the classic birth story

(if not but you plan to, check yes)

Thank you for inviting me to photograph your maternity session and upcoming birth experience! Since births are a bit different than a standard session, here are some guidelines to insure I can give you the best experience possible while allowing your support team to focus on you and baby during labor! Births are unpredictable, so I will shoot your birth as it plays out in a story/photojournalistic style. Please read and then provide your signature below. Your birth session includes: -A consultation (phone or in person, up to you!) to discuss image preferences and to get to know each other -On call time from 38 weeks until birth -Unlimited time at your birth from active labor (6-8cm) until around 2 hours postpartum -A minimum of 100 professionally edited high resolution digital images -Print Release -Sneak peak of 3-5 images within 48 hours of birth endpoint -Full online gallery within 4 weeks of birth date Planned vaginal delivery or scheduled induction of labor: I will be on call for your birth 24/7 from 38 weeks through 42 weeks gestation. If baby comes before 38 weeks gestation I will do my best to be there or have a backup photographer present. If your doctor or midwife schedules an induction or planned cesarean for you, please let me know so that I can plan that date accordingly. Please keep me updated via telephone or text when you you go into labor. Dad or doula should keep me updated via text. My cell number is 412-519-9949. Please store this number in mom and dad's phones well in advance. My goal is to be at your place of delivery or labor before mom hits the point where she can no longer speak on the phone. If you are being checked for dilation, please keep me posted with your progress at each check. I plan to arrive when you are 6-7cm dilated, depending on how rapidly your birth is progressing. Please note that it takes me approximately 1-1.5 hours to arrive at the birth location from your initial phone call to being by your side. I will stay with you through the rest of your labor/birth, and 1-2 hours post birth to document weight, footprints, family/baby interaction, etc. Please contact me as soon as you *think* you might be in labor so I can begin making plans to be there. Even if it’s 2 a.m., even if it’s a false alarm! I would much rather be ready to roll than to miss the event! It is also helpful for us if you check in after doctor’s appointments in the weeks before labor and let us know how things are progressing and/or if there will be any changes to your initial birth plan. Scheduled Cesarean Section: I will provide coverage 1 1/2 hours prior to, during (if permission is granted by hospital/doctor), and 1-2 hours post-delivery. Images will be provided in a documentary fashion, documenting your experience as much as possible, as well as documenting your baby's first moments. AGREEMENT OVERVIEW: This agreement contains the entire understanding between Anna Garvey Photography and the above listed client. It supersedes all prior and simultaneous agreements between the parties. The only way to add or change this agreement is to do so in writing, signed by all the parties. If the parties want to waive one provision of this agreement, that does not mean that any other provision is also waived. The party against whom a waiver is sought to be effective must have signed a waiver in writing. COOPERATION: The parties agree to cheerful cooperation and communication for the best possible result within the definition of this assignment. Anna Garvey Photography is not responsible if key individuals fail to appear or cooperate during photography sessions or for missed images due to details not revealed to Anna Garvey Photography. ARCHIVE OF IMAGES: Images will be accessible for viewing and download in online gallery for twelve (12) months. After twelve (12) months, all images will be purged from photographer’s hard-drive, except as needed for promotional purposes, to be determined by photographer at photographer’s sole discretion. Photographer is not responsible for loss or damage to the digital files due to circumstances beyond photographer’s control. COPYRIGHT AND PENALTY: Anna Garvey Photography retains all copyrights to all images created during client’s session. A print release is included with digital files to print portraits for personal use up to designated size listed on print release. The print release does not allow publication of your portraits (i.e. entering in contests), selling or altering of your images without the photographer’s written permission. It is illegal to copy, scan, download, print, share, alter, or otherwise steal any image created by Anna Garvey Photography during client’s photo session. This applies to "sneak peek" images, images posted in an online proofing gallery, blog, Facebook, or hard copy images. If client steals images via any method listed above, or any other method, client will be invoiced for the cost of EACH digital image client has stolen, at photographer’s current price per digital file. Digital images and prints purchased from photographers can only be used for personal use and not for commercial, political, or any for-profit uses. A separate commercial release can be purchased if the images need to be used for anything other than personal use. Sharing on personal social media pages, web pages, or blogs is allowable. LIMIT OF LIABILITY: In the unlikely event that the photographer is injured or becomes too ill, or has an extreme emergency that prevents her from photographing the agreed upon session, responsibility and liability is limited to the transfer of deposits made to the session types of Fresh 48 AND Newborn Session rather than birth. Due to the nature and timing of birth being unpredictable, Anna Garvey Photography cannot be held accountable or liable for a missed birth. Anna Garvey Photography takes the utmost care with respect to exposure, transportation, and processing the photographs. However, in the unlikely event that photographs have been lost, stolen, or destroyed for reasons within or beyond Anna Garvey Photography's control Anna Garvey Photography's liability is limited to the return of all payments received for the portrait package. *If I cannot provide coverage as a result of client's actions or due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, all fees paid will be applied toward a Fresh 48 and Newborn Session. Examples of this include, but are not limited to: failure to provide adequate notice of mother’s labor; an unexpected transport for a c-section; a dramatic change in the birth plan. In instances like this, beyond our control, no refunds will be given.* RETAINER & PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Half of the collection total is due at time of signing this agreement. This is a NON-REFUNDABLE retainer fee that goes toward your sessions. The remainder is due in full by 37 weeks gestation. In the event of cancellation by the client, the retainer paid is non-refundable. It shall be liquidated for damages to Anna Garvey Photography. In the event of a cancellation, or breach of contract by the CLIENT. The retainer shall be applied towards the total cost of the service to be rendered. If you decide to cancel my services for any reason, please let us know at least 30 days before your due date. Your initial deposit is non-refundable in this case, but any other fees paid up to this point will be fully refunded. By completing this contract, you are confirming that your place of delivery will allow birth photography. You agree to informing Anna Garvey Photography of any guidelines or procedures that must be followed. Failure to do so will result in loss of deposit. Anna Garvey Photography is hereby not responsible for any situation in which this contract is not fulfilled due to unknown hospital or birth center policies. Please also know that we will be limited by the guidelines (if there are any) of the facility and/or the delivering doctor/midwife, some of which arise during delivery. Negotiation for moderation of the guidelines is your responsibility. If you are planning a birth at home or in a birthing center, please check with your midwife AND your back up hospital in case of a transfer. We try to be unobtrusive and document the birth as best as we can with the available lighting. Low light situations cause images to be more raw - perhaps with a bit of film grain or motion blur, this is normal. Most images will be delivered in color, though any images delivered, color or black and white, will be at the artistic discretion of the photographer. By confirming and signing this contract below, I hear by agree to and understand all of the terms of this contract with Anna Garvey Photography.