TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Alumni Discounts:
Jeff Berkes Photography greatly appreciates your interest and continued interest in these workshops and adventures. As a small thank you, once you complete a workshop with us, you will then be considered an "Alumni" and will be eligible to get 20% of all future workshops. If a workshop is labeled "Alumni Only" there will be a flat fee, with the discount already factored in.
Workshop Cancellation Policy:
If you must cancel your participation in a workshop, please contact me via EMAIL as soon as possible. I understand that emergencies and situations come up, so I will do my best to work with you. Please note that all deposits are non-refundable but I will do my best to fill your position as quickly as possible. If I can fill your position, I will gladly refund your deposit (minus any applicable fees) or transfer it to another workshop with availability. If you must cancel your spot within 30 days of the workshop start, and I can fill your spot, your full payment (minus any applicable fees) will be refunded. It is highly recommended to purchase travel insurance to cover any non-refundable fees and travel expenses in case of cancellation.
Cancelled Group Workshops:
If a workshop is cancelled, your entire tuition will be refunded to you via the original payment method minus any non-refundable fees paid to third parties. A workshop may be cancelled for reasons beyond our control that might create unsafe or undesirable travel conditions for the participants. The financial liability of Jeff Berkes Photography shall be limited to the amount paid to JBP for the workshop only and shall not be extended to cover any other associated travel costs incurred (e.g. non-refundable air tickets, hotel, rental cars, visa fees, clothing, equipment, miscellaneous transportation costs, medical expenses, travel insurance premiums, etc.).For anyone traveling to workshops, it is highly recommended to purchase travel insurance to cover any non-refundable fees and travel expenses in case of cancellation.
Assateague Island Workshop Cancellations
JBP determines when the weather is bad enough to cancel an Assateague Island Photography Workshop. If we are on a one night workshop here and the weather has a significant, negative impact on our plans, a make up date will be issued, or you can choose to move your payment towards any future workshop with availability on it. All 2 - 4 night workshops here will go on as planned, rain or shine. In addition to the beautiful night sky, seascapes and wildlife opportunities are abundant.
What Does It Take For Me To Cancel A Workshop?
The only time JBP will ever cancel a workshop is in case of a family / medical emergency, natural disaster, civil unrest, outbreak of infectious disease, death, or passage of Law or any action taken by a government or public authority, and sometime extreme weather that could negatively impact the experience. JBP will inform all workshop participants as quickly as possible to inform them about the situation and cancellation. For reasons mentioned above, it is highly recommended to purchase travel insurance for your trip.
Private Workshops:
A one day fee is required as a deposit to hold any dates for a private workshop. Payments made for private workshops that you arrange with JBP are not refundable. Any deposits or payments made to third parties for a private workshop are subject to those parties terms and conditions in regards to a refund due to cancellation. Final balances are due 4 weeks before the scheduled workshop date. Private workshops may be rescheduled up to 30 days before a trip start date for a processing fee of $250 per person, or $500 (whichever is greater), plus any unrecoverable expenses such as non-refundable accommodations, cancellation fees, flights and/or flight cancellation fees, tour partner fees, etc. Rescheduling within 30 days is a possibility is logistics work out with all parties but cannot be guaranteed.
Personal Emergencies
If you have a personal emergency, please contact me as soon as possible via EMAIL I will be willing to work with you to reschedule or refund your registration fee, minus any fees paid to a third party, on a case-by-case basis. All cancellations are subject for a $300.00 cancellation fee, plus nay other expenses related to third party reservations.
Final Payments
100% of the workshop tuition must be paid 90 days before the workshop begins. If a final payment has not been made by 90 days prior to the day of the workshop, that students spot in the workshop could be voided until payment is received. If no final payment is received for a registered workshop spot, your tuition balance due may be turned over to a collection agency. Starting on January 1, 2024, all final balances must be made within 90 days of the workshop start.
All deposits are non-refundable, but if I am able to find a replacement participant for your spot, I will gladly refund your deposit minus any processing fees. If your final payment has already been made, unfortunately we are too close to the workshop date and no refunds will be available.
Eligibility:
Participants in a JBP workshop must be 18 years of age or over. Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire duration of the workshop.
Health and Physical Fitness:
You must be in good physical and mental health. Each workshop requires a varying amount of physical fitness, so it is advised to please read each workshops physical requirements and to know your physical limitations. It is solely the participants responsibility to know and understand their physical capabilities. It is highly advised to carry the proper medical insurance for your trip and to make JBP aware of any health conditions you may have. By registering for a workshop, you authorize JBP and it’s guides to administer medical care in case of emergency.
JBP recommends you consult a physician before booking your workshop as JBP cannot make any exceptions to the cancellation policy due to medical reasons. It is highly recommended to purchase travel insurance to cover any non-refundable fees and travel expenses in case of cancellation.
Participant Responsibility:
It is expected that each and every participant act in a respectful, kind and cooperative manner, with workshop guides, participants, Park staff, tourists, and the general public. If a workshop participant behaves inappropriately, JBP reserves the right to immediately terminate the participants participation in the workshop without any refund. JBP reserves the right to decline, to accept, or remove any participant on a JBP at any time, for any lawful reason.
Itinerary Changes & Delays:
JBP will do our best to hold to any advertised trip itineraries, but challenges can be presented in which itineraries may need to be adjusted. These challenges may include, but are not limited to, natural disasters, civil unrest, transportation delays, park and road closures, COVID-19 restrictions, and more. JBP will do its best to adjust to any changes or delays, but unfortunately, we cannot offer any refunds. Sometimes schedules change to maximize our photographic potential Another location may appear to be more promising for that day or night, and this is where the schedule may switch up a bit.. for the better.
Force Majeure:
JBP will not be liable for any delay in, change to or cancellation of trips due to ‘Force Majeure’. ‘Force Majeure’ means a circumstance beyond the reasonable control of JBP and includes, but is not limited to, war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, disease, industrial or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire, and strikes.
Activities:
There may be situations beyond our control due to geographic, climatic, physical, or governmental restrictions that will cause changes in timing, locations, and activities. Understanding this, you further agree that there will be no discounts or refunds for activities curtailed or otherwise affected by such circumstances.
Release of Photo & Video Rights:
We reserve the right to take photographs or videos during the operation of any workshop or part thereof and to use the resulting photography in whole or in part for promotional purposes, including, but not limited to: advertising and publicity both in print and electronic media. By booking a workshop with JBP, participants agree to allow their images to be used in such photography; participants who prefer that their image not be used are asked to notify JBP in writing via email prior to the workshop start. We also reserve the right to use, in all or in part, any written reviews or behind-the-scenes photos you may provide to us in our advertising and publicity both in print and electronic media.
Liability & Assumption of Risk:
By attending one of our workshops, you are accepting certain risks. Your application shall serve as a release of our liability and a complete assumption of all risks by you and your heirs, administrator, executor, successors, and assign for all family members. By accepting our terms of service, you are acknowledging that you are aware that travel, wherever it may be, and by whatever means, involves some inherent risk of injury, illness, death, loss, or damage to personal property, which may be caused by acts of nature, negligence or actions of others.
In consideration of, and as part of the payment for your participation in a program, workshop, excursion, expeditions, other activities, or any program that JBP, or their assigns, may be conducting, you are voluntarily releasing JBP, their employees, assigns, independent contractors or anyone involved thereof, from any damages, liabilities, costs, injuries whether mental or physical, known or unknown, and by participation, you agree to assume all risks whether known or unknown. You acknowledge voluntarily that by traveling to areas that may be remote, foreign, mountainous, wilderness, wild rivers, remote deserts, and may not be maintained to the standards you are accustomed and therefore may involve certain additional risks, dangers, and inconveniences including, but not limited to, terrorism, forces of nature, wild animals, hotel accommodations, airplane, vehicles, trains, boats, roads, walkways, trails, volcanic activity, and other means of conveyance or other unknown risks. You acknowledge that medical services and facilities may not be readily available during all or part of the trip, including medical care, the presence of physicians, and medication. We assume no liability for medical care. We assume no liability for dietary requirements you have. JBP always has up to date CPR/ First Aid and AED training as a last resort.
By registering for a JBP workshop and / or private workshop, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants; and they are aware of any associated risks created by field locations, activities and weather; that they agree to follow the instructors’ directions, particularly in matters of personal and group safety, including but not limited to the importance of hydration, need for nutritious snacks, altitude sickness, exhaustion, leave no trace, sunscreen, footing, vehicle safety, helicopter safety, common-sense safety, respect for dangerous wildlife and respect for others, etc.
Release of Liability:
All participants are required to fully fill out and return our liability release prior to the workshop start. Any refusal to do so could result in a forfeiture of any tuition paid.
Arbitration:
You agree to have any claim, controversy, or dispute relating to the enforcement or interpretation of this document or arising or relating to your registration, participation, or attendance at a JBP workshop, submitted to binding arbitration under the rules and regulations of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall take place in Philadelphia, PA. You do hereby waive your right to bring an action before a judge or jury in any court and you understand that you have given up your rights to discovery and appeal. Any award rendered in any arbitration may be made a judgment by any court of competent jurisdiction. You understand that if you refuse to submit to arbitration after agreeing to this provision, you may be compelled to arbitrate under the authority of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
Third Party Services:
You understand that we rely upon third-party tour organizers, transportation providers, hotel operators, and food providers to provide the services associated with workshops. All tickets, coupons, reservations, etc. are subject to the terms and conditions and other policies of the third-party service provider. We cannot control the actions of such third parties and do not assume responsibility for unanticipated events that may occur, including, without limitation, travel delays, lost luggage, cancellations, overbooking, and other reservation errors. You will not be entitled to a refund in the event of unanticipated events requiring scheduling changes. You further agree to hold us harmless from and against any liability for injury, death, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity that might occur in connection with any services provided by third parties.
Travel Documentation:
You are responsible for ensuring that you have the proper travel documentation, up-to-date passport and immunizations for any workshop. Please check with the respective consulate(s) or visa agencies to determine whether visas are required for your travels during our workshop.
Rates:
All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars. Rates are based on current tariffs and are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, if it is necessary to levy a surcharge, we reserve the right to do so. A notification will be given via email as early as possible to participants and prior to the final deposit due date.
Jeff Berkes Photography 2024
