Terms of Service
The Photographer retains full copyright and moral rights to all images under U.S. and international law (U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.).
No transfer of ownership occurs at any time. Clients receive a limited, non-exclusive license only for the uses explicitly defined in their contract.
- Personal Use Only (unless Commercial License purchased):
- Sharing on personal social media (with credit, @mateomiller444 or @ShotByTeo
- Printing for personal displays (home, gifts, albums).
- Non-commercial or monetized digital use (e.g., screensavers).
- No commercial use (e.g., ads, merch, promotions) without a separate written agreement.
- No AI training, NFTs, or third-party editing (including filters, cropping, or color adjustments).
- No resale, redistribution, or sublicensing (e.g., selling prints, giving files to brands).
- No removal of watermarks or metadata.
- Unauthorized use constitutes copyright infringement, punishable by:
- Statutory damages up to $150,000 per work (17 U.S.C. § 504).
- Immediate invoicing for 10x the original licensing fee (retroactively).
- Legal injunctions to cease use + recovery of attorney fees.
Client Responsibilities
- Accuracy: Provide correct contact/event details. False information voids rescheduling rights.
- Cooperation: Delays caused by Client (e.g., late arrivals) reduce shooting time without refund.
- Safety: Photographer is not liable for injuries at unsafe locations (e.g., cliffs, unstable terrain).
No Refunds Policy
- Deposits are non-refundable and reserve your date (no exceptions).
- Final payments are non-refundable after the shoot begins.
- Delivered images are "edited"
Limited Exceptions
- Refunds only if:
- Photographer cancels without rescheduling.
- Written agreement is provided for extenuating circumstances (e.g., severe illness).
Liability & Force Majeure
Equipment & Data Loss
- Not responsible for lost/damaged files (e.g., SD card corruption, hard drive failure).
- No refunds for technical failures beyond reasonable control (e.g., camera malfunction).
- Client agrees to back up delivered images immediately; Photographer archives files for 30 days only.
Force Majeure
- Not liable for delays/cancellations due to:
- Natural disasters, pandemics, or government restrictions.
- Vendor failures (e.g., venue closures).
Model Release (If Applicable)
- Clients grant the Photographer irrevocable rights to use images for:
- Portfolio, marketing, and competition submissions.
- Exception: Minors or sensitive cases require a separate signed release.
Dispute Resolution
- Mediation required before litigation (venue: Sheboygan, WI).
- Losing party pays legal fees.
Amendments
- Terms may be updated; Clients will be notified via email or website notice.