COVID-19 and Hannah Kate Photography | Weddings, Engagements & Portraits |
#RescheduleDONTCancel
COVID-19 and Hannah Kate Photography
How is HKP handling weddings, engagements & portrait sessions?
Well, shoot. I can honestly say this is not how I thought the spring of 2020 would go. Just 6 weeks ago in February, I was looking ahead to March, April & May— looking forward to two different trips to the west coast, a handful of portrait sessions (THOSE MAMA + ME SESSIONS! MY HEART IS BREAKING, YOU GUYS) with old and brand new clients, multiple engagement portraits with 2020 couples and FIVE weddings within 6 weekends. FIVE. It was supposed to be the real kick off to my 2020 season after a quiet fall (hellllloooo maternity leave) and easing-back-into-it winter.
But, here we are.
The only thing I can say for certain at this point in time is that we are in a continually changing situation. Every day we receive more information on the coronavirus. Every day we get a little bit better scope on just how massive and devastating this whole thing is. It’s really hard to tell when normal life will actually resume.
It’s a lot, guys. So, with that said, let’s just dive right on in, shall we?
WHAT ABOUT MY WEDDING?
If you should decide to reschedule your wedding due to COVID-19, your non-refundable retainer can be transferred to any available date in the summer, fall or winter of 2020 or even in 2021 with no rescheduling fee.
Please communicate with me if you are thinking of rescheduling.
I will give you a list of all of my available dates. This is continually changing, so please check in as your plans progress.
If you decide to reschedule for a date I am unavailable, I will have a trusted associate photographer shoot under my company and take care of you. I would like to avoid this as much as possible, since you probably put a lot of thought into hiring Hannah Kate Photography and on a personal note, I would absolutely love to be there! This goes for California & Alabama clients alike!
If you decide to move forward with your original wedding date but alter your wedding day plans to fit with the CDC, federal & state guidelines, restrictions and recommendations regarding COVID-19, I would absolutely love to still photograph your wedding and will 100% be there! Currently weddings are exempt from the Shelter at Home order in Alabama as long as there is less than 10 people in attendance. Having a small ceremony and rescheduling the reception is definitely an option and one I would love to discuss with you!
If you decide to cancel all together, the retainer amount remains non-refundable. If the first installment has been paid and work has been rendered (engagement session, conferences & consultations, meetings, site checks, etc), a portion of the installment may be eligible for a refund.
WHAT ABOUT MY ENGAGEMENT SESSION?
ALABAMA CLIENTS! The state wide Shelter at Home order is currently in place through April 30th, 2020. Legally as a non-essential business I cannot operate until the Shelter at Home order is lifted.
CALIFORNIA CLIENTS! The entire state is under Shelter at Home & Shelter at Place orders as well as lock downs, which prevents me at this time from traveling to the west coast. At this point in time because of the restrictions and precautions put in place, the earliest I can travel out to California would be the very beginning of June 2020. I know for some of my 2020 couples that is cutting it really close, and for that I apologize. I’m doing my best to work with everyone to make sure they get their portraits done as fast as humanly possible (and as safely as humanly possible!) during the pandemic.
If your engagement portraits were originally supposed to be taken in March or April of 2020 but haven’t due to COVID-19, please make sure you have rescheduled for May or early summer!
Instead of the normal 10 day turn around for engagement session galleries, every engagement session that is rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic will be delivered in 5 days. I will get those galleries delivered as fast as I possibly can so that you guys can order prints & albums & and heck even safe-the-dates if that’s what you need to do ASAP.
WHAT ABOUT MY PORTRAIT SESSION?
For both Alabama & California clients, as long as the Shelter at Home orders are in place, I cannot legally conduct photography sessions as a non-essential business. For Alabama the order is currently set to be lifted on May 1st, 2020. It is possible the order will be extended. Assuming that the Shelter at Home orders are not extended into the early summer, it is possible we will be able to reschedule portrait sessions as early as May 2020.
If you should decide to reschedule your portrait session due to COVID-19, your non-refundable retainer can be transferred to any available date in 2020.
For California specific clients— I am unable to travel to California as long as there are Shelter in Place and Shelter at Home orders. Once those are lifted, I will be arranging travel to the west coast. If you have any questions or concerns about rescheduling your spring sessions for early summer, please contact me.
As much as I LOVE the idea of Front Porch Sessions, I cannot legally nor morally offer those at this time. While the idea of them are wonderful and in theory staying 6 feet away from families should be enough to keep everyone safe, we honestly don’t know how safe they truly are. I cannot in good conscience put any of my lovely clients and their sweet babes at risk. I say this as both a photographer and a human being: Trust me, photos can wait.
Sessions scheduled between June 2020-Decemeber 2020 should not be impacted by the coronavirus, but if things change (which is very possible), we will absolutely look at rescheduling the portrait sessions.
WHAT ABOUT MY NEWBORN SESSION? MY BABY’S MILESTONE MINI?
All Fresh 48 sessions will not be allowed to move forward as scheduled. If you decide to move forward with an at-home session once the restrictions surrounding COVID-19 are lifted, your non-refundable retainer can be transferred to any available date in 2020. Your sessions will be a top priority on the calendar!
Newborn sessions set to take place during the Shelter at Home order will need to be rescheduled once the order is lifted. If that means your baby will no longer be within the 21-day window for newborn portraits, that’s not a problem! No matter when the order is lifted, we will get you those sweet & snuggly photographs! Your non-refundable retainer will be transferred to any available date in the summer, fall or winter of 2020.
If a milestone session (3, 6, 9 or 12 months) is supposed to take place during the Shelter at Home order, we will reschedule your baby’s milestone mini session for once the order is lifted. Again, I cannot legally conduct photography sessions while the Shelter at Home order is in effect.
I know missing these sessions and derailing from their timelines feels like a major loss, as a mother I truly understand. And because I know how precious and fleeting these moments are, every Fresh 48, Newborn & Milestone Mini client will receive a packet of tips + tricks to achieve the best DIY photos.
NEW BOOKINGS
Although I am not able to physically photograph and meet with clients, I am still booking weddings & portraits for 2020 & 2021! If you’ve been thinking about getting on the calendar, checking my west coast travel dates or would like to inquire more about my services, please send me an email at hannahkatefotographie@gmail.com!
These are unprecedented times, friends. There are a lot of unknowns to wade through lately and I know for one that this whole last month has been riddled with panic and anxiety. Who knew a virus could literally turn the entire world upside down? As a business owner, but more importantly as a person, I’m doing everything I can to do my part in helping normalcy return— like following the CDC, federal & state guidelines and orders. I will not put my clients and their loved ones at risk by jumping back into photo sessions or weddings too early.
If you have any questions about your upcoming wedding, engagement or portrait session, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! I am here for you guys!
Stay safe, stay well. I’ll see you on the other side. :)
XOXO Hannah