TERMS OF USE
Welcome to Lou Carruthers Photography (“we,” “our,” or “us”). Before you use our website or services, please carefully read and understand these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”).
Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using our website or services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Lou Carruthers Photography.
Please note that these Terms and Conditions provide a general overview. Full terms, including detailed contractual agreements, apply to specific projects and will be outlined in the formal contract provided for each project. By engaging with our services, you agree to both these general Terms and the terms specified in the formal contract.
These Terms apply in addition to any formal written contract or project agreement. Where there is a conflict, the project contract takes precedence.
Intellectual Property
All content on this website—including images, videos, text, and design elements—is the exclusive property of Lou Carruthers Photography and is protected under UK copyright law.
- Ownership: Unless explicitly stated otherwise in writing, I retain full copyright and ownership of all creative work.
- Usage Restrictions: You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, transmit, display or create derivative works from any part of this site without express written permission.
- Commercial Use: Use of my content for commercial purposes or republication elsewhere is strictly prohibited without prior consent.
Client Work and Licensing
Images and videos displayed in my portfolio may include commissioned work presented under standard portfolio usage rights. These projects are showcased with permission and reflect the agreed licensing terms with each client.
- Licensing Terms: Clients are granted specific usage licences for their commissioned content. These licences are non-exclusive, non-transferable, and time-limited unless otherwise agreed in writing.
- Licence Extensions: If you’re a client and wish to update your licence or discuss usage beyond the original scope, please feel free to get in touch.
While not always required, I appreciate credit where appropriate. If sharing content publicly, please credit “Lou Carruthers Photography” where feasible.
Personal Projects and Brand Representation
Some work featured on this site includes editorial or personal creative projects, which may feature recognisable products. These projects are entirely self-initiated, created for illustrative and artistic purposes, and do not imply endorsement by the product or brand featured unless clearly stated.
Copyright & OwnershiP
All images, videos, and creative content created by Lou Carruthers Photography are protected under the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988 (UK) and remain the intellectual property of Lou Carruthers, unless a written agreement states otherwise.
Clients receive a licence to use the commissioned content, based on the agreed terms outlined in the project contract, invoice or written agreement. This licence is non-exclusive, non-transferable, and time-limited, unless otherwise agreed in writing. Usage is strictly limited to the platforms and duration specified (e.g., website, social media), and does not include print, third-party use, or advertising unless explicitly stated and licensed.
Important: Reproduction, editing, redistribution or third-party use – in whole or in part – without prior written permission is a breach of copyright.
If a client wishes to own the copyright to the commissioned work, this must be agreed in advance and will incur an additional fee. Ownership is not transferred unless confirmed in writing and payment has been made in full.
BUR & Copyright Breach Penalties
The Base Usage Rate (BUR) for image licensing is £725 per image. Any unauthorised use, editing, distribution or reproduction of content outside of the original licence will be considered a breach of copyright.
Copyright breaches will be charged at 3x BUR or calculated based on the Association of Photographers’ usage calculator – whichever is higher – per image, per breach.
Clients using any material from Lou Carruthers Photography acknowledge and accept these terms of use and associated costs in the event of misuse.
Image Integrity and Use of AI Tools
All photographic content on this website and in commissioned work is created by Lou Carruthers Photography using professional photographic techniques. Where editing tools such as Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop are used, this may include AI-assisted features (such as generative fill, content-aware correction, or denoise tools), solely to enhance or refine images that have been captured by the Photographer.
Lou Carruthers Photography does not use fully AI-generated or synthetic imagery to represent real scenes, products, or recipes within any commissioned work or portfolio. Any use of generative tools is applied ethically, transparently, and only in support of images personally photographed by the Photographer.
The use of AI-generated content that falsely implies authenticity or misrepresents a photographed subject is not permitted under any licence granted by Lou Carruthers Photography. Clients are prohibited from using the Photographer’s content in combination with AI-generation tools to create new, derivative or deepfake-style outputs without explicit written permission.
Accuracy of InformatioN
I strive to ensure that all information provided on this site is accurate, up-to-date, and helpful. However, I make no warranties or guarantees, expressed or implied, about the reliability, availability, or completeness of any content.
External Links
This website may include links to other websites or platforms for your convenience. These links do not signify endorsement, and I am not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of any third-party sites.
Changes to Terms
We reserve the right to modify or update these Terms at any time. Any changes will be posted on our website, and the updated Terms will apply to all users.
Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
Contact us
If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at [email protected].
Last Updated: April 2025
