Terms & Conditions
Last updated 16 October 2026
Hello! These are the simple rules we work by, so you know exactly what to expect from the moment you book. If anything here is unclear, just ask. We’d much rather talk it through than have you guess.
Your own contract or quote sits alongside this page. If it says something different, what we’ve agreed with you in writing comes first.
Who we are
Emerald Photo UK is run by Eszter Szalai, a sole trader based at Filton Avenue, Bristol BS7 0LH. “We” and “us” means Emerald Photo UK, and “you” means the person or business booking. You can reach us at emeraldphotouk@gmail.com or on 07493 299923.
Booking your date
- Your date is held once you’ve agreed your quote or package, signed your contract and paid a 25% booking fee. It’s taken off your total.
- The booking fee isn’t refundable (apart from the cooling-off period below), because once your date is held, we turn other people away.
- We’ll confirm everything in writing: date, times, location, what’s included and the price.
Paying the rest
We’ll send you an invoice or a friendly reminder. Bank transfer is easiest, and we also accept card payments. If the balance isn’t paid on time, we may need to cancel the booking. Your full gallery is released once everything’s paid.
Changing your mind
If you book with us online, by email or by phone, you have 14 days from booking to change your mind and get everything back, booking fee included. If you’d like your shoot to happen within those 14 days, just let us know. If you then cancel, we’ll only charge for the work already done. This doesn’t apply to businesses booking brand, food or event photography.
Moving your date
Life happens. You can move your booking once, free of charge, as long as we’re free on the new date. Your booking fee and payments move with you. Any later changes, or a new date we can’t do, count as a cancellation.
Cancelling
You can cancel by email at any time. The booking fee is kept. If you cancel close to the date, the full fee is due, because we can’t rebook that time at short notice:
If you need to cancel because of illness or a family emergency, please talk to us. We’re human, and we’ll always try to find a way, usually by rescheduling.
If we can’t make it
If serious illness or an emergency ever stopped us from coming, we’d do everything we could to send a photographer we know and trust, with your agreement. If that’s not possible, we’ll refund everything you’ve paid, booking fee included.
Things outside anyone’s control
Sometimes things happen that nobody can control, like severe weather warnings, venue closures or travel disruption. If that happens, we’ll work with you to find a new date first. If that isn’t possible, we’ll refund what you’ve paid, minus any work already done.
Weather, venues and timings
- For outdoor sessions, if the forecast looks truly grim, we’ll agree a new date together, free of charge.
- Some venues and churches have rules about where we can stand or whether flash is allowed. We’ll follow them, so we may not be able to take a few photos. Please tell us about any rules you’ve been given.
- Sessions start at the agreed time. If you’re running late, we’ll do our best, but we may need to finish at the planned time. If you don’t arrive, the session counts as cancelled.
- Running over at a wedding or event? We can add extra time on the day if we’re able to stay, charged at the hourly rate for your service, which we’ll confirm in your quote.
Getting your photos
- Your photos arrive as edited, high-resolution files in a private online gallery. We choose and edit the best ones in our own documentary style. We don’t share unedited or RAW files.
- Your online gallery stays live for 12 months. Please download and back up your photos as soon as they arrive. We keep a backup for a further 2 years, as a courtesy.
- Extra retouching, like removing objects or people, isn’t included, but we’re happy to quote for it.
Prints and albums
Prints and albums are made by professional labs we trust and are paid for when you order. Album designs are shared with you to approve before printing. Please choose your album favourites within 12 months of receiving your gallery. After that, we can still make your album, but prices may have changed. If anything arrives damaged, send us a photo within 7 days, and we’ll arrange a replacement. Prints you order elsewhere are up to you, and colours can vary between labs and screens.
Gift vouchers
- Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from the purchase date, and the expiry date is printed on each one.
- You can use them towards any session, or towards prints and albums. If the session costs more, you simply pay the difference. If it costs less, the rest stays on the voucher until it expires.
- You can pass vouchers on to someone else, but you can’t exchange them for cash or get a refund, and we can’t extend the expiry date.
- Book your date as early as you can. Once it’s booked, our usual terms for moving and cancelling apply.
Copyright and sharing your photos
- We own the copyright to the photos, as UK law sets out for photographers.
- Weddings, family, couples, newborn and portraits: the photos are yours to print, frame and share with family and friends, and on social media. We’d love a tag (@emeraldphotouk) when you post. Please don’t use them commercially, sell them or enter them into competitions without asking us first.
- Events, brand and food: your quote includes business use: website, socials, reports, menus, delivery apps, adverts, printed materials and press. Please don’t resell the photos or pass them to other businesses to use.
- Please don’t add filters or edit the photos, apart from cropping. Edits change how our work looks.
Using photos for our portfolio
We’d love to share some of your photos on our website, socials, and blog, in wedding features, or in competitions to show our work. Your contract has a simple tick box to say whether you’re happy for us to. If you don’t tick it, we’ll keep your photos private, free of charge. If you’d like, we can share only the details, like flowers, rings or the venue, without faces. Private or sensitive photos are never shared without your clear permission, and if you change your mind later, we’ll remove what we can.
On the day
- George, Eszter’s fiancé, often comes along as an assistant. He helps with kit, lights and wrangling. He’s an assistant, not a second photographer.
- Weddings over 6 hours: please plan a hot meal and a short break for us (and George, if he’s with us), ideally while your guests eat, so we don’t miss the speeches.
- Travel is included within 30 miles of Bristol. For locations farther away, we’ll include travel costs in your quote upfront, so there are no surprises.
- Other photographers: guests are welcome to take phone photos, but please let us know if you’ve booked another photographer or videographer so we don’t get in each other’s way.
- Newborn sessions: baby’s safety always comes first. A parent stays within arm’s reach at all times, and we never use risky poses.
- We’ll guide you during your shoot, but please only do what feels comfortable. We can’t be responsible for accidents on location.
If something goes wrong
We take every precaution: two memory cards in every camera, spare kit on the day, and off-site and cloud backups once we’re home. In the very rare case that photos are lost or damaged, our responsibility is limited to refunding what you’ve paid us. This doesn’t affect your legal rights as a consumer. We’re fully insured, with public liability and professional indemnity cover.
Not happy with something?
Please tell us. Email us within 14 days of receiving your gallery, and we’ll do our best to put it right, whether that’s another look at the edit or a proper chat.
Using our website
Everything on this site, including the photos, text and design, belongs to Emerald Photo UK. Please don’t copy or reuse our photos without asking. You’re very welcome to share links to our pages.
Your information
We only use your details to run your booking and stay in touch about it. We never sell your details or pass them on for anyone else’s marketing. Read more in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.
Changes and the law
We may update these terms from time to time. The version in place when you booked applies to your booking. If any part of these terms can’t be applied, the rest still stands. These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.