agencies, and other third parties may restrict photography.
• —Such restrictions are outside the photographer's control and do not automatically qualify the client for a refund.

17. Weather Policy

• —Weather conditions for outdoor sessions will be monitored before the scheduled date.
• —When significant weather is expected, Malik Zambezi may contact the client approximately 24–48 hours beforehand.
• —Cloudy skies, mild temperatures, light wind, or light rain do not automatically require rescheduling.
• —Sessions may be rescheduled without an additional rescheduling fee when weather conditions become dangerous or make the photography assignment reasonably impossible.
• —Final weather-related decisions regarding photography equipment and safety remain at Malik Zambezi's discretion.

18. Client Appearance

• —Clients are responsible for their wardrobe, grooming, hair, makeup, and overall appearance.
• —Malik Zambezi is not responsible for dissatisfaction related to hairstyles, clothing choices, makeup, body appearance, expressions, or other personal appearance decisions.
• —Dissatisfaction with personal appearance is not grounds for a refund or complimentary reshoot.

19. Conduct & Safety

Clients and guests are expected to maintain a respectful and professional environment. Malik Zambezi reserves the right to immediately suspend or terminate photography services due to:

• —When services are terminated because of client or guest conduct, payments remain non-refundable.

20. Phone Use & Participation

• —During portrait sessions, clients are encouraged to remain engaged with the creative process.
• —Excessive phone use, extended personal interruptions, wardrobe delays, makeup changes, or other client-caused delays do not pause or extend the contracted session time.

21. Equipment Failure & Technical Issues

Malik Zambezi uses professional equipment and reasonable file-protection practices. In the unlikely event of significant equipment malfunction, file corruption, data loss, or another technical issue that materially prevents delivery, Malik Zambezi may provide an appropriate:

• —The appropriate remedy will depend on the portion of services affected.
• —A technical issue affecting only a small portion of otherwise successfully delivered work does not automatically entitle the client to a full refund.

22. Emergencies & Photographer Availability

If Malik Zambezi is unable to photograph an assignment because of serious illness, injury, emergency, or another circumstance beyond reasonable control, reasonable efforts may be made to:

23. Force Majeure

Malik Zambezi is not responsible for failure or delay caused by circumstances reasonably outside the photographer's control, including:

• —When possible, both parties will work toward a reasonable rescheduling or alternative arrangement.

24. Image Storage

• —Clients should maintain their own backup copies after receiving the final gallery.
• —Malik Zambezi does not guarantee permanent storage of client photographs after delivery.
• —The photographer is not responsible for photographs lost by the client after successful delivery.

25. Communication

Important information should be provided in writing, including:

• —Verbal conversations or informal discussions that materially change the assignment should be confirmed in writing.

26. Agreement to Policies

• —By paying a retainer, signing a photography agreement, or booking photography services, the client confirms that they have reviewed and accepted these policies.
• —The signed Photography Services Agreement controls if there is any conflict between these website policies and the client's individual contract.