Terms of Service

Last updated: [DATE]

These terms apply to every booking, session, gallery, and purchase made with The Portrait Dept. (“we,” “us,” or “our”). By booking a session or purchasing a product from us, you agree to these terms.

Booking and Deposits

A session is confirmed when we receive your signed booking agreement and the required deposit of 100% of the session fee. Your date is not reserved until the deposit has been received.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

If you cancel or reschedule more than [10] days before your session, we’ll apply your deposit to a new date, once. If you cancel within [1] days of the session, or don’t attend, the deposit is non-refundable. We may reschedule a session because of illness, severe weather, or other circumstances beyond our control, and we’ll offer you a new date at no extra charge.

Mini sessions and holiday sessions have their own cancellation terms, which are shown when you book. Any package, bundle, or limited-time offer may follow different terms, as stated at the time of purchase.

Session Fees and Location Costs

Session fees cover the time and services listed for your package. Costs for permits, location fees, parking, studio rentals outside our standard booking, and travel outside our service area are your responsibility unless we agree otherwise in writing. Where a location requires a permit, you’re responsible for obtaining it, unless we agree in writing to apply for it on your behalf and you have covered the fee.

Delivery Timelines

We aim to deliver your gallery within the timeline stated in your package. Delays caused by late arrivals, unavailability of the client, or a late balance payment may extend this timeline.

Ownership and Usage Rights

We own the copyright in every photograph we create. The rights we grant you are described in your package, and they apply only to the uses listed there. Unless you purchase extended rights in writing, you may not use the images for commercial advertising, resale, product packaging, or any use not included in your package. You may share images you receive for personal, non-commercial use, including on social media, with credit to The Portrait Dept.

We may use your images for our portfolio, website, social media, and marketing, unless you tell us in writing that you don’t want certain images used. Please let us know before the session if there’s an image you’d prefer we never publish.

Prints and Products

Print orders are fulfilled by a third-party lab. Colour may vary slightly between screens and printed products. We’re not responsible for delays or damage caused by shipping carriers after the order leaves our hands. Print orders are non-refundable once production has begun, but we’ll correct any defect we can confirm.

Minors

Clients under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who agrees to these terms on the minor’s behalf and confirms they have authority to consent to the session and to the use of the images.

Conduct and Safety

You agree to behave respectfully toward our staff, other guests, venues, and the public, and to follow any venue or location rules. We may end a session early without refund if conduct becomes unsafe or disruptive. For events, proposals, and on-location sessions, you’re responsible for ensuring the location and the people involved are appropriate for the shoot.

Satisfaction and Re-Shoots

We’ll review your gallery with you and correct technical issues such as colour, exposure, or retouching errors that you raise within 5 days of delivery. We don’t guarantee a particular style, and creative choices in editing are at our discretion.

Liability

Our total liability for any claim relating to a session or product is limited to the amount you paid for that session or product. We’re not liable for indirect or consequential losses, including lost opportunities or lost income.

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada that apply there. Any dispute will be handled in the courts of Ontario.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The updated version will apply to bookings made after the date it’s posted.

Contact

The Portrait Dept.
4006 Kilmer Dr, Burlington, Ontario
Email: portraitdept@gmail.com