Terms and Conditions
Welcome to Allison Schaefer Media (referred to below as "The Photographer," "We," or "Us"). By booking a shoot through our online portal, you (referred to below as "The Client" or "Agent") agree to be bound by the following terms, conditions, and legal policies.
- Payment Terms: Booking a shoot through our portal is free. However, full payment is required before any unwatermarked, high-resolution media assets are released.
- Delivery Method: All finished media (photos and floor plans) will be delivered via a secure Spiro project page.
- Locking Policy: The Client will be able to preview watermarked versions of the media assets. The high-resolution, unwatermarked files and virtual links will instantly unlock for download as soon as the Spiro automated invoice is paid in full via our secure credit card processor.
- Ownership of Media: The Photographer remains the sole author and owner of all images, videos, and floor plans captured. Copyright is not transferred to the Client.
- Usage License for Real Estate (MLS): Upon full payment, the Client is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the media assets for the sole purpose of marketing the specific property listing on the MLS, real estate websites, and the Client’s social media channels. This license expires once the property is sold, leased, or the listing agreement is terminated.
- Usage License for Airbnb / Short-Term Rentals: For dedicated Short-Term Rental packages, the Client is granted a long-term, non-exclusive license to use the media assets to market the specific rental property across booking platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) and associated promotional channels for the duration of their management of the property.
- No Third-Party Sharing: The Client may not sell, gift, or transfer the media assets to any third party. This includes homeowners, future buyers, contractors, interior designers, staging companies, or other real estate agents. Third parties interested in using the media must contact the Photographer to purchase a separate usage license.
- "As-Is" Condition: Properties will be shot in their "as-is" condition at the scheduled time of the shoot. The Photographer is not responsible for cleaning, staging, or moving personal items, furniture, or trash cans.
- Preparation Guide: The Client is responsible for ensuring the property is clean, clutter-free, and pets are secured before the Photographer arrives. See Preparation Checklist on our website under FAQ for reference if needed.
- On-Site Delays: To maintain an accurate schedule for all clients, the Photographer operates on a strict timeline based on the Spiro calendar booking. If a shoot is delayed because the property is not ready, the Photographer reserves the right to begin the shoot anyway (skipping unready areas), charge a delay fee, or cancel/reschedule the shoot without refund.
- Occupancy Policy & Safe Working Environment: To ensure maximum efficiency, safety, and to prevent accidental appearances in the media assets, we highly recommend that homeowners, residents, and pets are not present inside the property during the scheduled shoot time. If the Photographer arrives on-site and encounters loose/unsecured pets, or a working environment that feels unsafe, hostile, or uncomfortable, the Photographer has the absolute right to cancel the session immediately. In this event, a full refund will not be issued; instead, the session will be canceled, and a flat $50 lockout/trip fee will be automatically deducted from any refunded monies to cover the Photographer's travel time and fuel costs.
- Ground-Based Media Disclaimer: Allison Schaefer Media specializes exclusively in high-end, tripod-mounted ground media using premium mirrorless systems. Drone, aerial, and rooftop photography or videography are completely excluded from all packages. No refunds or discounts will be issued for the lack of aerial media.
- Travel Fees: Base packages include travel up to a 30-mile radius from zip code 27889 (Washington, NC). Properties located beyond this 30-mile radius will automatically incur a mileage surcharge at checkout based on actual driving distance, up to a maximum service range of 100 miles.
- Standard Photography: Standard interior and exterior photo packages will be delivered to the Client's Spiro portal within 24 hours following the shoot.
- Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Packages: Due to the advanced artistic lighting, amenity detailing, and stylized editing required for vacation rentals, dedicated Airbnb/STR media packages will be delivered within 24-28 hours from the completion of the shoot.
- Add-on Services: Virtual staging, virtual twilight conversions, and floor plans rely on overnight processing networks and may take up to 24–48 hours from the time of the shoot to fully process and appear in the Spiro portal.
- Cancellation & Rescheduling Notice: We require a minimum of 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment without penalty. Cancellations or rescheduling requests made less than 24 hours before the shoot will be subject to a flat $50 short-notice fee unless otherwise agreed upon by both Photographer and Client.
- Weather Policy: In the event of severe inclement weather (such as heavy rain, high winds, hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, or any weather that makes it unsafe to proceed with a shoot), the Photographer and Client should agree upon a reschedule date and time. There will be no cancellation fee. If weather permits, the Photographer will shoot all interior spaces as scheduled and come back at an agreed time with the Client at no extra cost to shoot exterior shots.
- The Photographer takes immense care in executing and delivering high-quality media. However, in the unlikely event of gear failure, data corruption, or unforeseen emergencies that prevent the delivery of services, the Photographer's total liability is strictly limited to a full refund of any monies paid by the Client for that specific shoot.
- The Photographer retains complete artistic control over camera angles, frame composition, and lighting choices. Re-shoots will not be granted for subjective stylistic preferences or because a property was cluttered during the session. Standard editing includes vertical line correction, window masking, and global color balancing. Any extensive, advanced digital alterations requested after delivery—such as object removal, painting walls, or fixing messy rooms—will incur an additional editing fee of $25 per image.
- Governing Law & Venue: This Agreement and all business transactions executed through our online portal shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of North Carolina. Any legal actions, disputes, or proceedings arising directly from services rendered must be filed and handled exclusively within the court systems of Beaufort County, North Carolina (the Photographer's residential home base).
- Media Archive and Storage Policy: While Allison Schaefer Media takes great care in managing digital files, we are a production service, not a permanent cloud storage company. We guarantee to host your high-resolution media galleries on our secure customer portal for exactly 60 days from the initial date of delivery. Following this 60-day window, files may be permanently deleted from our active servers to free up storage space. The Client assumes full responsibility for downloading and securely backing up all delivered assets immediately upon purchase.