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Refund & Cancellation Policy

Last updated: 26 August 2026

This Refund & Cancellation Policy explains the cancellation, rescheduling and refund terms applicable to photography services provided by Lukeny Photography.

This policy should be read together with the Terms & Conditions, quotation, invoice and/or Booking Agreement applicable to the Client's Photography Services.

By confirming a Booking, paying a deposit or otherwise accepting Photography Services from Lukeny Photography, the Client acknowledges and agrees to this policy, subject to any rights that cannot legally be excluded under South African law.

1. BOOKING DEPOSITS

A deposit may be required to secure a photography date.

The deposit allows Lukeny Photography to reserve the agreed date and commit its time, equipment and resources to the Client's Booking.

Once a date has been reserved, Lukeny Photography may decline other enquiries for the same date.

For this reason, a Booking deposit may be retained or applied towards reasonable cancellation costs where a Client cancels a Booking, subject to applicable South African law and the circumstances of the cancellation.

The specific deposit amount will be stated in the Client's quotation, invoice or Booking Agreement.

2. CLIENT CANCELLATION

A Client may cancel a Booking by notifying Lukeny Photography in writing.

Cancellation requests should be sent to:

Email: LukenyPhotography@gmail.com

The date on which Lukeny Photography receives the written cancellation request will be used when assessing the cancellation.

Because photography bookings involve reserving a specific date and turning away other potential work, cancellation charges may apply.

Any cancellation charge will be determined reasonably, taking into account:

  • The amount of notice provided;

  • The date of the Booking;

  • The nature and size of the Photography Services;

  • Work already completed;

  • Expenses already incurred;

  • Whether the date can reasonably be rebooked;

  • The amount of time remaining before the Booking;

  • Any third-party costs incurred; and

  • Applicable South African consumer-protection law.

South Africa's Consumer Protection Act expressly allows a supplier to require a reasonable deposit and impose a reasonable cancellation charge for advance bookings, subject to the circumstances of the cancellation.

3. CANCELLATION CLOSE TO THE EVENT DATE

Cancellations made shortly before the scheduled photography date may result in a larger portion of the Booking payment being retained or becoming payable.

This is because the opportunity to replace the cancelled Booking becomes increasingly limited as the Event date approaches.

Lukeny Photography will assess each cancellation reasonably rather than automatically imposing an arbitrary penalty.

Where the cancelled date is successfully rebooked with another Client, Lukeny Photography may take the replacement Booking into consideration when determining the appropriate cancellation charge.

4. CANCELLATION DUE TO DEATH OR HOSPITALISATION

Where a Client is unable to honour an advance Booking because of the death or hospitalisation of the person for whom, or for whose benefit, the Booking was made, Lukeny Photography will not impose a cancellation fee where prohibited by applicable law.

This reflects the protection provided by section 17 of the Consumer Protection Act.

The Client may be asked to provide reasonable supporting documentation where necessary.

5. RESCHEDULING

Lukeny Photography understands that circumstances can change.

A Client may request to move a Booking to another date.

Rescheduling requests will be considered subject to:

  • Photographer availability;

  • The availability of the new date;

  • The type of Photography Services booked;

  • The amount of notice provided;

  • Additional expenses incurred; and

  • Any specific terms contained in the Booking Agreement.

If the new date is available, Lukeny Photography will make reasonable efforts to transfer the Booking to the new date.

The original Booking deposit may be transferred to the new date, subject to the terms of the applicable Booking Agreement.

6. UNAVAILABLE RESCHEDULED DATE

If Lukeny Photography is unable to accommodate the requested new date, the Client may choose to:

  1. Select another available date; or

  2. Cancel the original Booking.

Where the Client chooses cancellation because a suitable alternative date cannot be arranged, any refund or cancellation charge will be determined in accordance with this policy, the Booking Agreement and applicable law.

7. LUKENY PHOTOGRAPHY CANCELLATION

Lukeny Photography will make every reasonable effort to honour confirmed Bookings.

However, circumstances may occasionally arise that make it impossible or unsafe for Lukeny Photography to provide the Photography Services.

These circumstances may include:

  • Serious illness;

  • Injury;

  • Emergency;

  • Equipment failure that cannot reasonably be remedied;

  • Severe weather;

  • Natural disaster;

  • Government restrictions;

  • Venue closure;

  • Transport disruption;

  • Serious safety concerns;

  • Unavoidable personal emergency; or

  • Other circumstances reasonably beyond our control.

Where reasonably possible, Lukeny Photography will attempt to:

  1. Provide a suitable replacement photographer; or

  2. Reschedule the Photography Services.

If neither option is reasonably possible, Lukeny Photography will provide an appropriate refund of amounts paid for Photography Services that will not be provided, subject to applicable law and any reasonable costs already incurred where legally permissible.

8. FORCE MAJEURE

Lukeny Photography will not be responsible for failure to provide Photography Services where performance is prevented by circumstances reasonably beyond our control.

Such circumstances may include:

  • Natural disasters;

  • Floods;

  • Fires;

  • Severe storms;

  • Government restrictions;

  • Civil unrest;

  • Epidemics or pandemics;

  • Serious accidents;

  • Major transport disruptions;

  • Venue closures;

  • Power failures;

  • Other serious emergencies; or

  • Other extraordinary circumstances beyond reasonable control.

Where possible, Lukeny Photography will work with the Client to reschedule the Booking.

9. WEATHER

For outdoor photography, weather conditions may affect the planned photography schedule.

Where reasonably possible, Lukeny Photography and the Client will work together to:

  • Move the photography indoors;

  • Change the location;

  • Adjust the schedule;

  • Reschedule the affected portion; or

  • Continue with suitable alternative photographic arrangements.

Weather alone does not automatically create a right to a full refund where reasonable alternative arrangements are available.

10. CLIENT LATENESS

The Client is responsible for arriving at the agreed time and ensuring that the Event or photography session is ready to begin as scheduled.

Client lateness does not automatically extend the agreed photography coverage period.

If the Client arrives late, the photographer may still be required to finish at the originally agreed end time.

Where additional coverage is available, the Client may request overtime coverage at the applicable rate.

11. EVENT DELAYS

Where an Event is delayed due to circumstances outside Lukeny Photography's control, the photographer will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the changed schedule.

However, Lukeny Photography cannot guarantee that all planned photographs will be captured if the Event schedule changes substantially.

Additional coverage requested as a result of delays may be charged separately.

12. REFUNDS FOR SERVICES ALREADY PROVIDED

Where Photography Services have already been partially or fully provided, refunds will be assessed according to:

  • The services already provided;

  • Work already completed;

  • Expenses already incurred;

  • Deliverables already supplied;

  • The nature of the complaint or cancellation; and

  • Applicable law.

A Client is not automatically entitled to a full refund simply because they subsequently change their mind about a Booking or because they are dissatisfied with a subjective aspect of the photographer's artistic style, where the agreed service has otherwise been provided.

13. EDITING AND CREATIVE STYLE

Photography and image editing involve artistic judgement.

Before booking, Clients are encouraged to review the Lukeny Photography portfolio to understand our photographic and editing style.

A difference between the Client's personal artistic preference and the established Lukeny Photography style does not automatically constitute a failure to provide the agreed Photography Services.

Where a specific editing style or treatment has been agreed in writing, Lukeny Photography will make reasonable efforts to provide it.

14. REFUNDS FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS

Once final digital photographs have been delivered, refunds will not ordinarily be provided merely because the Client changes their mind about the photographs.

However, this does not limit any consumer rights or remedies available under applicable South African law where the Photography Services fail to meet applicable legal requirements.

Where there is a legitimate issue with the delivery or quality of the agreed service, the Client should contact Lukeny Photography so that the matter can be reviewed and, where appropriate, remedied.

15. THIRD-PARTY EXPENSES

Where Lukeny Photography has incurred non-refundable third-party expenses specifically for a Client's Booking, these expenses may be taken into consideration when determining the appropriate refund or cancellation amount, where legally permissible.

Examples may include:

  • Venue fees;

  • Accommodation;

  • Travel expenses;

  • Transport;

  • Equipment hire;

  • Assistants;

  • Second photographers;

  • Specialist suppliers; or

  • Other Booking-specific expenses.

16. TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

Where travel or accommodation has been arranged specifically for a Booking, the Client may be responsible for reasonable non-refundable costs already incurred where the Booking is cancelled, subject to applicable law and the terms of the Booking Agreement.

Where possible, Lukeny Photography will attempt to recover or avoid such costs before determining the final cancellation amount.

17. REFUND PROCESS

Where a refund is approved, Lukeny Photography will confirm:

  • The approved refund amount;

  • The reason for the refund;

  • Any applicable deductions;

  • The payment method; and

  • The expected processing timeframe.

Refunds will generally be returned using the original payment method where reasonably possible.

Where another payment method is required, Lukeny Photography may request appropriate payment information from the Client.

18. REFUND TIMEFRAME

Approved refunds will be processed within a reasonable period after the refund has been confirmed.

Where a specific refund period is required by applicable South African law, that period will apply.

Lukeny Photography will communicate with the Client if there is a legitimate administrative or banking delay affecting the refund.

19. NO AUTOMATIC FULL REFUNDS

A cancellation does not automatically entitle the Client to a full refund.

The amount retained or refunded will depend on the circumstances of the cancellation, the notice provided, the work already completed, expenses incurred, the possibility of rebooking the date and applicable law.

Lukeny Photography will not impose a cancellation charge that is prohibited or unreasonable under applicable law.

20. DISPUTES REGARDING REFUNDS

If a Client believes that a refund has been incorrectly calculated or that a service has not been provided as agreed, the Client should first contact Lukeny Photography directly.

We will review the matter in good faith and attempt to resolve the issue reasonably.

Complaints should be submitted to:

Email: LukenyPhotography@gmail.com
Phone: +27 62 775 3214

Nothing in this policy prevents a Client from exercising any statutory rights or remedies available under South African law.

21. CONSUMER RIGHTS

This Refund & Cancellation Policy is intended to comply with applicable South African consumer-protection legislation.

Nothing in this policy is intended to exclude, restrict or waive a consumer right that cannot lawfully be excluded.

In particular, consumers have statutory rights concerning advance bookings and cancellation charges under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008. The Act permits reasonable deposits and reasonable cancellation charges, while requiring the reasonableness of a cancellation charge to be assessed in light of the circumstances.

If any provision of this policy conflicts with a mandatory requirement of South African law, the applicable legal requirement will prevail.

22. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TERMS & CONDITIONS

This Refund & Cancellation Policy forms part of the Lukeny Photography Terms & Conditions.

If there is a conflict between this policy and a specific written Booking Agreement, the specific Booking Agreement will apply to the extent permitted by law.

Any provision that cannot legally be enforced will be interpreted or modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, where possible.

23. POLICY CHANGES

Lukeny Photography may update this Refund & Cancellation Policy from time to time.

The policy applicable to an existing Booking will generally be the version accepted by the Client at the time the Booking was confirmed, unless a change is required by law or otherwise agreed in writing.

The current version will be made available on the Lukeny Photography website.

24. CONTACT INFORMATION

Lukeny Photography

Email: LukenyPhotography@gmail.com
Phone: +27 62 775 3214

Address:
54 Jeanette Street
Kilner Park
Pretoria
Gauteng, 0186
South Africa

Website:
www.lukenyphotography.com

Last updated: 26 August 2026

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