Terms & Conditions
Early Chapter Ltd
These Terms & Conditions explain how Early Chapter provides its services, how bookings work, and the general terms that apply when you use our website, enquire about our services, or book a photography session directly with us.
If you place an order for prints or other products, our Delivery, Returns & Refunds policy also forms part of the agreement where relevant.
1. Who we are
Early Chapter Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales.
Company number: 17044549
Registered office: 167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF
Email: hello@earlychapter.co.uk
Phone: 0333 050 5364
2. What these terms cover
These terms apply to:
· use of our website
· enquiries made to us
· nursery photography services
· nursery photography days
· family sessions
· parent/child mini sessions
· graduation photography
· graduation events and certificate presentation photography where agreed
· event photography
· any direct booking made with Early Chapter
They do not replace any separate nursery agreement, platform terms, booking terms or product ordering terms where those apply.
3. Our services
Early Chapter provides photography services specialising in nursery portrait photography, early years photography, family sessions, parent/child mini sessions, graduation photography and events.
We aim to provide our services with reasonable care and skill. Any timings, session structures, product examples, gallery examples or image expectations shown on our website, in emails or in booking information are intended as a guide unless we specifically confirm otherwise.
Photography may take place in busy nursery or event environments. Results may depend on attendance, cooperation, timing, lighting, venue conditions, weather, child wellbeing and the practical circumstances on the day.
20. Governing law
These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and disputes will be subject to the courts of England and Wales unless applicable consumer law allows otherwise.
4. Website use
You may use our website for lawful purposes only.
You must not misuse the website, attempt to gain unauthorised access to it, upload harmful material, or use our content in a way that infringes our rights or the rights of others.
All text, branding, images, logos, designs and content on our website remain the property of Early Chapter or our licensors unless stated otherwise and may not be copied, reused or reproduced without permission.
5. Enquiries and bookings
A booking with Early Chapter is only confirmed once we have accepted it and, where applicable, received any required booking fee, session fee or deposit.
We may decline a booking where:
· the date is unavailable
· the request is unsuitable for our service
· the location or circumstances are not workable
· we reasonably believe the booking cannot be carried out safely or properly
· we do not have enough information to manage the booking appropriately
Any quote, proposal, booking link or availability indication is not a confirmed booking until we confirm acceptance.
6. Family sessions, mini sessions and direct bookings
For family sessions, parent/child mini sessions, graduation mini sessions or other direct bookings:
a booking is secured only once the required deposit, session fee or booking fee has been paid where one applies
where a deposit is charged for a family session, parent/child mini session, graduation mini session or other direct booking, it will be non-refundable but redeemable against a later photo order where this is explained at the time of booking
one reschedule may be allowed where at least 72 hours notice is given, subject to availability
cancellations, late reschedule requests or non-attendance may result in the deposit or booking fee being lost and no longer redeemable against a photo order
any remaining balance must be paid in line with the payment terms confirmed at booking
session length, location and structure will be confirmed at booking or in the event information
Mini sessions are short, scheduled sessions. Where a session is advertised as a 5-minute mini session, this means the time allocated for the session. It does not guarantee a specific number of final images, poses or combinations.
If you arrive late, your session may be shortened or missed, particularly where sessions are scheduled back-to-back. We will try to help where practical, but we cannot guarantee that extra time or a replacement slot will be available.
On-the-day bookings may be accepted only where spaces remain and where we can safely and practically fit them into the schedule. We reserve the right to decline on-the-day bookings if the schedule, staffing, venue or child flow does not allow it.
If we agree to reschedule, we will aim to offer a suitable alternative date, but this cannot be guaranteed.
8. Photographer availability
Early Chapter may use employed or self-employed photographers, assistants or subcontracted creatives to deliver services.
For nursery photography days, the commercial arrangement may vary. In some cases, a nursery may pay a photography fee. In other cases, the nursery may receive staff photographs, a commission, contribution or percentage of eligible sales, or another agreed benefit as part of the photography day arrangement.
Any nursery commission, staff photo offer, contribution, discount, benefit or similar arrangement will be agreed separately between Early Chapter and the nursery. These arrangements do not affect a parent’s statutory rights, gallery access, product pricing, order rights, or any rights they may have in relation to faulty, damaged, incorrect or misdescribed goods.
If the assigned photographer becomes unavailable due to illness, emergency, travel disruption, weather, venue issues or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control, we may:
provide a substitute photographer
rearrange the session or photography day
offer a refund of sums paid, or part of them, where appropriate
where relevant, adjust or deal with any nursery commission, staff photo offer or commercial arrangement in line with the separate agreement with the nursery
Our liability in those situations will be limited to the amount paid for the affected service or order, unless the law says otherwise.
9. Nursery photography days
Where photography is arranged through a nursery:
· timing, access, organisation and child flow may depend on the nursery’s operations on the day
· we cannot guarantee that every child will cooperate, attend, or produce a full set of images
· if a child is absent, unsettled or unwilling to participate, we will do our best within the practical limits of the day, but we cannot guarantee that photographs will be obtained
· any sibling, group or class photographs depend on time, consent, attendance and cooperation on the day
· children who do not normally attend on the photography day may need to be arranged with the nursery in advance
· we may be unable to photograph a child if the necessary permission or operational information has not been provided in time
We reserve the right to make reasonable decisions about the order, pacing and practical management of photography on the day.
10. Consent and image permissions
Photography permissions may be managed by the nursery, through a registration form, through a gallery or booking platform, or through a combination of these routes.
Where we are told that a child should not be photographed, we will take reasonable steps to honour that instruction. It is important that any opt-out, restriction or concern is communicated clearly and in good time before the photography day or session.
Permission for a child to be photographed for a private gallery or ordering process is separate from permission to use images for marketing. We do not use a child’s image in our marketing, website, social media, brochures or other promotional materials unless appropriate separate permission has been obtained.
11. Image style and editing
Our editing style is part of our creative service.
Unless specifically agreed otherwise:
· image selection, cropping and artistic judgment remain at our discretion
· we will do our best to correct obvious issues where appropriate, but specific retouching is not guaranteed
· we do not guarantee that every image taken will be edited, uploaded or made available to view
· colour and tonal appearance may vary between screens, devices and printed products
· preview images, website examples and screen displays are illustrative and may not match the final printed result exactly
Requests for additional editing, retouching or background changes may be declined or may incur an additional charge where available.
19. Changes to these terms
We may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time.
The version in place at the time of booking or purchase will generally apply unless a legal or operational change requires otherwise.
14. Prices and payment
Prices are shown in pounds sterling.
We reserve the right to change pricing at any time, but changes will not affect orders or bookings already accepted.
Where applicable, we will make clear:
the price of the service or product
any booking fee, session fee or deposit
whether a deposit is redeemable against a later order, if applicable
delivery charges
any other charge payable before an order or booking is confirmed
Where a deposit or booking fee is redeemable against a later photo order, it will only be redeemable in the way explained at the time of booking. It may not be exchanged for cash, transferred to another customer, or used outside any stated deadline, voucher code, gallery or minimum order value conditions.
Key pre-contract information, including price and delivery arrangements where relevant, will be made clear before the customer is bound to a purchase or booking.
12. Galleries and access
Where galleries are provided, they are intended for private customer access only.
Parents and guardians are responsible for keeping gallery links, access codes, QR codes and login details secure and should not share them more widely than necessary.
We may limit gallery availability periods, remove access, archive galleries or update gallery settings at our discretion or for operational, legal or technical reasons.
If a gallery access code or QR card is lost, we may need to verify information before reissuing access.
13. Orders and third-party ordering platforms
Where product orders are placed through a linked gallery or ordering platform, the ordering journey may be handled through a third-party platform used by Early Chapter.
Product orders, fulfilment, delivery support, complaint handling and payment processing may therefore involve trusted third-party service providers acting as part of our workflow.
Separate platform terms may also apply where an order is placed through a third-party gallery, ordering or payment platform.
15. Promotional use of images
We do not use a child’s image in our marketing, website, social media, brochures or other promotional materials unless appropriate permission has been obtained.
Any permission for promotional use is separate from standard photography administration, gallery access and ordering.
Where permission is given, it can be withdrawn going forward by contacting us. Withdrawal will not necessarily affect materials already produced, published or circulated before the request is received.
16. Complaints
If you have a complaint, please contact us at hello@earlychapter.co.uk as soon as possible with as much detail as possible.
We will aim to review and respond within a reasonable timeframe. Where a complaint relates to an order, delivery issue, damage, print quality or incorrect item, our Shop Terms, Delivery, Returns & Refunds policy will also apply.
17. Our liability
Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or statutory consumer rights.
Subject to that:
· we are not responsible for delays or failures caused by events outside our reasonable control
· we are not responsible for nursery operational issues, child non-cooperation, absence, late arrival, missing permissions, or circumstances that prevent a full gallery being achieved
· we are not responsible for event or venue conditions that limit the ability to capture specific moments or images
· we are not responsible for minor differences in print appearance caused by screen settings, device display, cropping choices or standard print tolerances
· our liability for non-product service claims will generally be limited to the amount paid for the relevant service
18. Consumer rights
Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer.
Your rights in relation to faulty, damaged, incorrect or misdescribed goods are in addition to these terms.