Terms and Conditions

Last updated: July 9, 2026

Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using Our Service.

Definitions

Affiliate — An entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a party, where "control" means ownership of 50% or more of shares or voting securities.
Account — A unique account created for You to access our Service.
Country — California, United States.
Company (referred to as "the Company", "We", "Us", or "Our") — ShutterMatch LLC, 931 10th Street #1117, Modesto, CA 95354.
Content — Text, images, or other information posted, uploaded, or made available by You.
Device — Any device that can access the Service, such as a computer, cellphone, or tablet.
Feedback — Feedback, innovations, or suggestions sent by You regarding the Service.
Service — The ShutterMatch website, accessible from https://www.shuttermatch.io.
Booking — A request by a Client to engage a Photographer for photography services through the Service, including the agreed-upon date, location, service type, and pricing.
Offer — A proposal sent by a Photographer to a Client specifying the scope of photography services, pricing, and terms for a Booking.
Client — A user who books photography services through the Service.
Photographer — A user who offers and provides photography services through the Service.
Deliverables — The photographs, edited images, or other digital files produced by a Photographer as part of a completed Booking.
Platform Fee — The 5% service fee charged by ShutterMatch on each completed transaction, deducted from the Photographer's payout.
You — The individual accessing or using the Service, or the company or legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing the Service.

Acknowledgment

These Terms and Conditions govern the use of this Service and the agreement between You and the Company. They set out the rights and obligations of all users regarding the use of the Service.

Your access to and use of the Service is conditioned on Your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms. These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the Service.

By accessing or using the Service, You agree to be bound by these Terms. If You disagree with any part, You may not access the Service.

You represent that You are over the age of 18. The Company does not permit those under 18 to use the Service.

Your use of the Service is also conditioned on Your acceptance of Our Privacy Policy, which describes Our policies on the collection, use, and disclosure of Your personal information.

Booking Photography Services

ShutterMatch is a marketplace that connects Clients with Photographers. The Company is not a party to the agreement between Client and Photographer and does not itself provide photography services.

By creating a Booking, You warrant that You are legally capable of entering into binding contracts.

How Bookings Work

A Client submits a booking inquiry to a Photographer
The Photographer may respond with an Offer specifying services, pricing, and terms
The Client reviews and accepts or declines the Offer
Upon acceptance, the Client completes payment through the Service
The Photographer performs the agreed-upon services
The Photographer uploads Deliverables through the Service

To create a Booking, You may be asked to provide Your name, email address, event details, preferred dates, and payment information.

You represent and warrant that: (i) You have the legal right to use any payment method in connection with any Booking; and (ii) the information You supply is true, correct, and complete.

By submitting payment information, You authorize Us to provide that information to our third-party payment processor (Stripe) for the purpose of facilitating payment.

Booking Cancellations, Refunds & Disputes

We reserve the right to cancel any Booking if fraud or unauthorized activity is suspected, or if a user violates these Terms.

Cancellation windows

Unless a Photographer has published a different policy in their own service terms prior to booking, the following default windows apply:

Pre-payment (free cancellation): Either party may cancel an inquiry or accepted offer at any time before payment is made, with no fee.
More than 14 days before the scheduled shoot date: The Client may cancel for a full refund of any amount paid, minus any non-refundable retainer the Photographer disclosed at the time of booking and any non-recoverable third-party fees (e.g. travel, equipment rentals).
Between 14 and 7 days before the shoot date: The Client may cancel for a refund of 50% of the amount paid, minus any non-recoverable third-party fees.
Less than 7 days before the shoot date: No refund is owed, as the Photographer has reserved their schedule.
No-show / force majeure: If either party cannot attend due to documented illness, a natural disaster, or another qualifying force-majeure event, the parties shall use good-faith efforts to reschedule before any refund is considered.

Photographer cancellations

If a Photographer cancels a confirmed Booking after payment, the Client is entitled to a full refund of any amount paid for that Booking, regardless of the timing. Repeated cancellations by a Photographer may result in account suspension or termination.

Refund eligibility

The Client may request a refund within the applicable window above by contacting support@shuttermatch.io with the Booking ID and reason. Refund requests submitted after the applicable window are not eligible, except in cases where the Photographer has materially failed to perform (e.g. no-show without rescheduling, failure to deliver Deliverables within the window specified in their service package).

Approved refunds are issued to the original payment method within 10 business days.

Dispute resolution

If a Client and Photographer cannot agree on a refund or other outcome, either party may submit a written dispute to support@shuttermatch.io. The Company will review available records (booking confirmation, messages, delivered files, payment history) and issue a non-binding determination within 10 business days. Either party may still pursue remedies outside the Service under the laws of the State of California.

Payment routing: Payments are transferred directly to the Photographer's connected account at the time of payment via our payment processor (Stripe). The Company does not hold or escrow funds. Where a refund is required under this section, the Photographer agrees to authorise the refund through the Stripe dashboard or via the Company on their behalf; the Company may debit a refunded amount from the Photographer's next payout, or take other reasonable recovery steps, if the refund cannot otherwise be processed.

Service Listings and Accuracy

Photographers are responsible for the accuracy of their profiles, portfolios, service descriptions, and pricing. The Company does not verify the accuracy of Photographer profiles or the quality of their services.

We cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information provided by Photographers. We reserve the right to remove or correct listings that contain errors, inaccuracies, or misleading information at any time without prior notice.

Pricing

Photography service pricing is set by individual Photographers through their service packages and custom Offers. The Company does not set or control pricing for photography services.

Photographers may revise their service package pricing at any time. However, once a Client has accepted an Offer and completed payment, the agreed-upon price is final and binding for that Booking.

Payments

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. Payment can be made using credit cards, debit cards, and other payment methods supported by Stripe. Payment card details are provided directly to Stripe and are never stored on Our servers.

Direct Payment to Photographers

When a Client completes payment for a Booking, the Client pays the Photographer's service price plus a payment processing fee. Funds are transferred directly to the Photographer's Stripe Connect account, and the 5% Platform Fee (calculated on the Photographer's service price) is automatically deducted as an application fee at the time of payment. ShutterMatch does not hold or manage funds at any point.

Photographer Payouts

Photographers receive their service price minus the 5% Platform Fee (i.e. 95% of their set price)
The 5% Platform Fee is calculated on the Photographer's service price and retained by ShutterMatch
The payment processing fee is borne by the Client and added to their total at checkout — it is not deducted from the Photographer's payout
Payouts are processed through Stripe Connect to the Photographer's designated bank account

Stripe Connect

Photographers must complete Stripe Connect onboarding to receive payouts. This process is managed by Stripe and may require the Photographer to provide banking information, tax identification, and identity verification directly to Stripe.

Failed Payments

If a Client's payment fails, the Booking will not be confirmed and the Photographer will not receive payment. ShutterMatch is not responsible for missed payments due to inaccurate payment details.

By using ShutterMatch, Photographers agree to these Payment Terms and authorize the platform to collect the 5% Platform Fee per transaction.

Promotions

Any Promotions made available through the Service may be governed by rules separate from these Terms. If the rules for a Promotion conflict with these Terms, the Promotion rules will apply.

User Accounts

When You create an account, You must provide accurate, complete, and current information at all times. Failure to do so constitutes a breach of the Terms, which may result in immediate termination of Your account.

You are responsible for safeguarding Your password and for any activities or actions under Your password. You agree not to disclose Your password to any third party and must notify Us immediately of any security breach or unauthorized use of Your account.

You may not use as a username the name of another person or entity without authorization, or a name that is offensive, vulgar, or obscene.

Photographer Obligations

By offering photography services through the Service, Photographers agree to:

Maintain an accurate and up-to-date profile, including portfolio images, service descriptions, and pricing
Respond to booking inquiries in a timely manner
Honor all accepted Bookings and appear at the agreed-upon date, time, and location
Deliver the agreed-upon Deliverables within a reasonable timeframe after the photography session
Upload Deliverables through the Service as agreed with the Client
Complete Stripe Connect onboarding and maintain an active payout account
Comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, including business licensing and tax obligations

The Company reserves the right to suspend or terminate the account of any Photographer who repeatedly fails to meet these obligations.

Client Obligations

By booking photography services through the Service, Clients agree to:

Provide accurate and complete event details, including date, time, location, and any special requirements
Be present or have an authorized representative present at the agreed-upon date, time, and location
Complete payment promptly upon accepting a Photographer's Offer
Communicate any changes to Booking details to the Photographer in a timely manner through the Service's messaging system
Use the review system honestly and in good faith

Reviews and Ratings

After a Booking is completed, Clients may leave a review and star rating for the Photographer. Reviews are publicly visible on the Photographer's profile.

Reviews must reflect the Client's genuine experience. Reviews must not contain false statements, personal attacks, discriminatory language, or content that violates the Content Restrictions outlined in these Terms.

The Company reserves the right to remove reviews that violate these Terms or that are determined to be fraudulent, abusive, or otherwise inappropriate.

Photographers may not offer incentives, discounts, or compensation in exchange for positive reviews or the removal of negative reviews.

Messaging

The Service provides a messaging system for communication between Clients and Photographers regarding Bookings, service details, and related matters.

Users agree to use the messaging system only for purposes related to the Service. Users may not use messaging to send spam, unsolicited advertising, or content that violates the Content Restrictions.

Messages and file attachments exchanged through the Service are stored on Our servers and may be reviewed by the Company in connection with enforcement of these Terms. File attachments are subject to a maximum size of 25 megabytes per attachment.

Users agree not to use the messaging system to arrange transactions outside of the ShutterMatch platform in order to circumvent Platform Fees.

Notifications

The Service sends email notifications and in-app notifications to keep You informed of Booking updates, new messages, payment confirmations, and other Service-related events.

You may manage Your notification preferences, including opting out of specific email notification types, through Your account settings. Certain transactional notifications essential to the operation of the Service (such as payment confirmations) cannot be disabled.

Content

Your Right to Post Content

Our Service allows You to post Content. You are responsible for the Content that You post, including its legality, reliability, and appropriateness.

By posting Content, You grant Us the right and license to use, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce, and distribute such Content on and through the Service. You retain all rights to any Content You submit. This license includes the right for Us to make Your Content available to other users.

You represent and warrant that: (i) the Content is Yours or You have the right to use it and grant the rights provided in these Terms, and (ii) posting Your Content does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, or any other rights of any person.

Content Restrictions

You may not transmit any Content that is unlawful, offensive, threatening, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable, including but not limited to:

Content that is unlawful or promotes unlawful activity
Defamatory, discriminatory, or mean-spirited content targeting religion, race, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, or other groups
Spam, unsolicited advertising, chain letters, or unauthorized solicitation
Viruses, malware, trojans, or other harmful content
Content infringing on patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other proprietary rights
Impersonation of any person or entity
Content violating the privacy of any third person
False information

The Company reserves the right to remove any Content that violates these Terms and to limit or revoke access to the Service for users who post objectionable Content.

Content Backups

Although regular backups are performed, the Company does not guarantee there will be no loss or corruption of data. You agree to maintain a complete and accurate copy of any Content in a location independent of the Service.

Copyright and DMCA

We respect intellectual property rights. If You believe Content on the Service infringes a copyright, submit a DMCA notice to Our copyright agent at support@shuttermatch.io with:

Electronic or physical signature of the authorized person
Description of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed
URL or location of the infringing material on the Service
Your address, telephone number, and email address
A good faith belief statement that the use is not authorized
A statement under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate

Upon receipt, the Company will take appropriate action, including removal of the challenged content.

Intellectual Property

The Service and its original content (excluding Content provided by users), features, and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of the Company and its licensors. The Service is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws. Our trademarks may not be used without the prior written consent of the Company.

Your Feedback

You assign all rights, title, and interest in any Feedback You provide the Company. If such assignment is ineffective, You grant the Company a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, disclose, sublicense, distribute, modify, and exploit such Feedback without restriction.

Links to Other Websites

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites not owned or controlled by the Company. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites. We strongly advise You to read the terms and privacy policies of any third-party sites You visit.

Termination

We may terminate or suspend Your Account immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including breach of these Terms. Upon termination, Your right to use the Service will cease immediately.

Disclaimer of Liability

ShutterMatch is a marketplace platform only. The Company does not provide photography services, does not employ Photographers, and is not a party to the agreement between Client and Photographer.

The Company is not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, or delivery of photography services. Any disputes arising from a Booking, including non-performance, unsatisfactory service, or failure to deliver Deliverables, are solely between the Client and the Photographer.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the entire liability of the Company shall be limited to the total amount of Platform Fees actually collected by the Company for the specific Booking giving rise to the claim, or 100 USD if no Platform Fee was collected.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company shall not be liable for any special, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages whatsoever, including damages for loss of profits, loss of data, business interruption, or personal injury, even if the Company has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Some states do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages. In these states, each party's liability will be limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.

"As Is" Disclaimer

The Service is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranty of any kind. The Company disclaims all warranties, whether express, implied, or statutory, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement.

The Company does not warrant that the Service will meet Your requirements, achieve any intended results, be compatible with other software or services, operate without interruption, or be error-free.

Governing Law

The laws of the State of California, excluding its conflicts of law rules, shall govern these Terms and Your use of the Service. Your use of the Service may also be subject to other local, state, national, or international laws.

Disputes Resolution

If You have any concern or dispute about the Service, You agree to first attempt to resolve the dispute by contacting the Company at support@shuttermatch.io.

For disputes between Clients and Photographers regarding a specific Booking, the parties are responsible for resolving the matter directly between themselves. The Company is not obligated to mediate or resolve such disputes.

If informal resolution is unsuccessful, any remaining disputes shall be governed by the laws of the State of California and resolved in the courts of Stanislaus County, California.

For European Union Users

If You are a European Union consumer, You will benefit from any mandatory provisions of the law of the country in which You are resident.

United States Legal Compliance

You represent and warrant that (i) You are not located in a country subject to a United States government embargo or designated as a "terrorist supporting" country, and (ii) You are not listed on any United States government list of prohibited or restricted parties.

Severability and Waiver

If any provision of these Terms is held to be unenforceable or invalid, such provision will be changed and interpreted to accomplish its objectives to the greatest extent possible under applicable law, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

The failure to exercise a right or require performance of an obligation under these Terms shall not affect a party's ability to exercise such right or require such performance at any time thereafter, nor shall the waiver of a breach constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach.

Translation

These Terms may have been translated if We have made them available to You on our Service. You agree that the original English text shall prevail in the case of a dispute.

Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material, We will make reasonable efforts to provide at least 30 days' notice. What constitutes a material change will be determined at Our sole discretion.

By continuing to access or use Our Service after revisions become effective, You agree to be bound by the revised terms. If You do not agree to the new terms, please stop using the Service.

Contact Us

If You have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, You can contact us:

Email: support@shuttermatch.io