What is a ‘Retainer Fee’
A retainer fee is an upfront cost incurred by an individual in order to pay for professional services, like photography. These fees only ensure the commitment of the receiver, and they do not guarantee an outcome or final product.
Cancellation/Refund
A retainer fee is an advance payment that’s made by a client, that is considered a down payment on the future services rendered by the photographer. The retainer fee funds the initial expenses of the working relationship. The retainer fee is not refundable; the client might either use it within a period of a year since the deposit has been made (depending on availability of photographer) or lose the retainer fee.
The photographer can then keep the retainer as compensation for the loss of business that they might have been able to book during the period for which the retainer has been paid.