Action Sports Photography FAQs

A booking begins with an enquiry through the contact form or by email. Once I have confirmed availability and discussed the session with you, I will send a payment link for the retainer. Your date is only reserved once the retainer has been paid.

Earlier is always better, especially during busy periods or if you are planning a trip around specific dates, but I welcome enquiries at any time, including short-notice ones where availability allows.

Yes. I work in English and am particularly well suited to international visitors planning time on the mountain at Furano.

Yes. Sessions are private and shaped around the client, the conditions, and the kind of images you want to come away with.

Sessions are available to solo skiers and snowboarders, couples, families, friends, and small private groups. They are suitable for people who want action images, a record of their time on the mountain, or a mix of both.

Yes. Skiers and snowboarders can book together, provided the session is planned around the group’s overall pace, level, and goals on the mountain.

Standard pricing is for private sessions of up to 6 people. Smaller groups and individual sessions usually allow for a more focused session and a stronger set of images, as there is more time to work with each person on the mountain. Larger groups may require a custom quotation.

I meet you at the agreed location, discuss the plan for the session, and then photograph you on the mountain as we move through the resort. Depending on the session length, conditions, and your preferences, that may involve staying in one part of the resort or moving more broadly across the mountain.

Yes. This is a photography service only. It does not include ski instruction, snowboard instruction, or guiding.

No. You do not need to be an expert rider to book a session. What matters more is that the session is shaped around your level, your pace, and the kind of photographs you want.

Yes. Lift tickets, equipment rental, travel, and any other access or third-party costs are not included. Clients are responsible for arranging and paying for their own lift tickets, equipment, travel, and any other related costs.

Please bring your normal riding equipment, weather-appropriate clothing, and anything you specifically want photographed during the session. If you have particular preferences about clothing, colours, or the kind of images you want, it is helpful to mention that in advance.

The meeting point will be confirmed in advance. It will usually depend on the session plan, the part of the mountain we intend to use, and current resort conditions on the day.

Yes. The sessions are mainly action-focused, but they can also include more relaxed or observational images where that suits the people being photographed, especially couples, families, and small groups.

All sessions are subject to weather, visibility, snow conditions, lift operations, and resort rules. If conditions affect the session, I will discuss the available options with you, which may include adjusting the plan, shortening the session, or rescheduling where possible.

If weather, lift operations, resort restrictions, or mountain conditions make the session unsafe or unworkable, and it cannot reasonably be rescheduled, any amount paid for the unperformed session will be refunded.

Not as a standard or promised part of the service. The default assumption is that sessions take place within the resort’s controlled areas.

Photography in gate-accessed or sidecountry areas will only be considered if access is permitted under Furano’s rules, conditions are suitable, the group has appropriate ability and preparation, and it is safe and appropriate on the day. It may be ruled out entirely.

Clients should ensure that they have appropriate winter sports insurance, including cover for injury and rescue costs. Clients remain responsible for their own skiing or snowboarding decisions at all times.

Gate-accessed or sidecountry photography is never guaranteed. Any such plan must be discussed in advance and remains subject to Furano’s access rules, weather, visibility, snowpack, lift operations, resort restrictions, group ability, equipment, insurance, and overall safety on the day.

Clients should ensure that they have appropriate winter sports insurance, including cover for injury and rescue costs. Clients remain responsible for their own skiing or snowboarding decisions at all times.

Clients remain responsible for their own skiing or snowboarding decisions and must ride within their ability. I photograph the session, but I do not make riding decisions for clients and I do not act as an instructor or guide.

Where rescue outside controlled areas is required, charges may be incurred and may be payable by the injured party.

If conditions are unsafe, unsuitable, or restricted, the session may need to be adjusted accordingly. Safety, resort rules, and current mountain conditions take priority over any original plan.

If the session cannot reasonably go ahead because of unsafe or unworkable conditions and cannot be rescheduled, any amount paid for the unperformed session will be refunded.

Edited images are usually delivered within 5 to 7 days, depending on schedule and the scale of the session.

Images are usually delivered electronically by private online gallery or secure download link.

Yes. A 50% non-refundable retainer is required to reserve the date.

The remaining balance must be paid before the session.

If you need to cancel or change the booking, please let me know in writing by email as soon as possible.

If you cancel more than 7 days before the session, the 50% retainer is non-refundable, but any amount paid above the retainer will be refunded.

If you cancel within 7 days of the session, all payments already made are non-refundable.

If you do not attend the session without prior written notice, all payments already made are non-refundable.

Any change of date or session plan is subject to availability, mountain conditions, and resort operations, and must be confirmed in writing.

If I were unable to attend because of serious illness, injury, or another exceptional circumstance, I would make every reasonable effort to help find a suitable replacement photographer. If no replacement could be arranged, any amount paid for unperformed services would be refunded in accordance with the booking agreement.

If a session cannot continue because of camera or equipment failure despite reasonable backup measures, I will make reasonable efforts to continue the session, arrange a rescheduled session where possible, or refund the portion of the fee attributable to the unperformed part of the session, as appropriate.

Copyright in the photographs remains with me at all times.

Once the invoice has been paid in full, you receive a non-exclusive licence to use the delivered images for personal use, including your own social media, personal website, and personal prints.

Credit is always appreciated where practical, but it is not required unless this has been agreed in writing in advance.

If another person, brand, resort, publication, sponsor, or third party would like to use the images independently, that use must be agreed separately in writing and may require an additional licence fee.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, I may use selected images from the session for portfolio display, website content, social media, editorial submissions, competitions, and related self-promotional materials. If confidentiality, private-use restrictions, or additional permissions are required, these must be agreed in writing before the booking is confirmed.

Exclusive or private-use arrangements may be available by prior written agreement for an additional fee. Because exclusivity depends on the scope, duration, territory, and intended use of the images, it is quoted on a case-by-case basis.