Terms of Service

1. Overview

Nritya Chitra is a photography business run by me, Nandagopal Rajagopal (ABN 71 930 719 374), based in Melbourne and Geelong, Victoria.

In these terms, “I” means Nritya Chitra and “you” means the client. When you book me, or use this website, you’re agreeing to what’s below.

I’ve tried to keep this readable rather than lawyerly. If something here isn’t clear, email me at nandan@nrityachitra.com.au and I’ll explain it.

These terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia. Any dispute goes to the courts of Victoria.

For free and volunteer work, see my Volunteer Photography Policy.

2. Booking and confirmation

Your booking is confirmed once two things have happened:

I’ve confirmed it in writing (email is fine)
I’ve received the deposit, where one applies

Until both are done, the date isn’t held. Other people ask about the same dates, so if you want it, lock it in.

3. Pricing and payment

All prices are in Australian dollars.

I’m not registered for GST. No GST is charged on my services, and invoices are standard invoices rather than tax invoices.

Payment terms

Concert photography: payment is due within 7 business days of me letting you know your selection gallery is ready.
Event bookings: see section 6.
Portrait and private sessions: payment terms are agreed when you book.

Deposits

Where a deposit applies, I’ll tell you the amount when you book.
The deposit comes off your total.
Deposits aren’t refundable if you cancel. If I cancel, you get it back in full.

Late payment

If payment doesn’t arrive within the agreed time, I may close access to your gallery until it does.
If non-payment becomes a pattern, I’ll decline future bookings.

4. Concert photography

Group concerts

I shoot group concerts from the audience, concentrating on close-ups of individual performers where the venue allows it.

Because I’m working from a fixed seat under stage lighting, in a live show, I can’t promise specific poses or moments. I’ll get you the best of what happens.

To help me find your dancer in a group item, send me:

their name
where they stand in the group
the item number
a photo of their costume, taken on the day

How it works after the concert:

I upload unedited, watermarked previews to a private cloud folder for you to choose from.
Previews are for choosing only. Please don’t share, download or post them.
You have 7 business days from when I notify you to make your picks and pay. After that I may close access and delete the images to free up storage.
Minimum order is 3 edited images per dancer, per concert. If the shoot conditions made that impossible, talk to me and I’ll be flexible.
Each dancer is billed separately. I don’t do group discounts, though siblings dancing in separate items may get one at my discretion.
Final edited images go into a separate folder in the same cloud location.
I delete the selection previews once the finals are delivered.

Individual concert photography

Same as above for selection, delivery and payment. The date is confirmed once we’ve agreed in writing and I’ve received any deposit.

5. Portrait and private sessions

Sessions are by appointment.
Come on time and ready. Let’s sort out outfits, props and any specific shots you want beforehand.
After the session I’ll share a gallery of unedited, watermarked images for you to review.
High-resolution finals arrive by secure cloud link once I’ve finished editing.
Everything is edited in my usual style. If you want extra edits after delivery, ask me. Depending on what’s involved, there may be a fee.
I keep final images for 12 months after delivery. See section 6 for how that works.

6. Event photography

This covers arangetrams, concerts, family functions and similar bookings where I’m there for the whole event rather than shooting one performer.

Your booking is confirmed once we’ve settled the details and I’ve received the deposit.
I need accurate event times, the venue address and a contact person before the day.
Let me know about any venue rules on photography, flash or access before the event. Some halls and schools have them, and it’s much easier to plan around a restriction than to discover it at 9pm.
My approach is candid and documentary. I’ll cover the key moments, but live events move fast and I can’t guarantee any specific shot.
How many images you end up with depends on how long the event runs and how much is happening.
Everything delivered is colour-corrected and edited in my usual style.

Payment for event bookings

A deposit confirms the booking and holds the date. I’ll tell you the amount when you book, and it comes off your total.
The balance is due before I deliver the final images. Gallery access opens once you’ve paid in full.
Event bookings don’t include a selection gallery. I edit and deliver the whole set, so the picking process in section 4 doesn’t apply.

Delivery and storage

Final images are usually delivered within 14 days of the event, unless we’ve agreed something different in writing.
I keep final images for 12 months after delivery. Download them and keep your own backup, because after 12 months I may not be able to send them again.

7. Copyright and image use

I hold the copyright in every photograph I take, including after I’ve delivered the finals. That’s standard for photographers in Australia.

What you can do with your images

Once you’ve paid in full, you have a licence to use your images for personal, non-commercial purposes. Print them, frame them, put them on the wall, send them to family.
Commercial or promotional use needs a separate written agreement and may involve a licensing fee.
Share them on your own social media by all means. A credit to @nandagopalr on Instagram, or a tag for Nandagopal Rajagopal on Facebook, is always appreciated.

Watermarks

Preview and selection images carry a Nritya Chitra watermark, because they’re for choosing from rather than sharing.
Final delivered images come to you without a watermark.
Every file carries my name and copyright in its embedded metadata. Please leave it there.

Portfolio use

I’d sometimes like to use images on my website, in my portfolio or in promotional material.
I’ll only do that with your written consent, which I’ll ask for separately.
You can withdraw that consent whenever you like. Just email me at nandan@nrityachitra.com.au.

8. Model release and consent

When you book me, you’re acknowledging that I’ll be photographing you, or people in your care.

Anything beyond personal use needs a signed model release, which I’ll provide on request.

For photographs of children, a parent or guardian has to give written consent before I share, deliver or use the images for anything.

9. Cancellation and rescheduling

Life happens. Tell me in writing as early as you can and we’ll sort it out.

If you cancel

Deposits aren’t refundable.
Cancel 15 days or more before the event, and you owe nothing beyond the deposit.
Cancel 14 days or fewer before the event, and 50% of the total fee is payable.
Cancel within 48 hours of the event, or on the day, and the full fee is payable.

The reason for the sliding scale: once a date is close, I’ve turned down other work for it and can’t fill it again.

Rescheduling

You get one free reschedule if you ask 15 days or more before the event and I’m free on the new date.
Your deposit moves across to the new date.
If I’m not free on the new date, it’s treated as a cancellation under the terms above.

If I cancel

If I can’t fulfil a booking, you get everything back, deposit included.
I’ll help you find another photographer where I can. That’s me being useful, not a contractual obligation.

Things outside anyone’s control

If the event can’t go ahead because of something neither of us controls, such as venue closure, public health restrictions or serious illness, your deposit moves to a new date within 12 months. No cancellation fee.

10. Liability

I work hard to deliver good photographs, but some things are outside my control: weather, venue access, equipment failure, power cuts and the general unpredictability of live events.

To the maximum extent Australian Consumer Law allows, my total liability for any claim is limited to what you paid me for the work.

Nothing in these terms takes away rights you have under Australian Consumer Law.

11. Prints and extras

Canvas prints, photo books, framed prints and digital packages are available on request. Ask me and I’ll send you pricing and turnaround times.

12. Changes to these terms

I may update these terms from time to time. The current version always lives at nrityachitra.com.au/terms. If you keep using my services after an update, that’s acceptance of the new version.

13. Contact

Email: nandan@nrityachitra.com.au

Website: nrityachitra.com.au

Location: Melbourne and Geelong, Victoria, Australia