Graduations FAQs

Where can I view your product range?

Visit our Graduations website. You will need your ceremony date and time to access this site if you have not already had your graduation. Otherwise, please use either your 8-digit docket reference or any of your 10-digit image reference numbers from the paperwork by our photographer on the day.

Do I need to book a studio time?

Booking is available at some universities but is not a necessary requirement. Contact your university to find out if booking is available for you. Our studios open as soon as the gowns are available. You can attend our studios prior to your graduation once you’ve collected your gown, but please ensure you allow adequate time to have pictures taken if you do so. Our studios are extremely busy throughout the day, but our dedicated staff will endeavour to allocate you to a photographer as quickly as possible.

 

 

Can I have a family photograph taken?

Yes, the maximum number we can accommodate for a family group photograph is 7 people (including the graduate). Larger groups are subject to a sitting fee, which is payable on the day. Please note this fee cannot be redeemed against any products purchased and is non-refundable.

For family groups of 8 & 9, there is a sitting fee of £25.

For family groups over 10, there is a sitting fee of £40

If my photographs are taken before my ceremony, I won’t have a certificate to hold in the photograph. Does this matter?

We supply dummy scrolls for photographic purposes, so it is possible to have photographs taken prior to your graduation ceremony.

How do I order my photographs?

There are several options available to order your photographs. You can:

Speak to our Sales advisors for guidance and place your order on the day.

Order online – images should be available to view online within 7 days of the ceremony. You will need either your 8-digit docket reference or your 10-digit reference number located on your proof order form.

Contact our Direct Order team on 01736 751555 (opt. 3). Lines are open from 8.15am-4.15pm Monday-Friday.

Send your order by post to: Tempest Photography, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 3HU with your proof photographs and completed order form including debit/credit card details, cheque or postal order (made payable to H Tempest Ltd). We do not advise anyone to send cash in the post unless using a Special/Recorded Delivery service.

Will you be taking Presentation Photographs at my ceremony?

We take photographs of the graduate receiving their certificate onstage during the ceremony presentation at most universities, but not all. Contact your university to check whether this service is provided. If we take the photographs, these will be available to purchase on the day or can be viewed and ordered online at www.tempest-events.co.uk. This is usually within 7 days of the ceremony.

When will I receive an order form?

You will receive an order form and proof images from our staff on the day of your graduation. Once you have had images taken, our photographer will supply you with paperwork for all the photographs taken. Please ensure that these are stored safely, as they provide the 10-digit image reference numbers you need to place an order.

Who do I contact if I have a query about my order?

If your query is regarding placing an order, please contact our Direct Order team on 01736 751555 (opt.3). For queries regarding delivery or a query upon receipt of your images, please contact our Customer Service team. Please be aware you will need your unique 10-digit reference number located on your proof order form, order confirmation email or re-order strip within your pack.

What do I do if I’ve lost my photograph reference numbers?

If you have lost your paperwork please contact us. We can provide a form to complete with details of the graduation (day, month and year), as well as a description of the graduate and any family members photographed on the day. This will need to be submitted with a clear photograph, ideally taken informally at the graduation event, to help with identification. If successful, we will then contact you with your reference number information.

Can I order more photographs?

Yes. All orders are supplied with a re-order slip enclosed, which has the 10-digit image reference number on it. Further orders can be made online at www.tempest-graduations.co.uk or by telephone with our Direct Order team on 01736 751555 (opt.3). Orders by post should be sent to: Tempest Photography, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 3HU with credit/debit card details enclosed, together with your re-order strips and the number of additional prints or products required.

When will I receive my Photographs?

All orders are despatched within 28 days from receipt of your order. We are unable to provide tracking reference numbers upon despatch, so if you have not received your order within the stated delivery period, please contact Customer Service with your image reference number or postcode and we can assist further.

Can I buy frames to fit my photographs?

Yes. We have a selection of frames available which can be purchased with your order or at a later date. However, it may prove more cost-effective for you to order one of our packs which includes a framed photograph, or a single framed photograph. Please visit our Graduations website for more details.

Can I order different images within a pack?

We have several packs available which allow you to combine two different images. These are the Graduate and Family Pack (GFP) or Framed Graduate and Family Pack (FGFP) and the Canvas Combination Pack (CCP). All other packs are printed to provide multiple copies of a single image and it is not possible to mix multiple images within these.

How do I order my Presentation Photographs?

If presentation photographs have been taken at your institution, these will be available to view and purchase on the day or you can order online. Images are usually available within 7 days of the ceremony.

My photographs have arrived damaged or faulty?

Please contact Customer Services within 30 days of receipt and we can discuss your refund/exchange options. Email: customerservice@htempest.co.uk or telephone: 01736 751555 (opt.5). Lines are open from 8.15am-4.15pm Monday-Friday (except Bank Holidays).

How long does Tempest keep my images?

Since 2012, we have archived all our images indefinitely however we also have some images available from 2007. If you are interested in purchasing a historic image and no longer have the reference numbers, please contact Customer Service and we can provide you with a form to complete to help locate your images.

Q. Who owns the copyright on my images?

H. Tempest Limited retains the copyright on all photographs taken and supplied. Photographs may not be copied, published or reproduced in any form without the written permission of H Tempest Limited.

What are the print sizes of your photographs?

Print sizes are approximate and described in cm and (inches) below. Please note that some smaller print sizes will require trimming upon receipt:
Large: 25cm x 20cm (10” x 8”), Medium: 20cm x 15.5cm (8” x 6”), Desk: 13cm x 10cm (5” x 4”)

Larger print and canvas sizes are available for certain products in 35.56cm x 27.94cm (14” x 11”) and 50.8cm x 40.64cm (20” x 16”). Please contact our Direct Order team for guidance.

What changes have been made to the image download?

Our technical team have been working on improving the customer experience with image downloads. The changes made have not impacted the quality of the image you will receive, nor the amount of information contained within the file.

By way of explanation, here is an extract of a technical note from our software engineering team:

Dots Per Inch (DPI) and Pixels Per Inch (PPI) are ways to measure the fidelity of output devices such as printers (DPI) and screens (PPI). When images are stored the important measure is the number of pixels, for a high-resolution digital download Tempest provide an image that is 4800 x 6000 pixels.

Using a 300 dpi printer this will enable an image to be printed at 406 x 508mm (A4 is 210x297mm) without the device having to expand the image and cause pixelation. The size of our download should allow an image to be printed up to nearly A2 size.

The information contained within the file regarding DPI is largely irrelevant as it is a hint to the output device, which can then calculate how large the rendered image should be. In reality the output device will perform many calculations to work out the optimal based upon its own dimensions.

The recent work completed on the image download system has been able to utilise the features of the jpeg file format to reduce the size of our images from 12MB to 3-6MB whilst maintaining quality. This has been achieved by allowing the jpg algorithm to apply a 95% quality setting when saving the image enabling compression to be applied. This means quicker download times, less bandwidth usage and less storage requirements for the customer without compromising image quality.

Image downloads can only be purchased via Direct Orders.