Terms of Service

Shuttercat is an online marketplace that facilitates connections between independent photographers and clients seeking photography services. Understanding what Shuttercat is - and is not - is important before you use the platform:

• Shuttercat is NOT the photographer. Photography services are provided by independent photographers who have applied to and been approved on the platform.
• Shuttercat is NOT the employer of photographers. Photographers on Shuttercat are independent contractors who set their own rates, schedules, and creative direction. Shuttercat does not supervise, direct, or control how photographers perform their services.
• Shuttercat is NOT a party to the photography services contract. The contract for photography services is between the client and the photographer. Shuttercat facilitates, but does not participate in, that agreement.
• What Shuttercat does provide: the online platform and booking infrastructure, payment processing via Stripe, escrow and disbursement services, dispute mediation, and identity verification and trust & safety services.

Eligibility. You must be at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts to use Shuttercat. By creating an account, you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements and that you are not a person previously banned from the platform.

Accurate Information. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update it as necessary. Providing false or misleading information is grounds for immediate account termination.

Account Security. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify Shuttercat immediately of any unauthorized use.

One Person, One Account. Each person may maintain only one Shuttercat account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent bans, reviews, or platform rules is prohibited.

• All payments are processed through Stripe. Shuttercat does not store your full card details. By booking, you authorize Shuttercat to charge your payment method for the full session amount at time of booking.
• Escrow. Funds are held securely in escrow and are released to the photographer 72 hours after photo delivery OR upon client approval - whichever comes first. This protects both parties.
• Platform fee. Shuttercat charges photographers a service fee of 15% of each booking amount (standard) or 10% for Founding Photographers (permanently locked). Clients pay the amount shown on the photographer's profile - no hidden booking fees are added to client payments.
• Fund release. Clients pay the full session amount at booking. Funds are released to the photographer after the escrow window closes and no dispute has been raised.

Cancellations. Each photographer selects a cancellation policy (Flexible, Standard, or Strict), which is displayed on their profile and at checkout before you book. The policy in effect at the time of booking governs that booking, even if the photographer later changes their default policy. If you cancel a confirmed booking, your refund is calculated from that policy's schedule based on how far before the session you cancel; amounts not refunded are paid out per the platform's standard split. If the photographer cancels for any reason, you receive a full refund.

Use Shuttercat's dispute process first. Clients agree to use Shuttercat's internal dispute resolution process before initiating any chargeback or bank dispute. Shuttercat provides a fair, evidence-based review process specifically designed for photography service disputes.

Valid grounds for refund:

• Photographer no-show with no communication
• Materially undelivered work (no photos delivered at all, or significantly fewer than contracted)
• Confirmed fraud or impersonation
• Significant deviation from contracted services (e.g., wrong session type delivered)

NOT valid grounds for refund:

• Subjective dissatisfaction with creative outcome or editing style
• Change of mind after photos have been delivered
• Client-caused issues (client no-show, scope changes mid-session not agreed by photographer, client arriving late)

Dispute window. Disputes must be raised within 72 hours of photo delivery. After this window, funds are automatically released to the photographer.

Finality. Shuttercat reviews disputes in good faith and considers all available evidence. Platform-level decisions are final.

• Photographers retain copyright in all work they create, unless copyright is explicitly assigned in a separate written agreement between photographer and client.
• Client license. By default, clients receive a personal-use license for delivered photos. This covers personal social media, personal printing, and personal use. It does not include commercial use, resale, or modification for commercial purposes.
• Commercial use requires a separate written agreement between the client and photographer, negotiated outside of Shuttercat's standard booking terms.
• Shuttercat's license. Photographers grant Shuttercat a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display portfolio images on the platform for the purpose of marketing the photographer's profile. Shuttercat will not sell photographer images to third parties or use them in advertising without explicit written consent.
• DMCA. To submit a copyright takedown request, send the required statutory information to legal@shuttercat.com.

Shuttercat is a marketplace platform. We do not provide photography services and cannot guarantee specific creative outcomes.

• Shuttercat does not guarantee photographer availability, photo quality, or that delivered photos will meet any particular aesthetic standard. Photo quality is inherently subjective; Shuttercat does not arbitrate aesthetic preferences.
• Liability cap. Shuttercat's total liability for any claim arising out of or related to a specific booking is capped at the amount paid by the client for that specific session.
• Calendar sync. Calendar sync is an optional convenience feature. Photographers are responsible for keeping any connected calendar accurate and for the security of any subscription link they share. Shuttercat is not liable for scheduling conflicts caused by inaccurate, delayed, or unavailable third-party calendar data.
• No consequential damages. Shuttercat is not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages; loss of profits, data, goodwill, or business opportunity; or events outside of reasonable control (force majeure).

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Shuttercat disclaims all warranties, express or implied, regarding the platform and the photography services provided by photographers on it.

The following are strictly prohibited on Shuttercat:

• Off-platform circumvention. Arranging bookings with Shuttercat-introduced contacts outside the platform to avoid platform fees. This applies to both clients and photographers and is grounds for immediate and permanent ban.
• Harassment and discrimination. Any form of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or unsafe behavior toward photographers, clients, or Shuttercat staff.
• Fraud. Fraudulent booking, payment fraud, identity fraud, or chargeback abuse.
• Illegal content. Using the platform to facilitate any illegal photography, including non-consensual photography, content involving minors in inappropriate or exploitative contexts, or any content that violates applicable law.
• Review manipulation. Posting false, incentivized, or manipulated reviews.

Violations may result in immediate account termination and, where applicable, referral to law enforcement.

Shuttercat may suspend or terminate accounts at its discretion for violations of these Terms or for conduct that harms the platform, its users, or its reputation.

• Repeat chargebacks, documented no-shows, or confirmed fraud will result in permanent ban.
• Active bookings at the time of termination will be honored or refunded on a case-by-case basis depending on the circumstances of termination.
• You may close your account at any time by contacting support@shuttercat.com.

Disputes between user and Shuttercat resolved via binding arbitration under Delaware law. User waives right to participate in class actions against Shuttercat. Small claims court remains available for qualifying disputes.

Class Action Waiver. You agree to resolve any disputes with Shuttercat on an individual basis and waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration against Shuttercat.

Small claims exception. Either party may bring qualifying claims in small claims court, consistent with the applicable small claims rules.

These Terms governed by the laws of Delaware. Venue: Kent County, Delaware.

Shuttercat may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will:

• Provide at least 30 days' notice via email to your registered address
• Display an in-app notification of the pending change
• Update the "Last updated" date at the bottom of this page

Continued use of the Services after the effective date of any updated Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Services and may close your account.

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us:

• 📧 General support: support@shuttercat.com
• ⚖️ Legal inquiries: legal@shuttercat.com
• 🏢 Dispute process: disputes@shuttercat.com
• 📬 Mailing address: Shuttercat LLC, 8 The Green STE B, Dover, Kent County, DE 19901, United States