F.A.Q. & Policies

The photoshoot fee pays for the time and talent of the photographer only and does not include any finished portraits unless specifically mentioned.

If you have a sick child on the day of the photoshoot, please call to reschedule. If you try to keep the appointment, we will most likely request that you reschedule if we notice your child is sick. Sick children do not like to be photographed and we know that you will not love your portraits nearly as much as if he or she was in good health.

We know that his time is valuable, but so is YOURS! One thing that bugs us is how some professional businesses charge fees for rescheduling, but don’t return the favor if they have to reschedule you. So if Mark, for whatever reason, has to reschedule your session, you will receive an extra hour with him at your newly scheduled session.

Please arrive on time! We have a very full schedule and want to have a special time reserved for each client. Starting late sessions has a snowball affect and causes other client’s appointments to run late as well. Out of fairness to everyone, if you arrive more than 15 minutes late for any appointment you will be asked to reschedule. No exceptions!

If you “forget about the session and don’t show,” you “show up late and we don’t have time to shoot,” or for some silly reason “you decide that you’ve changed your mind and don’t want to shoot with Mark anymore,” you will charged the full amount of your photoshoot fee. Sorry, it’s just not cool either way but we just gotta.

Okay, you. Well, if you’re the one the photoshoot is for, then yes, you need to be there. Otherwise, please bring only the people to be photographed or in the case of children, parents are of course welcome. We do ask that if other members of the family or friends are brought to the studio that they wait out in the lobby so that distractions in the camera room are limited. This is especially important with children, as we need their full attention on us rather than looking at other members of the family.

You will view your portraits in our preview room approximately two weeks after your portrait photoshoot. We do not have proofs or contact sheets to give out at the appointment for you to take home with you. Please be sure everyone who is involved in making the final decision in your portrait investment is present, as only one preview appointment is available without incurring an additional fee. You are welcome to bring other family members to the preview appointment so that they may place their order. One note: children are always welcome in our studio, however; they may become restless during the preview appointment, which may last up to an hour. Please plan accordingly for your child, as only you know how they will handle this time.

While we do capture many images during your photoshoot, you will see only those images deemed selected by Mark for previewing. Each image is carefully rendered by Mark’s artistic eye to ensure maximum artistry and technical perfection. Images with eyes closed, heads turned, duplicates, etc. will not be shown and are removed from our archives permanently after the artist rendering is complete. We always strive for excellence!

Due to the custom nature of our work, payment for your order must be placed in full and is subject to a 50% cancellation fee should you change your mind about an order after it is placed.

All images are usually kept on file for a period of 2 years. Orders placed more than 60 days after the preview appointment, require a minimum $100 re-order.

Please allow 1 to 2 weeks for your order to be completed. Add an extra week for our custom framing. Some orders may take longer. Your portraits are an investment and an heirloom that should not be rushed. You will be notified by telephone when your order is ready for pickup. If you are unable to pickup your order, we can ship your order to you for an additional charge.

If you are using high resolution images you have purchased from us and getting them printed elsewhere – we can’t control how other labs print. We, unfortunately, CANNOT and DO NOT guarantee the quality of their work. Printing beautiful digital files is an extremely complicated process to achieve when not working with a specific lab. Every lab is different. If you go somewhere to get cheap prints, then that’s what you’ll get… cheap prints. Some labs aren’t necessarily cheap, but have their system set up completely different than what was intended, and the prints will end up looking washed out, too contrasty, green, blue, red, etc… (you get the point). It’s important to know that Mark Umstot Photography cares about the quality of your images dearly. We guarantee top-notch quality with our prints but understand that there are circumstances you want to use another lab. And if you’ve purchased the digital images and copyright release, you’re free to do so, but we just wanted to make sure you understand what’s up.

Occasionally, and with some wedding packages, we offer bonus or free photoshoots. These are exclusive of products, prints, or digital images which must be purchased separately. Also, they must be used as is and cannot be substituted or exchanged for any other product or service.

If there happens to be one of those rare, out-of-nowhere, technical malfunctions during the session and the images become unsalvageable or the shoot cannot continue, a free reshoot will be offered and scheduled as quickly as possible. We do not offer reshoots for any other reasons.

If the Client is providing original prints, negatives, or transparencies owned by the Client to the Photographer for duplication, framing, reference, or any other purpose, in the event of loss or damage the Photographer shall not be liable for an amount in excess of $5.00 per image.

The charges in all photoshoots are based on the Photographer’s Standard Price List. This price list is adjusted periodically and future orders/agreements shall be charged at the prices in effect at the time the orders/agreements are placed.

All disputes arising shall be submitted to binding arbitration before 90 days after the date of service in Lubbock County, Texas and the arbitration award may be entered for judgment in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may refuse to arbitrate when the dispute is for a sum less than $500.00.

These policies incorporate the entire understanding of the parties. Any modifications of this policies must be in writing and signed by both parties. Any waiver of a breach or default hereunder shall not be deemed a waiver of a subsequent breach or default of either the same provision or any other provision of these policies. The laws of the State of Texas shall govern these policies.

We don’t consider un-edited images to be a deliverable product. The material that comes straight out of the camera is unfinished, and we typically work for hours to take each image from this raw state to a client-worthy art piece. The un-edited images are only a part of our process, and we can’t release my work until we’re satisfied with it. And really, our method of editing images is a large part of what makes our style unique, and we wouldn’t have the clients or reputation we do without it.

So, basically, editing isn’t simply a matter of playing around with filters, etc. as I’ve had some people think – it’s a special artistic process that we’ve developed over many years starting with Photoshop version 0.63 that we first purchased in October of 1988.

Honestly, we’ll pick the best of the best images based on our artistic eye. It’s something we do on a daily basis. We want you to look your best! If you’re cool with that, let’s work together and create some amazing images. If not, we can probably help you find someone newer to the game that would be willing to simply turn over their raw images straight from the camera.

The Photographer shall be the exclusive photographer retained by the Client for the purpose of photographing the wedding. Family and friends of the Client shall be permitted to photograph the wedding as long as they shall not interfere with the Photographer’s duties.

The Client shall make a retainer to retain the Photographer to perform the services specified herein. Photographer is not secured to photograph client’s wedding until both a $500 retainer fee and this Agreement signed by both the Client and Photographer has been completed. One half of the remaining balance is due thirty (30) days after retainer has been paid. The remaining balance is due no later than thirty (30) days prior to the wedding date. If balance is not paid prior to 30 days of wedding date this contract becomes null and void. If the Client refuses delivery of the order or refuses to pay within thirty (30) days of this order, Client shall be in default hereunder and shall pay 18% annual (1.5% monthly) interest on the unpaid balance until payment is made in full. Trade and Barter are acceptable for payment of this agreement per both parties agreeing to arrangement.

If the Client shall cancel this Agreement thirty (30) or more calendar days before the wedding date, with the exception of the non-refundable retainer, any monies paid to the Photographer shall be refunded in full minus any applicable charges for services or products already produced (engagement photoshoot, etc.). If Client should cancel this Agreement within the thirty (30) calendar days prior to the wedding date, 50% of the total paid may be refunded, minus any applicable charges for services or products already produced (engagement photoshoot, etc.).

All photographic materials, including but not limited to negatives, transparencies, proofs, and previews, shall be the exclusive property of the Photographer unless otherwise noted. The Photographer may make proofs and previews available to the Client for the purpose of selecting photographs, but such proofs and previews shall be on loan and, if the Client does not return them within fourteen (14) days of receipt, shall be charged to the Client at the same rate as finished prints of the same size.

The Photographer shall own the copyright in all images created and shall have the exclusive right to make reproductions. The Photographer shall only make reproductions for the Client or for the Photographer’s portfolio, samples, self-promotions (including photographer’s website), entry in photographic contests or art exhibitions, editorial use, or for display within or on the outside of the Photographer’s studio. If the Photographer desires to make other uses, the Photographer shall not do so without first obtaining the written permission of the Client.

The Client is obtaining prints for personal use only, and shall not sell said prints or authorize any reproductions thereof by parties other than the Photographer. If Client is obtaining a print for newspaper announcement of the wedding, Photographer authorizes Client to reproduce the print in this manner. In such event, Client shall request that the newspaper run a credit for the Photographer adjacent to the photograph, but shall have no liability if the newspaper refuses or omits to do so.

If the Photographer cannot perform this Agreement due to a plane crash, auto accident, impassable roadways, fire or other casualty, strike, act of God, or other cause beyond the control of the parties, or due to Photographer’s illness, then the Photographer shall return the deposit to the Client but shall have no further liability with respect to the Agreement. Every effort will be made to keep prints and negatives safe and in excellent condition in the time before the Client takes possession of them. This limitation on liability shall also apply in the event that photographic materials are damaged in processing, lost through camera or memory card malfunction, lost in the mail, theft, fire, or otherwise lost or damaged without fault on the part of the Photographer. In the event the Photographer fails to perform for any other reason, the Photographer shall not be liable for any amount in excess of the retail value of the Client’s order.

With some wedding packages, the Photographer may offer bonus photoshoots (engagement, bridal, and boudoir). These are exclusive of products, prints, or digital images which must be purchased separately. Also, they must be used as is and cannot be substituted or exchanged for any other product or service. If they are not used, they cannot be redeemed for any product or service.

The Photographer may substitute another photographer to take the photographs in the event of Photographer’s illness or of scheduling conflicts. In the event of such substitution, Photographer warrants that the photographer taking the photographs shall be a competent professional.

Client is aware that color dyes in photography may fade or discolor over time due to the inherent qualities of dyes, and Client releases Photographer from any liability for any claims whatsoever based upon fading or discoloration due to such inherent qualities. Client should backup digital images received as Photographer will archive images but no guarantee is made as to length of time images will be kept on file.