Retainer Explanation!!

Why We Charge a Non-Refundable Retainer (and Nope, It's Not Just Because We’re Sassy Like That)by Gem City Pin-Up Photography

Let’s talk about the elephant in the studio — the non-refundable retainer. Yep, that thing we ask for when you book your session with Gem City Pin-Up Photography. It's not a "mean fee" or a "just-because-we-feel-like-it" fee. It's a respect-my-time-as-much-as-I-respect-yours fee. And here’s why we’re unapologetically sticking to it.

🎯 It's Not You, It’s... the Rent

Our landlord? Lovely human. But also very serious about getting paid. Whether you're showing up in full vintage glam or ghosting like it's 1999, that rent is due. So when you book a session and don’t show, we still have to pay for the space, the lighting, the props, the heat, the air conditioning, and that one stool that insists on squeaking no matter what.

⏰ Time Is Money, Honey

When you reserve a time slot with us, we're blocking out that chunk of the day just for you. We're prepping, planning, possibly ironing something (ugh), and maybe even skipping Taco Tuesday to make sure your shoot is picture-perfect. If you cancel or don’t show, that’s a whole mood (and money) down the drain. And no, we don’t move the value to another service. Why? Because that would be like saying our time isn’t valuable. And that's a no from us.

💸 Why “Credit for Another Service” Just Doesn’t Work

Imagine this: You book a seat on a plane. You miss your flight. Do you call the airline and say, “Hey, I didn’t show, can I just move this over to a different flight maybe next year?” Cue airline laugh track. We’re a boutique studio, not a time-traveling magic portal. Each session is custom-tailored and time-bound. We can’t roll it over like cell phone minutes from 2006.

💃 You’re Not Paying for Nothing

That non-refundable retainer secures your spot in our calendar. It’s a pinky promise. A mutual agreement. A virtual high-five that says, “Yes, I respect your art, your space, and your time.” And we love that energy.