Deposit & Cancellation Policy, and Other Info
Please read these deposit and cancellation policies carefully before sending a deposit for a photo tour or registering for a workshop. This will also help clarify the difference between a photo tour and a workshop.
NOTE: You are doing business with EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC
TOURS:
When deciding to tour with me, you may be glad to know that I am an insured wildlife/nature photography tour operator. Many others offering photo tours don’t have insurance. I understand why: it’s not cheap.
Photo tours usually include morning and afternoon field photography, in-the-field instruction, and photo discussion/critiquing, but the animal activity is truly what drives our activity. Photo tours are all about getting great images of the wildlife and scenery we’ve come to photograph and our schedule will reflect that. Unless circumstances make it impossible, there’s typically a mid-day break for lunch, downloading images, recharging batteries, and a chance to recharge our own batteries.
Tour costs do not include lodging, park entry fees, transportation, meals or other miscellaneous expenses, unless otherwise stated (e.g. “all-inclusive” tours). All-inclusive events are ALWAYS double-occupancy unless otherwise stated. Some tours have single-occupancy available, usually on a first-come basis so if you’re interested please ask ASAP.
Tours are different than workshops in that I typically will photograph, too. But…you ALWAYS COME FIRST. That means I am available to teach you, answer your questions, offer guidance, and assist you with your photographic needs. In addition to the in-the-field time, I’ll be happy to answer questions during lunches, dinners, and breaks. I highly recommend that you download your camera manual so we can problem-solve together if need be.
During my photo tours we don’t rush from location to location. We remain at a shot location until everyone has had a chance to create the images he/she wants.
For each photo tour we create a “crisis plan” to prepare — the best we can — for emergencies. (That’s part of why honesty is really important when we ask about medical conditions ~ and we always keep this info confidential.)
A $500 deposit is required for most tours, unless otherwise specified (many of my international tours have a deposit of $1500). Deposits are due upon registration and are non-refundable and non-transferable to another tour/workshop (see “Cancellation” below).
We welcome spouses, family members, and/or friends to accompany you on a Jeff Parker Images/Explore in Focus™ photo tour, but he/she must do so as a paying participant if he/she accompanies us on any photo shoots and/or the tour is all-inclusive.
There’s typically lots to do in the places where we take our tours besides photography so family members often love to come along. However, Jeff Parker Images/Explore in Focus™ does not allow non-paying participants to accompany us on our photo tours and/or travel events if he/she will be at photo shoots, present during instruction, and/or the tour is all-inclusive. This is true even if an accompanying spouse, friend, and/or family member is not a photographer. Also, if a family member is under the age of 18, please check with us before registering him/her, as some of our excursions may not be suited for younger ages.
NOTE: At the start of each event, we’ll ask you to sign a liability waiver. Here is a link for it. We would encourage you to review it before signing up.
WORKSHOPS:
I don’t take photographs during my workshops (except to test conditions, settings, etc. or demonstrate something). Instead, I focus exclusively on making sure you learn the skill(s) you’ve come specifically to learn.
I gear my workshops toward making sure you learn something new and/or perfect something you already know–whether that means a better understanding of photo techniques, becoming more comfortable with your equipment, understanding nature’s subjects better, or all of the above. I strive to share both my knowledge of the natural world and photography techniques so that you’ll leave feeling as if you’ve accomplished something in addition to having had a good time.
Yes! It’s also about having fun! We can’t forget that!
Workshops may include a meal(s), park entry fees, transportation, or other miscellaneous expenses, or they may not…it depends on the event, but the workshop description will clearly communicate this one way or the other. Workshops never include lodging.
With regard to workshops, your spouse, family member(s), and/or friend(s) most certainly may accompany you to the destination city/town in which Jeff Parker Images/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) holds the event for which you’re registered (in fact, many do).
However, spouses, family member(s), and/or friend(s) CANNOT attend the workshop —-even in part—- without paying the full registration fee. In cases where a meal or meals are included in the workshop, Jeff Parker Images/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) usually offers a special “meals only” price for spouses/friends/family members who would like to join us at meal time(s).
While we don’t like the thought of excluding anyone eager to learn nature photography, we’ve learned from experience that allowing children to attend our workshops—or to accompany a parent who is attending—does not work. Not only do we worry about the safety of children as we become engrossed in the workshop, but our clients bring expensive gear and we have a duty to see that it, too, remains safe and secure. No one under 18 is allowed to enroll in our workshops without prior permission. In the case of participants under the age of 18, a paid adult MUST accompany the minor to the workshop. Sorry, but parents/guardians cannot “hang out” while the minor attends the workshop.
When registering for a workshop, the full amount is due upon registration.
We will ask you to sign a Waiver of Liability when you arrive for your workshop.
CANCELLATIONS:
Photo tour registration deposits and workshop fees are non-refundable except according to the following. Please see notes below about PayPal fees.
Payment and Cancellation Policies and Additional Terms
Payment of Balance ~ Photo Tours
In order to secure your spot in a photo tour, payment of the balance due for your photo tour and/or travel event must be received no less than 60 days before the scheduled beginning of the event or services to be rendered unless otherwise stated in the tour description.
Most INTERNATIONAL TOURS will require full payment before that time because of costs we incur in securing your space. The details on the tour page will indicate when payments will be due. We will invoice you to remind you of any balance due.
This holds true unless otherwise indicated in the language advertising your photo tour and/or travel event. If said balance due is not paid by 60 days before the scheduled beginning of the event or services to be rendered, Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) reserves the right to sell your spot to another participant.
If you paid via PayPal, any PayPal fees incurred by Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) upon receipt of your payment(s) will be deducted from any monies returned to you.
Under certain circumstances, and at the sole discretion of Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ registration deposit fees paid by the registered participant may be applied toward payment for future services to be provided by Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™.
If You Cancel Your Spot in a PHOTO TOUR:
Unless otherwise indicated for a specific event, if you cancel your participation in any photo tour and/or travel event after your full costs for your photo tour and/or travel event have been paid, monies paid to Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) and/or Jeff Parker will be refundable according to the following schedule UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED on the photo tour page on our website:
Cancellation 150-120 days before the start of the photo tour and/or travel event: Full refund less deposit unless otherwise noted in the tour description. However, if your space can be filled Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) will also refund your deposit, but not until the new registered participant (“Your Replacement”) has paid his/her photo tour and/or travel event in full. Additionally, if you paid via PayPal, any PayPal fees incurred by Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) upon receipt of your payment(s) will be deducted from any monies returned to you.
Cancellation 119-60 days before the start of the photo tour and/or travel event: Fifty percent (50%) refund of monies paid less the deposit (deposit is non-refundable) unless otherwise noted in the tour description. However, if your space can be filled Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) will refund all monies paid to Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) –less the deposit—but not until Your Replacement has paid his/her photo tour and/or travel event in full. Additionally, if you paid via PayPal, any PayPal fees incurred by Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) upon receipt of your payment(s) will be deducted from any monies returned to you.
Cancellation less than 60 days prior to photo tour and/or travel event: No (0%) refund. However, if your space can be filled Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) will refund all monies paid to Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) —less the deposit and a ten (10%) surcharge—but not until Your Replacement has paid his/her photo tour and/or travel event fees in full. Additionally, if you paid via PayPal, any PayPal fees incurred by Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) upon receipt of your payment(s) will be deducted from any monies returned to you.
For your protection, we highly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance from your travel agent or other source. Although details of policies vary, trip cancellation insurance typically offers you some reimbursement of your expenses in case of unforeseeable events, cancellation by Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC), personal illness and/or family emergencies, or other events which force you to suddenly cancel a trip.
If You Cancel Your Spot in a WORKSHOP:
Workshop fees are non-refundable unless we can fill your spot. Additionally, if you paid via PayPal, any PayPal fees incurred by Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) upon receipt of your payment(s) will be deducted from any monies returned to you.
BUYING someone a workshop as a GIFT? Email us ASAP to let us know! We often have folks purchasing our events as gifts.
If Jeff Parker Images/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) Cancels a Photo Tour, Workshop, and/or Travel Event:
Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) reserves the right to cancel photo tours, travel events, and/or workshops at any time and for any reason. In the case that Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) cancels a photo tour, workshop, or other scheduled event, Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) is only responsible for refunding the cost of the event (minus any funds for services already rendered to a participant or amounts still owed to Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ [EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC] by a participant for prior events) to registered participants and only registered participants. If cancellation is unavoidable due to circumstances beyond our control (e.g., terror attack, act of God, pandemic, etc.) Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus™ (EIF with Jeff Parker, LLC) reserves the right to determine whether to issue a refund or credit for a future event. For your protection, we highly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance from your travel agent or other source. (NOTE: Read the fine print of your travel insurance carefully. Many policies do not cover acts of God, pandemics, or terror attacks.)
