COVID-19 ACTION PLAN

COVID-19
ACTION PLAN

to my couples...

I know it must be incredibly stressful planning your wedding during a freaking pandemic. I understand there is a lot at play – emotions, logistics, and potentially even finances. I want you to know that I’ve got your back, and I’ll do whatever I can to help you. Keeping you, your guests, and my teammates safe, healthy, and happy is my top priority.

I’ve put together this guide to help you navigate all of this. It includes information about rescheduling your wedding, governmental regulations for weddings, my policies for sessions and weddings, and links to helpful resources. I am aiming to be flexible, helpful, and easy to work with, but it's also very important for my business to be responsible, safe, and legal during the pandemic. Please read this in detail and check back often since it includes the most up-to-date information that I’ve received from government agencies.

Don’t hesitate to email me (info@andreasalazarphotography.com) if you have any question or concerns. I'm here for you!

Disclaimer: Given the ever-changing global situation and government guidelines, I may alter or update any information on this page without prior notice. The information here is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be considered a binding legal agreement. This is a fluid situation and may change based upon governmental directives, CDC recommendations, and legal advice. Last updated 10/20/2020.

jump to...

My Policies for Weddings

My Policies for Engagement Sessions

My Policies for Rescheduling your Wedding

Governmental Requirements for Weddings in The DMV

Helpful Resources

my policies for weddings...

Will you still photograph our wedding?

If it’s legal and safe, yes.
I cannot participate in a wedding that does not comply with the governmental guidelines at the time of the wedding (see Governmental Requirements below). Since I attend a number of weddings each year, my risk is high. I need to be especially careful and strict about distancing, mask wearing, and other precautions. This is also to protect you, your guests, and my future couples and their guests as well. If you choose to carry on with a non-compliant event, your payments will not be refunded due to voluntary cancelation of services.

How will wedding photography work during the pandemic?

Social Distancing: I will choose lenses that let me stay further away. I will need to maintain a minimum of 6’ distance from all guests. This might mean I can’t get to certain spots where I would normally photograph. Let’s discuss your ceremony and reception layouts to make sure I’ll be able to move around the space to get you the best photos possible.

Photography Impacts: Some aspects of the wedding will need to be photographed differently than usual. Examples: Dance party dancing - This is not allowed until phase 4, and I will not be able to photograph from the middle of the dance floor. Getting ready - To avoid tight spaces, we may move some parts of this to more open areas or ideally outside. Cocktail hour and speeches - Unless there is ample room, I probably won't have space to walk between tables or walk through the crowd. I'll need to stay on the perimeter. Ceremony - In order to photograph from the aisle, it will need to be wide enough to allow for 6' of distance from me to your guests. Portraits - In normal times, about 75% of my photography durning portrait sessions is done with a long lens and from more than 6' away. This means that for the most part, my style of shooting is in line with maintaining distance. In pandemic times though, we'll have to keep our distance 100% of the time, so you won't be getting the same variety of images you may be used to seeing in my work. To be honest, your wedding photos are going to look different during the pandemic since I will be much more limited in my movements than normal.

Face Masks: I will wear a mask during weddings.

Hire a Planner: I HIGHLY recommend hiring a wedding planner/coordinator if you haven’t already. They can help you plan a legal and safe event, and they have creative ideas for reimagining weddings during this weird time. A few planners who have been especially helpful through this: Keyla from Keyla Alanes Events, Glory from Always Creating Studio, Sarah from Amyot Events, Anna Maria from Anna Rose Events and for elopements A Styled Wedding.

Waiver: I will be sending you an addendum to your contract with a Covid-19 Liability Waiver. Please don't be alarmed. This is to protect both of us from liability if we have unknown germs.

Staying Healthy: If I were to start exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 or have to self-quarantine and your event is within 14 days you will have the option to cancel your booking and receive a refund or I will have an associate photographer work at your event in my place.

Turnaround Times: My 2021 turnaround times is 4 to 6 weeks from the wedding day.

policies for engagement sessions...

Availability: Session availability may be limited.

Locations: For now, sessions will take place outdoors only. Outdoor locations will be limited to places that are open and where we can adequately distance from each other as well as from the general public

Social Distancing: I won't touch you, and I will keep a minimum of 6' (ideally more!) distance during sessions at all times. I will choose lenses that let me stay a little further away.

Photography Impacts: In normal times, about 75% of my photography durning portrait sessions is done with a long lens and from more than 6' away. This means that for the most part, my style of shooting is in line with maintaining distance. In pandemic times though, we'll have to keep our distance 100% of the time, so you won't be getting the same variety of images you may be used to seeing in my work.

Posing: Photography sessions will be no-contact posing, which means I will guide you from a safe distance on how to pose.

Face Masks: I will wear a mask during sessions. Businesses are now required to turn away customers not wearing masks, for photography sessions this means: For outdoor sessions, you'll need to wear a mask while we're together except for when I am actively taking your photo (as we will be greater than 6' away from each other then). Please bring a mask with you to wear as we walk between locations. No sessions will be taking place indoors since masks are required 100% of the time inside.

Health Checks: Please be courteous of everyone's health. If anyone in your household is feeling sick or has a fever 14 days prior to your session, we will need to reschedule. Reschedule fees will be waived. Before you leave home, be sure to check temperatures of everyone coming to your session—including yourself—as an extra layer of precaution. Likewise, if I become sick or exposed to Covid-19, I will contact you as soon as possible to reschedule.

policies for rescheduling your wedding...

If you booked before 03/11/21

I've emailed you the link to my 2020/2021 calendar. I'm keeping this up-to-date, so please check there for the latest info on available dates.

Fees: There is no rescheduling fee for your first reschedule. Your retainer will be applied to your new wedding date. If your choose to reschedule a second time, a new retainer will be required to reserve a new date.
Associate Photographer: If you need to postpone the wedding because of Covid-19 to a new wedding date that I am not available for, we'll talk about the option of having my (amazing!) associate photographer cover your wedding in my place. In that case, I would continue to manage your pre and post wedding correspondence, and I will also handle the editing and image/album delivery to match my style.

Refunds: If neither myself nor my associate is available on your new wedding date, you may receive a refund of your retainer minus the cost of any services already rendered (i.e. engagement session, time spent on email correspondence and planning). This option will not be available beyond the first reschedule of your wedding. Otherwise, your retainer is non-refundable but may be used toward other photography services within the next three years.

Legality: I cannot legally photograph a wedding that does not comply with the governmental guidelines at the time of the event. If you choose to carry on with a non-compliant event, your payments will not be refunded due to voluntary cancelation of services.
Cancelations: If you choose to cancel your wedding instead of rescheduling, your non-refundable retainer may be used toward other photography services within the next three years.

If you book after 12/30/20:

Fees: There is no rescheduling fee for your first reschedule. Your retainer will be applied to your new wedding date. If you move your date to a new calendar year, that year's pricing will apply. If your choose to reschedule a second time, a new retainer will be required to reserve a new date.
Associate Photographer: If you need to postpone the wedding because of Covid-19 to a new wedding date that I am not available for, we'll talk about the option of having my (amazing!) associate photographer cover your wedding in my place. In that case, I would continue to manage your pre and post wedding correspondence, and I will also handle the editing and image/album delivery to match my style.
Refunds: Your retainer is non-refundable but may be used toward other photography services within the next three years.

Cancelations: If you choose to cancel your wedding instead of rescheduling, your non-refundable retainer may be used toward other photography services within the next three years.

governmental requirements for weddings in the DMV

UPDATE 11/13/20: This update allows wedding receptions to resume, as long as they meet specific requirements.

Receptions and ceremonies must be capped at 25 people, or 25% of venue occupancy, whichever is less.
All tables at the reception must be seated by household, with table sizes capped at 5 people.
Facial coverings are required, and social distancing must be maintained.

Full guidance document: Virginia Phase Three Guidelines November 2020