LEGAL

We Own the Photos

All photographs created during your session are copyrighted works owned by 312 Photography. This means:

• We keep the copyright to every image we create
• The photographer (Michael Schacht) is the legal owner of all photos
• You cannot claim ownership or copyright of the images
• This ownership lasts forever, even after you receive your photos

What You CAN Do With Your Photos

When you purchase photos, you receive a license to use them. Think of it like buying a song on iTunes—you can listen to it, but you don't own the rights to sell copies. You CAN:

• Use them professionally: LinkedIn, company websites, business cards, resumes, portfolios
• Post them on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Print them for personal use: Hang them in your office, give copies to family
• Include them in marketing materials: Your business brochures, about pages, speaking engagements
• Use them for personal branding: Author photos, speaker bios, media kits

What You CANNOT Do

You may not use the photos for commercial resale or redistribution. This means you cannot:

• Sell the photos: No selling prints, digital copies, or downloads to others
• License them to others: You can't give or sell permission for others to use the images
• Use them in products for sale: No t-shirts, mugs, calendars, or other merchandise without written permission
• Remove watermarks or credits: Don't crop out or remove our photographer credit
• Claim you took them: You can't say you're the photographer
• Modify extensively without permission: Major alterations or heavy editing requires our approval
• Redistribute the original files: Don't share the high-resolution files we give you with other photographers or businesses

Example: A headshot client can post their photo on LinkedIn and use it on their consulting website. But they cannot sell prints of the photo to their colleagues or put it on t-shirts to sell at events.

What This Means

You give 312 Photography unlimited permission to use photographs from your session in the following ways:

Additional Model Release Terms

• No compensation: You will not receive payment or royalties when we use your images
• No approval required: We don't need to ask your permission each time we use a photo
• Worldwide and perpetual: This permission lasts forever and applies everywhere in the world
• Transferable: We can give this permission to business partners, publishers, or clients if needed
• Cannot be revoked: Once given, this permission cannot be taken back (except in extraordinary circumstances)

Opt-Out Option

If you do not want us to use your photos for marketing purposes, you must tell us in writing before your session. This may affect pricing or availability, as portfolio work is part of how we build our business. Contact us before booking if you need privacy restrictions.

Appointments

• Book sessions through our website scheduling system (Acuity Scheduling)
• Arrive on time—late arrivals may result in shortened sessions
• Sessions include a set amount of time; overtime may incur additional fees

Payment

• Payment is due at the time of booking or as agreed upon
• We accept credit cards through Stripe
• All prices are in US Dollars
• Prices may change without notice (but not for already-booked sessions)

Cancellations and Refunds

• Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours in advance to receive a full refund
• Cancellations within 48 hours forfeit the deposit or session fee
• We reserve the right to reschedule due to illness, emergency, or equipment failure
• Weather-related cancellations (for outdoor sessions) can be rescheduled without penalty
• No-shows forfeit all payments

Image Delivery

• Photos are typically delivered within 1-3 weeks after your session
• Rush delivery may be available for an additional fee
• Images are delivered digitally via secure download
• We are not responsible for lost images after delivery—back them up!