The (2020 COVID Affected) Deposit Lowdown!
This page is just for info on making/using a deposit, go here for general FAQ's.
BASICS.
ANYTHING IN BOLD MAY BE A CHANGE FOR 2020!
1. WHAT IS THIS DEPOSIT FOR?
A: You are paying for the individuals session but all the money goes TOWARD ANY purchase online later after photos go online! We take individuals in at least THREE poses and dancers get a minimum of TEN photos (of varying lengths/crops/poses) in the online gallery. You do not need to know what you are purchasing JUST in what costume/s you would like individuals taken in. You will still get to see the photos before you finalize your decision for what prints/products make your final cart. EVERYONE (regardless of if you made a deposit or not) will still be able to purchase group photos online!
2. WHEN DO I MAKE THIS DEPOSIT?
A: Come to the studio on designated photoDAY/s to make your deposit with a relevéPHOTO representative. Make your deposit online BEFORE your scheduled shoot. You can make a deposit for all dances/dancers at once or you can make them daily. Just make sure you have made the deposit for the individuals you'd like BEFORE the scheduled session for that particular costume. We only take the pics for those dancers that we show in our App as being paid. If you make a deposit online last-minute (like, after you drop your dancer at the studio for their virtual recital), make sure to confirm with your dancer BEFORE YOU LEAVE that the dancer DID take an individual. We will always try to RECHECK our system but last minute deposits can get missed!
3. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR MAKING A DEPOSIT?
A: Use our App at the studio on photoDAY. You'll search for your dancers name and select which costumes you would like individuals taken. You will make a PER COSTUME/PER DANCER deposit using credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express accepted). NO CASH/CHECK PLEASE! You will then receive an email with the subject 'relevéPHOTO Deposit Information' that has your personal GIFT CERT CODE as well as other great ordering details. You will go online when photos go live and add whatever you like to your cart. You'll use your GIFT CERT CODE (and any other payment method if additional is required) toward your cart total! Follow instructions during online shopping. You must have made your deposit BEFORE your scheduled photoshoot. This temporary fill-in system does NOT allow us to stop you from purchasing after the scheduled shoot has taken place. We are not responsible for missed pictures because of post-shoot purchase, so please plan ahead and take care of your purchase ASAP!
4. WHAT DOES THE DEPOSIT COVER?
A: ANYTHING ON OUR SITE including shipping... and even tax. This deposit works just like a gift certificate or gift card. You can purchase prints and products with it. You can use it towards group shots, CompComposites, photos from last year... ANYTHING on our site. It is NOT restricted to just the individuals you made the deposit for... so, for example, if you liked more of your ballet individuals, use it all on that! The ONLY thing it CANNOT go towards is FUTURE DEPOSITS (which isn't online anyway.)
5. WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE THE PHOTOS?
A: If you don't like them or decide you need to spend that money elsewhere or whatever your reasoning, we don't ask questions about why... just email us and we will start the refund process. We ONLY issue FULL REFUNDS. So we will take down your dancer's photos and refund your credit card. We DO NOT issue PARTIAL REFUNDS, because the idea of the deposit is that you are planning to spend the deposit amount on the photos we shoot. You must email us BEFORE your Gallery Finale to take advantage of this option.
REFUND PROCESS:
- Email us BEFORE your Gallery Finale with the following info: Studio Name; Gallery Number (three digits); Location of your dancer in the first group shot OR a screenshot of one of your dancer's individuals; your GIFT CERT CODE (or forward your Deposit Information Email); the last four digits of the credit card used.
- We will confirm your request, take down your dancer's photos, null your GIFT CERT CODE and request the refund. Refunds may take between two and ten business days based on your credit card/banking institution.
6. WHAT IF I DON'T USE ALL THE DEPOSIT DOLLARS?
A: Like a gift card, the balance remains on the GIFT CERT CODE and can be used toward any future online purchase. You CANNOT use a remaining balance towards a FUTURE DEPOSIT, only online purchases. To add a previous year's balance to a current GIFT CERT CODE, see below Q: HOW DO I REDEEM A PAST GIFT CERT CODE BALANCE?
7. WHAT IF I FORGET TO APPLY MY GIFT CERT CODE?
A: Email us ASAP and we can cancel your order, then you can replace the order using your GIFT CERT CODE. This is the most immediate and FREE way to apply a code after the fact. If you don't want to replace the order, we can apply your code for a $5 Loads-Of-Busy-Work-And-Accounting-Nightmare Fee. We can only help with this BEFORE YOUR ORDER HAS GONE TO PRINT, which could happen anywhere from 48 hours to ten BUSINESS days after it was placed, so email us ASAP. We cannot issue any refunds after 120 days.
8. HOW DO I REDEEM A PAST GIFT CERT CODE BALANCE?
A: Email us from the email address used in the past to make your deposit! Emails us three things: Email address (yes the one you're emailing from); Your Dance Studio; Your NEW GIFT CERT CODE (if you have one as this is where we will add the previous balance). Next, wait... it may take us up to 48 BUSINESS hours for us to process this request. We will send you the GIFT CERT CODE with the total balance! Then, go buy you some sweet photo swag!
SPECIFIC SITUATIONS.
ANYTHING IN BOLD MAY BE A CHANGE FOR 2020!
9. HOW DO YOU HANDLE SIBLING SHOTS?
A: We LOVE Sibling Shots! A sibling session is basically treated as ONE COSTUME (or chunk of shooting time). So if neither of the siblings took individuals, it would be charged a FIRST COSTUME DEPOSIT (just one.) OR a Sibling Session is FREE with TWO FIRST COSTUME DEPOSITS. Meaning if two siblings both took individuals (so paid at least two FIRST COSTUME DEPOSITs), the Sibling Session is included! This option will pop up in our App, so be sure to select it when checking out. We only need to know the day you plan on coming (which you will select on our App) not the exact session. We take these sessions at the end of one of the dancer's scheduled group times, just have the other sibling come in at the end of the scheduled group session! We ask for your patience in squeezing in these SUPER CUTE sessions. This temporary fill-in deposit-taking system doesn't account for FIRST COSTUME DEPOSITS, so we will be running Sibling Sessions on the Honor System. Just be sure to ADD the Sibling Shot in ONE of the Classes
10. HOW DO YOU HANDLE BUDDY SHOTS?
A: A buddy session is basically treated as ONE COSTUME (or chunk of shooting time). So if neither/none of the friends in the photo took individuals, it would be charged a FIRST COSTUME DEPOSIT (just one.) If one dancer in the Buddy Shot made a FIRST COSTUME DEPOSIT, we recommend tacking it onto their order as it means less money up front! Again though, it is just charged ONCE (not everybody in the shot needs to make a deposit)! We only need to know the day you plan on coming (which you will select on our App) not the exact time/session. We take these sessions at the end of one of the dancer's scheduled group times, just have the other friend/s come in at the end of the scheduled group session! If all buddies are in one class, just have the dancers remind the photographer of the extra scheduled session. We ask for your patience in squeezing in these extra sessions. If you want a buddy/friend shot, simply add another deposit from the class you will be shooting it in and make sure to put the TWO first and last names of buddies in the shot. You will have to make a deposit for buddy/friend shots and they will have to be further away following the social distancing practices of your studio! We will not have the typical cutesy hug ones but could still do some cute stuff!
11. HOW DO YOU HANDLE SMALL GROUPS/DUETS/TRIOS?
A: A Small Group is basically treated as ONE COSTUME (or chunk of shooting time). So if no one in the Small Group took individuals, it would be charged a FIRST COSTUME DEPOSIT (just one.) If one dancer in the Small Group already made a FIRST COSTUME DEPOSIT, we recommend tacking it onto their order as it means less money up front and just charged as an ADDITIONAL COSTUME DEPOSIT! Again though, it is just charged ONCE (not everybody in the shot needs to make a deposit)!
For Small Groups (Four+ People) we only take a group shot. If someone would like individuals in the Small Group Costume, they would then place a deposit for Small Group Individuals (which could lead to multiple Small Group Deposits).
For Duets/Trios, we take a group shot and ONE QUICK individual of each dancer. If someone would like MORE OPTIONS for individuals in the Duet/Trio Costume, they would then place a deposit for Duet/Trio Individuals. See above about Buddy/Friend Shots, or email [email protected] for a more specific plan for groups larger than two!
DEPOSIT-MAKING TIPS.
ANYTHING IN BOLD MAY BE A CHANGE FOR 2020!
A. USE OUR PRICELIST TO ESTIMATE YOUR CART.
MAIN IDEA: Spend LESS up front but still have the most options to choose from! Check out our pricelist online here or we will have a copy at the studio. Estimate what you think you will want, don't forget gifts for Grandma, etc. Add in tax (6-8%) and shipping (4.25-8.25) both of which your deposit can cover! Take that total and then calculate how many COSTUME DEPOSITS will get you just BELOW that estimated amount. Take in that many costumes as then you'll have the most options for still less than you think you'll spend after the fact!
B. CHECK OUT WHAT YOU ORDERED LAST YEAR.
MAIN IDEA: Spend LESS up front but still have the most options to choose from! Check your email for Order Confirmations from previous years and see your typical ordering habits. Check that against our current pricelist, found here (or check the copy at studio on PHOTO DAY/s). Make sure your estimate includes tax (new for Georgia studios this year) AND shipping (4.25-8.25) both of which your deposit can cover! Take that total and then calculate how many COSTUME DEPOSITS will get you just BELOW that estimated amount. Take individuals in that many costumes as then you'll have the most options for still less than you usually spend after the fact!
C. LARGE FAMILY, JUST DO A SIBLING SHOT!
MAIN IDEA: Document the year but for minimum initial investment! Just take all the siblings together in coordinating costumes for just one FIRST COSTUME DEPOSIT. See above Q: HOW DO YOU HANDLE SIBLING SHOTS for more details! We'll warn you though... those Sibling Sessions turn out some INCREDIBLY cute pics! If you want to take advantage of this option, find the class you plan on having all the siblings come to and add it to your cart! When asked to fill out the 'Dancer First AND Last Name' put 'SIBLINGS' (in all caps) and all of their FIRST and LAST names (this will alert us that it is NOT a Buddy Shot and it is ok to get them closer)! You just pay the $29 rate!
AS ALWAYS, EMAIL US (info@relevePHOTO.com) WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WE CAN HELP ANSWER!