Terms & Client Agreement

These are the terms that apply when you book a session or event with me (Yury Sharlou, "Photographer"). By submitting a booking request, confirming a date in writing, or paying a retainer, you ("Client") agree to the terms below. "Session" means any non-Event photography session; "Event" has the meaning in Section 17.

1. Booking, Retainer & Payment

A date is held only after Photographer has confirmed availability in writing (text or email) and the retainer has been received. The retainer is $100, or 25% of the booked fee for Events of four or more hours and for Events booked by a company or organization ("Large Events"). The retainer is credited toward the total fee and is non-refundable, except where these Terms expressly provide otherwise (Sections 6, 11 and 17.4). The remaining balance is due on the day of the session or event, before or immediately after shooting, unless Photographer has agreed in writing to invoice Client (Section 17.8). Except as provided in Section 17, Photographer may withhold delivery of photos until the balance is paid in full. If Client believes a charge is incorrect, Client agrees to contact Photographer and allow a reasonable opportunity to resolve the issue before disputing the charge with a bank or card issuer.

2. Model Release

Client represents that they have the legal authority to consent to this Agreement on behalf of themselves and any minor children included in the session. By booking, Client grants Photographer permission to photograph Client and any such minors, and consents to the uses described in Section 10 (Portfolio & Marketing Use).

3. Rescheduling

Client is entitled to one (1) free reschedule, provided Photographer receives notice at least 24 hours before the scheduled session time. Notice given less than 24 hours before the session, or any request to reschedule beyond the first, requires payment of a new $100 retainer to secure a new date. This policy applies regardless of reason, including weather.

4. Mini Sessions

Mini Session slots run only on scheduled Mini Days, are limited in number, and are held with a $100 non-refundable, non-transferable retainer. Mini Session slots cannot be moved to another date under any circumstances, including under Section 3.

5. Session Day & Late Arrival

Session time is calculated from the scheduled start time, not from Client's arrival time. If Client arrives late, the session still ends at the originally scheduled end time. No extension or refund is given for time lost to late arrival.

6. Force Majeure

If Photographer is unable to conduct a session due to illness, accident, emergency, or other circumstances beyond Photographer's reasonable control, Photographer will offer Client either a rescheduled date or a full refund of all fees paid, at Client's choice. This is Photographer's sole obligation in such circumstances.

7. Editing & Delivery

Client will receive a private online gallery of fully edited photos, within one week of the session. Delivery for Events is governed by Section 17.4. Photographer does not provide unedited or RAW files. Client must download their photos within 30 days of gallery delivery. After 30 days, the gallery will be taken down and the photos will no longer be accessible. Extensions may be granted at Photographer's sole discretion and are not guaranteed.

8. Client's Rights to the Photos

Once delivered, Client may keep, print, and share the photos for personal, non-commercial use. Client may not sell the photos, use them to promote a business, or submit them for publication or any contest, without Photographer's prior written consent. This Section applies to Sessions and to individual Clients; business use of Event photos is governed by Section 17.9. Client may not use the photos to train, fine-tune or test machine-learning or generative AI systems.

9. Photographer's Copyright

Photographer retains full copyright ownership of all images created under this Agreement. This Agreement grants Client a personal-use license as described in Section 8; it does not transfer copyright or grant any commercial rights.

10. Portfolio & Marketing Use

Photographer may use a selection of Client's photos in Photographer's portfolio, website, social media, and advertising (including paid ads), for promotional purposes, unless Client requests otherwise. Client may request that specific photos or their entire session be excluded from or removed from Photographer's public portfolio and advertising at any time, before or after the session, by written request (text or email). For company Events, Client may ask in writing before the Event that confidential materials (screens, documents, unreleased products) not be used in Photographer's portfolio or marketing, and Photographer will honor that request. Photographer will remove a specific person from the public portfolio, website and social media within a reasonable time after that person's written request.

11. Comfort Guarantee (Sessions only)

If Client is not comfortable within the first 15 minutes of a Session, Photographer will refund Client's retainer in full. This guarantee does not apply to Mini Sessions (Section 4) or to Events (Section 17), which are covered by the Highlights Guarantee in Section 17.4.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Photographer's total liability under this Agreement, for any claim arising from or related to the session or the photos, shall not exceed the total fees paid by Client. In no event will Photographer be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including loss of images due to equipment or media failure, even if Photographer has been advised of the possibility of such damages. If photos are lost or unusable because of equipment, media or software failure, Photographer's sole obligation is to refund the fees paid for the affected portion of the coverage or, where practicable and at Client's choice, to offer a re-shoot.

13. Indemnification

Client agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Photographer harmless from any claim, injury, loss or damage (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from (a) the negligence or misconduct of Client or any guest or participant, (b) the condition of the venue or location, (c) Client's failure to obtain required venue permissions or releases, or (d) Client's use of the photos outside the license granted in these Terms. This does not apply to the extent a claim is caused by Photographer's own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

14. Privacy

Photographer collects and uses Client's contact information as described in the Privacy Policy.

15. General

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of California. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties regarding its subject matter and supersedes any prior discussions. If any provision of this Agreement is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full effect. This Agreement may only be amended in writing, signed or confirmed in writing by both parties. Before starting any legal proceeding, each party will send written notice of the dispute and allow 14 days to resolve it in good faith. Venue for any proceeding is the state or federal courts located in Los Angeles County, California; either party may use small-claims court. Text messages, emails, clicking to accept, and payment of the retainer count as Client's written acceptance and signature. Client confirms they are at least 18 years old. The version of these Terms in effect when the retainer is paid applies to that booking.

16. Contact

Yury Sharlou · Los Angeles & Orange County, California
(213) 824-5844 · y.sharlou@gmail.com

17. Event Photography

"Event" means candid coverage of a gathering hosted by Client with guests present, such as a birthday party, company or holiday party, quinceañera, shower or anniversary celebration. A photo session for a family, couple or individual (including a session for a birthday or other milestone) is a Session, not an Event, and is priced under the Session packages. Sections 1–16 apply to Events. If Section 17 conflicts with another Section, Section 17 controls.

17.1 Coverage & Overtime. Coverage runs continuously for the hours booked, starting at the scheduled start time. Photographer may take short breaks that do not materially interrupt coverage. If the Event ends early or Client shortens the coverage, the fee is not reduced. Coverage beyond the booked hours is provided only if Photographer is available and Client approves it (in person, by text or by email). Overtime is billed at the same hourly rate in 30-minute increments, rounded up, and is payable on the day of the Event.

17.2 Information & Access. At least 48 hours before the Event, Client will send the address, timeline, key contacts, must-have shots and a group-photo list, and will name one person on site to help gather family or team groups. Client is responsible for parking, venue access, and permission to photograph at the venue (including use of flash). If the venue requires a certificate of insurance or event-specific insurance, Client must tell Photographer at least 7 days before the Event; Photographer will then arrange it where available, and its cost will be added to Client's invoice at cost. If the required coverage cannot be obtained in time, Photographer may cancel and refund all amounts paid. For coverage of 5 hours or more, Client will provide a meal or a 30-minute break.

17.3 Coverage Standard. Photographer shoots in a candid, documentary style and uses artistic judgment about what to capture and deliver. Photographer does not guarantee that any particular person, moment, pose or group will be photographed, and is not responsible for images missed because guests are unavailable, because of venue rules or conditions, because the timeline changes, or because a shot was not on the list under Section 17.2. Photo counts stated on the website (for example, 50–70 per hour) are estimates based on typical events, not a guaranteed minimum.

17.4 Delivery & Highlights Guarantee. Photographer will deliver (a) 20 edited highlight photos by 12:00 noon Pacific Time on the calendar day after coverage ends, and (b) the full edited gallery within 7 days after the Event. If the highlights are not delivered on time, Photographer will refund $100 within 7 days after Client's request by text or email. This refund is Client's sole and exclusive remedy for late delivery. The guarantee applies only if the booking was confirmed and the retainer was paid, Client paid all amounts when due, and delivery was not delayed by circumstances beyond Photographer's reasonable control (including illness, emergency, or failure of internet or gallery services). Delivery means a working gallery link sent to the email address or phone number Client provided. The download period in Section 7 applies.

17.5 Conduct & Safety. Client is responsible for the conduct of guests and vendors at the Event. Photographer may pause or end coverage, without refund, if Photographer reasonably believes conditions are unsafe or that Photographer or others are being harassed, threatened or asked to do something unlawful or inappropriate, and may decline to photograph any person or situation for those reasons.

17.6 Guests & Minors. Client confirms they have authority to consent to photography at the Event on behalf of the host, family or company. Client will tell guests, before or at the start of the Event (for example in the invitation or on a sign at the entrance), that a photographer will be present and that photos may appear in Photographer's portfolio, website, social media and advertising. Photographer will make reasonable efforts to avoid photographing any guest who asks not to be photographed, if that request reaches Photographer during the Event, and will remove a guest from the public portfolio, website, social media and advertising within a reasonable time after that guest's request. Client consents to the photographing of Client's own minor children and will inform the parents or guardians of other minors attending the Event about the photography.

17.7 Cancellation & Rescheduling. Client may reschedule once at no charge if Photographer receives written notice at least 14 days before the Event (30 days for Large Events), subject to Photographer's availability on the new date; otherwise a new retainer is required. If Client cancels, Client owes the following percentage of the booked coverage fee (add-ons excluded), and the retainer already paid counts toward that amount. For Events that are not Large Events: (a) 14 or more days before the Event, the retainer only; (b) 7 to 13 days before, 50%; (c) fewer than 7 days before, or a no-show, 100%. For Large Events: (a) 30 or more days before the Event, the retainer only; (b) 14 to 29 days before, 50%; (c) fewer than 14 days before, or a no-show, 100%. Client and Photographer agree these amounts are a reasonable estimate of Photographer's loss, because the date cannot be resold on short notice and other bookings were declined, and that actual damages would be impracticable to determine. Cancellation is effective when Photographer receives written notice (text or email). If Photographer is able to rebook the same date and time at his full rate, he will refund the part of the cancellation fee that exceeds the retainer, up to the amount he receives for the rebooked date.

17.8 Company Bookings & Invoices. If Photographer agrees to invoice a company, the person booking confirms they are authorized to bind the company. Invoices are due within 7 days of the invoice date. Unpaid amounts bear a late fee of 1.5% per month (or the maximum allowed by law, if lower), and Client will pay reasonable costs of collection, including attorneys' fees. Photographer may withhold the full gallery, but not the highlights under Section 17.4, until payment is received.

17.9 Business License for Company Events. For Events booked by a company or organization, Photographer grants Client a non-exclusive, non-transferable license, without time limit, to use the delivered photos for the company's internal communications and its own marketing channels (website, social media, newsletters, recruiting and press), with credit to Photographer where practical. The license does not cover paid third-party advertising, print or outdoor advertising, resale, stock use, sublicensing or AI training; those uses need Photographer's written consent and may require an additional fee. Client is responsible for obtaining any releases needed to use identifiable people in its own marketing. Copyright remains with Photographer under Section 9.

17.10 Instant Photo Guestbook (add-on). The add-on includes setup and the number of prints stated in the quote (40 unless otherwise agreed); additional film is billed at the rate quoted. Client is responsible for loss of or damage to the equipment caused by guests during the Event. Photographer does not control the images guests take and does not guarantee the exposure or quality of instant prints. The prints belong to Client, and Photographer claims no rights in images taken by guests.

17.11 Classification. Photographer decides in good faith, before a date is confirmed, whether a booking is an Event or a Session, based on the nature of the request and not on the label used in the booking form. If a booking described as an Event is in substance a family, couple or portrait session, Photographer will quote the Session price. Event coverage does not include Polaroid prints or a posed portrait session unless agreed in writing.