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Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions form the agreement between you (the Client) and Dan Mikhaél Creative Services (the Studio). By securing a booking, you agree to the operational policies outlined below. They are designed to ensure mutual respect, clear expectations, and uncompromised professional execution.

1. Booking, Retainers & Confirmation

  • The Commitment: To secure a specific date on my calendar, a £100 non-refundable retainer is required. Due to the nature of my work, availability is set to weekends only.
  • The Deductible Credit: Upon a successful session, this entire £100 retainer is credited directly toward your production balance, effectively covering your first hour of creative studio time.
  • Payment Window: This deposit invoice must be paid within 7 days of receipt. If payment is not received within this timeframe, the date will be automatically released and made available for other bookings.
  • Locking It In: Once paid, your session is set in stone. Because a booking blocks out my availability, the retainer is strictly non-refundable if you fail to show up, cancel the session entirely, or drastically alter the agreed core details of the shoot (such as changing the pre-approved location).

2. Currency & Financial Compliance

All bookings, commissions and production fees must be settled exclusively via valid monetary currency (via bank transfer, authorized credit/debit provider or cash as specified on the invoice). The studio operates strictly as a commercial entity and does not accept any form of alternative, barter, trade or in-kind compensation in exchange for creative services, studio time or media delivery.

3. Final Payment Terms

  • Cleared Balances Only: Your initial £100 retainer covers the first hour of production. Any additional hours requested or required for your session are billed at £100 per hour and must be paid in full on the day of the session, before any creative production or camera work begins.
  • Non-Payment Policy: In the event that a client fails or refuses to clear the remaining balance for their requested hours at the start of the session, the shoot will be immediately cancelled and the initial £100 retainer will be forfeited as a non-refundable cancellation fee.

4. Cancellations & Rescheduling

  • Client Rescheduling: Life happens, and sessions can be rescheduled to a mutually agreeable date. However, notice must be given at least 48 hours prior to the session start time.
  • The 48-Hour Cutoff: Requesting a change within 48 hours of the shoot is treated as a cancellation; your original deposit will be forfeited and a new deposit will be required to book a future date.
  • Reschedule Limit: Clients are permitted a maximum of one (1) reschedule per booking. Subsequent changes will require a fresh deposit.
  • Studio Emergencies: In the highly unlikely event that I must cancel a session due to an emergency on my side, you will have the choice of a 100% full refund of your deposit or priority rescheduling to a new date.
  • Act of God / Beyond Control: If a session cannot go ahead due to circumstances entirely beyond either party’s control—such as extreme weather, venue closure or sudden civil/power disruptions—the session will be rescheduled to the next available weekend date at no extra cost. Deposits remain non-refundable, but are fully transferable to the new date.

5. Shoot Locations, Fees & Permits

  • Selection & Discretion: While I am happy to recommend stylized settings or architectural spaces that suit the mood of our shoot, the final location must be selected at your own discretion.
  • Booking & Expenses: The Client is entirely responsible for securing, booking and paying for any location rentals, studio spaces, entry fees or necessary permits required for the session.
  • Financial Liability Protection: Under no circumstances will I pay for or advance funds for a venue booking. This policy strictly protects me against financial loss or unrecoverable venue fees in the event of a client cancellation or rescheduling.

6. Punctuality & Directing Pacing (Lateness)

  • The Grace Period: I understand that delays happen, but lateness cannot exceed 30 minutes.
  • Protecting Your Session: If you arrive within the 30-minute grace period, your dedicated complimentary preparation hour remains fully intact—we will not rush your creative readiness. However, arriving more than 30 minutes late may result in a shortened shooting window or cancellation at my discretion, with no refund of fees paid.

7. Chaperone & Guest Policy

To ensure an environment of absolute safety, comfort and professional trust, the client is permitted to bring one (1) adult guest or chaperone (such as a trusted friend or guardian) to the studio session. To maintain a focused, creative and secure working environment, the presence of a chaperone is subject to the following non-negotiable guidelines:

  • Advance Notice: The studio must be notified in writing at least 48 hours before the session if a guest will be attending. Unannounced visitors will not be granted access to the premises.
  • NDA / Confidentiality: Because the studio operates on a strict zero-publicity and high-discretion default, any accompanying guest must sign a standard Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) upon arrival. They are strictly prohibited from taking behind-the-scenes photos, recording audio or filming video during the production.
  • Observer Status Only: To protect the artistic integrity and precise pacing of the session, the chaperone is present strictly as a passive observer. They must remain in the designated seating area and refrain from directing, adjusting wardrobe, or interfering with the studio’s workflow.
  • No Group Gatherings: To keep the set controlled, safe and professional, multiple guests, groups or children are strictly prohibited.

8. Conduct, Safety & Substance Policy

  • The Studio prioritizes an environment of absolute safety, mutual respect and clear professional consent. While light, responsible consumption of alcohol by adult clients (18+) may be permitted at the Studio’s discretion to assist with comfort during a session, strict moderation is mandatory.
  • The Studio reserves the absolute right to immediately terminate any session, without refund of any fees or retainers paid, if a client displays signs of impairment or intoxication that compromises safety, professional conduct or the legal integrity of the creative production. The Client remains fully liable for any damage caused to studio equipment, property or locations due to misconduct.

9. Delivery Timelines & File Management

  • Turnaround Time: Your final, polished digital assets will be fully processed and delivered within 7 days of the session date.
  • The 14-Day Vault Rule: Final assets are delivered via a secure, encrypted link. In strict alignment with my privacy policy, files remain active on my secure local servers for exactly 14 days. It is your responsibility to download and save your media within this window, as all project files are permanently purged after 14 days.
  • Limitation of Liability: In the highly unlikely event that digital files are lost, stolen or corrupted prior to delivery due to technical hardware failure or camera malfunction, my liability is strictly limited to a 100% full refund of all monies paid for that specific session. Under no circumstances will the studio be liable for any indirect, consequential or emotional losses.

10. Copyright, Intended Use & Personal Restrictions

  • Purpose-Driven Agreements: The final permission and distribution rights for your images/videos are strictly tied to the initial intent discussed and agreed upon by both parties before the shoot. This is because the overall direction, lighting, and styling of a session dictate whether the material is legally or aesthetically suited for commercial distribution.
  • Private & Commercial Use: While private personal commissions can be shared and distributed contextually for personal use, they must strictly adhere to our pre-shoot agreement and cannot be sold or licensed to third-party entities without explicit, written consent.
  • Creative Integrity & Alterations: The final images and videos delivered to you represent my completed artistic work. The Client agrees not to alter, re-edit, crop heavily or apply third-party social media filters to the final delivered assets. If any further retouching or adjustments are desired, they must be requested directly from the studio.
  • Studio Privacy Protection: For sessions where I am creatively involved within the frame or sharing the environment, my personal image and likeness remain strictly private. Under no circumstances may any media containing my presence be published publicly to the internet, social media or third-party websites without my direct, written sign-off.

11. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Both parties agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any such dispute.