Effective February 15, 2014, Gina Mizzoni Photography requires that all clients pay a booking fee. What is a booking fee? It is a fee paid at the time of booking, and secures your date. The booking fee for Gina Mizzoni Photography is simply 50% of your session fee paid up front. The remaining 50% of your session fee is paid on the morning of your shoot day. Both payments are made via PayPal (payment information is provided by Gina Mizzoni at the time of booking).
A booking fee is something that I’ve always wanted to enforce, but in the early stages of my business, I was not quite sure what would work best. So, until I decided how to approach it, I simply sat back and operated on good faith that clients would not cancel their shoots. Overall, good faith has been on my side.
However, Gina Mizzoni is a business. In the long run, operating on good faith is not a viable strategy. Our new policy of requiring that 50% of the fee be paid upfront is in the best interest of Gina Mizzoni Photography as well as our clients.
Much time and energy goes into planning a lifestyle photography session. When a date is reserved for a client, we cannot take any other bookings. Therefore, a cancellation hurts us, and equates to a missed opportunity in which we could have booked someone else.
When it comes to her business, it’s important that Gina Mizzoni keep her booty in the driver’s seat!
(Am I right? Can I get an “Amen”?)
I totally understand that life happens, and I have not introduced this policy due to any one person or incident. This is just something that needs to be done in order to grow.
Many photographers require that 100% of the session fee be paid at the time of booking. For now, I am just requiring 50%. (This could change in the future.)
Here are just a few reasons why this new policy is in the best interest of both Gina Mizzoni Photography and our clients:
– Our business is protected from last minute cancellations
-Many clients find that making two separate payments (50% upfront, and 50% at time of shoot) is easier to budget
– It ensures that spots are available for serious clients
Please note that in the case of an unforeseen event and the client needs to reschedule their shoot, they may select another date as long as they provide adequate notice. (At the time, we require a minimum of 24 hours notice.) However, in the event of a total cancellation on the client’s part, the fee is non-refundable.
2014 is a big year for Gina Mizzoni Photography, and one of growth! And, in order to grow, we must operate as a business with policies that are in ours (and our clients’) best interest.
Thank you so much and I look forward to working with you.
Please see Investment for the latest information regarding Gina Mizzoni Photography policies, fees, etc.
Let Gina Mizzoni Photography capture your inner light, your most precious moments, your life. Contact us to book your appointment today. For more information about our many photography offerings, check out About, FAQs and Investment.