Refund & Cancellation Policy

1. Scope and Purpose

This Refund & Cancellation Policy governs cancellations, rescheduling, no-shows, deposits, and refunds for Bookings made through the Ch4pter Platform. It forms part of Ch4pter’s legal framework and should be read together with the Terms of Service and the applicable Marketplace Agreement. Where this Policy and another agreement address the same subject, the Terms of Service and applicable Marketplace Agreement govern to the extent of any conflict.

2. Deposits

A Booking may require a Deposit to reserve the date. The Photographer selects a standard Deposit percentage for eligible Bookings:

• ten percent (10%);
• twenty-five percent (25%); or
• fifty percent (50%).

Where the Photographer has not affirmatively selected an option, Ch4pter may apply fifty percent (50%) as the default. The applicable Deposit percentage and amount are disclosed to the Client before payment and recorded as part of the Booking. Whether a Deposit is refundable is determined by the cancellation policy applicable to that Booking, together with the mandatory overrides in Section 6.

3. Standardized Cancellation Policies

For eligible Bookings, the Photographer selects one of the standardized cancellation policies below. If the Photographer does not affirmatively select a policy, the Moderate policy applies by default. The applicable policy is displayed to the Client before the Client confirms and pays for the Booking, and the policy in effect at Booking confirmation governs that Booking. A cancellation policy may not be changed retroactively to become less favorable to the Client after the Booking is confirmed.

3.1 Flexible

• Cancellation at least seven (7) calendar days before the scheduled session is eligible for a full refund of amounts paid;
• cancellation less than seven (7) calendar days before the scheduled session may result in forfeiture of the Deposit;
• one rescheduling request may be permitted with at least forty-eight (48) hours’ notice, subject to Photographer availability; and
• a Client no-show may result in forfeiture of the Deposit.

3.2 Moderate (default)

• Cancellation at least fourteen (14) calendar days before the scheduled session is eligible for a full refund of amounts paid;
• cancellation seven (7) through thirteen (13) calendar days before the scheduled session is eligible for a refund of fifty percent (50%) of the Deposit;
• cancellation less than seven (7) calendar days before the scheduled session may result in forfeiture of the Deposit;
• one rescheduling request may be permitted with at least seven (7) calendar days’ notice, subject to Photographer availability; and
• a Client no-show may result in forfeiture of the Deposit.

3.3 Firm

• Cancellation at least thirty (30) calendar days before the scheduled session is eligible for a refund of the Deposit;
• cancellation fourteen (14) through twenty-nine (29) calendar days before the scheduled session is eligible for a refund of fifty percent (50%) of the Deposit;
• cancellation less than fourteen (14) calendar days before the scheduled session may result in forfeiture of the Deposit;
• rescheduling is subject to Photographer availability and applicable disclosed restrictions; and
• a Client no-show may result in forfeiture of the Deposit.

4. Rescheduling

Rescheduling is subject to Photographer availability and the notice requirements of the applicable cancellation policy above. Where a Booking is rescheduled by mutual agreement, amounts already paid (including the Deposit) may be applied to the rescheduled Booking rather than refunded. A request to change the Booking date or time is a request for modification and does not bind the other participant unless accepted.

5. No-Shows

A Client who fails to appear for a scheduled Booking without timely cancellation may be treated as a no-show under the applicable cancellation policy, which may result in forfeiture of the Deposit. Where the Client arrives late, fails to provide agreed access, or is unprepared, the Photographer is not required to extend the session beyond the confirmed end time unless mutually agreed, and the financial consequences are governed by the confirmed Booking terms and this Policy.

6. Mandatory Refund Overrides

Regardless of the cancellation policy selected for a Booking, the following apply:

• a Photographer’s rejection or decline of a Booking Request results in a full refund of amounts paid for that Booking;
• a Photographer cancellation generally results in a full refund;
• a Photographer no-show results in a full refund and may result in enforcement action;
• duplicate or erroneous payments will be corrected;
• amounts may be transferred to a mutually agreed rescheduled Booking;
• severe weather, venue closure, emergencies, or other circumstances beyond reasonable control may be handled through rescheduling, refund, credit, or another reasonable resolution;
• material Photographer nonperformance may result in a partial or full refund;
• subjective dissatisfaction with artistic style alone generally does not create a refund right where the Photographer materially performed the agreed Services consistently with the represented portfolio, style, and Booking terms;
• failure to pay a remaining balance may prevent release of full-resolution Deliverables; and
• failure by a Photographer to provide materially promised Deliverables after full payment may result in a refund and enforcement action.

7. Platform Authority

Ch4pter may override or administer a cancellation policy where reasonably necessary to address fraud, serious misconduct, safety concerns, payment errors, material nonperformance, applicable law, or other extraordinary circumstances.

8. How Refunds Are Issued

Approved refunds are returned to the original payment method used for the Booking, unless applicable law or the circumstances require another method. Processing times depend on the payment provider and the issuing bank. Deposits and balances are held by Ch4pter and released in accordance with this Policy, the confirmed Booking terms, and the applicable Marketplace Agreement.

9. Contact

Questions about this Policy, or a request concerning a specific Booking, may be directed to Ch4pter at legal.ch4pterapp@gmail.com, or by mail to Ch4pter, LLC, 130 Townsend St, Midland, MI 48640.