Policy, Terms and Conditions of Business (ie, the small print...)

PhotoAltering.co.uk is the hottest, funniest and most useful thing to come along for ages…!

We are the experts to come to for anything to do with photograph alteration, retouching and manipulation, for fun, serious, or commercial purposes, for family, friends or business.

We are also professional photographers and commercial graphic design artists - If you don’t have a suitable original photograph to suit your purposes, we can come and photograph whatever you want and then either provide you with the normal photograph, or alter it for you, producing original artwork and photographic or photo-realistic imagery which can then be reproduced or used in hundreds of fun and useful ways.
We can deliver the finished photographic artwork as printed photographs, or as digital computer files on CD, or by email, or both, or all three.

For legal reasons, we have certain conditions on the nature of the work we will take on. They’re all fairly obvious and not too hard to comply with.

Basically, we will not have anything to do with stuff that looks remotely illegal, slanderous, libellous or in bad taste.

You can imagine the kind of thing we’re talking about, I’m sure, but please read the more detailed statement below anyway. We also don’t accept any liability for any outcome of what you do with the pictures we create for you.

These conditions have been laid down for both our and, more importantly, for guidance towards your legal protection. We provide a top quality service and we want you to be free to enjoy the great products we can create for you. There’s nothing unusual about the following terms and conditions – They’re standard professional photographers and artists business terms that you’ll find anywhere. Just because it’s art doesn’t mean it isn’t business.

Acceptance of these terms is implicit and binding in your commissioning of us to create your altered photos. Please read and understand them, after which we’ll get on with our job of creating some great photo art for you…

PhotoAltering.co.uk Policy, Terms and Conditions of Business

1. PhotoAltering.co.uk will not accept for alteration, (or cause, when altered), any photo depicting or strongly, graphically to suggest:

   a) P*rnography (*Not that we’re afraid of the word, but the asterisk has to be there, otherwise some search engines would screen this site from their index, and you would never have found our wonderful website. Same reason you can never find any mention of the wonderful Lincolnshire town of Scu*thorpe on the web if your search engine filters are on).

   b) Images of nak*dness or of lewd or a directly s*xual suggestive nature.

   c) N*ked children (not even innocent pictures of ki*dies bathtime or at the beach. You know your k*ds are cute, and we know they’re cute too, but it’s not worth the hassle, so, no bare lit*le botties please or we'll all end up on the front page of the Da*ly Mail).

   d) Graphic and gratuitous violence.

   e) Images of a racist nature or images which might be caused by a third party† to incite racial hatred.

   f) Hate campaigns, be they political and public or personal and private.

   g) Slanderous or libellous material or material which may be construed as related to stalking (how do you say that anyway? – ‘Stalkerous’…??

   h) Religious material.

2. Photoaltering.co.uk also reserves the right to refuse commissions involving alteration work of photographs or other images which may already be copyrighted material, or for any other reason, specified or otherwise, at our discretion.

   Customers are advised to think carefully before submitting photos picturing other people, particularly people they don't know well, to Photoaltering.co.uk for alteration. Even practical jokes made in good faith can sometimes backfire. Photoaltering.co.uk accepts no liability for the consequences of use of an altered photo commissioned from us.

3. We, Photoaltering.co.uk accept no responsibility for the use, or outcome of the use, of photographs and graphic material prepared by us and delivered to you. This disclaimer extends to use by third parties†. You as the commissioner and/or purchaser of the work are solely responsible for its use and distribution. Consequences of and actions brought against the commissioner and/or purchaser of an item produced by PhotoAltering.co.uk by third parties† or as a result of use of the item by third parties†, or of use by the original commissioner and purchaser of the item is the sole concern and liability of the original commissioner and purchaser of the item.
   
   
4. Photoaltering.co.uk shall not be liable in whole or in part for any prosecution or legal action (private or public) brought against them, the commissioner and/or purchaser of the item or the third parties as a result of the use, display or distribution of the item by the commissioner or purchaser or third parties† or persons unknown, nor shall we be liable for any compensation claimed in relation to legal action or disputes, public or private in respect of use of the item.
   We’re just artists – We ‘paint’ what you ask us to ‘paint’, and after that, it’s up to you what you do with the picture.

   (†'Third parties' is a legal term describing persons, be they individuals of any age or status, children or adults, business companies, political organisations, national or local government offices, profit or non-profit organisations, photo agencies, photographers, artists and designers, members of the press – (anyone in fact) who may at any time, now, or in the future obtain an original or copy of the photographic item we have prepared for you, either with or without your permission, and proceed to use it for their own purposes, with or without your permission, often publicly, whether for profit or non-profit, it makes no difference, they are legally considered as a ‘third party’.)

5. Art appreciation is subjective - One chooses an artist to create a commissioned picture on the basis of that preferred artist's general style. Thus it is an accepted convention that the manner (colour, style, positioning etc) in which photos are altered or 'Pop-Arted', and their final appearance or effect, is according to the discretion and professional artistic judgement of Photoaltering.co.uk, and not according to the precise direction of the client. Though we offer an adequate proofing service, (see Note 7) you the client are commissioning an artistic work, and thus agree to reasonably accept the finished work(s) as is. Following acceptance of the final proof, no work can be returned to Photoaltering.co.uk and no refund will be given, except, at the discretion of Photoaltering.co.uk in the case of delivered goods proven to be damaged in transit (see Note 10).

6. Colours: It is a widely, professionally known and common technical characteristic of the printing and photographic industries that colours in a photograph or printed article (or copy of one) can seldom be matched exactly to original or preferred copies or sources. This is because of the wide range of differences in the manufacture of printing inks, papers, also the different qualities and types of computer monitor screens, not to mention ambient lighting conditions where the computer screen or original or finished photo or artwork is placed or displayed. Subtle differences in individual eyesight and personal colour perception from person to person are also a contributing factor. In short, it is a scientific fact that no two people are guaranteed to see the same colours in quite the same way. In addition, in the case of an altered or repaired photograph, there may be a slight colour-shift in the new copy as a result of processes implicit to the alteration or repair process itself. On completion of any artwork you commission from us, before printing and sending to you, Photoaltering.co.uk usually send you a small preview proof by email of what your finished print is likely to look like. Although this miniature proof is perhaps a 90 percent faithful indicator of the appearance of your final full-size print, the colours you perceive in the proof may sometimes differ in the finished print we send you. At the consumer-level prices we charge for our products, this is allowable proofing error. Thus, Photoaltering.co.uk will not undertake reprints at no or reduced charge on the basis of alleged or actual colour discrepancies. We maintain that the colours will be subjectively close enough by most commercial print standards. You the client agree to accept the finished work(s) as is.

7. Proofing and Order Cancellation: (especially with regard to Pop Art ('Warhol'-style) portraits) - Our pop art process is not automatic - There are many hours of work involved in creating these beautifully personalised works of art. Therefore, we do not create pictures on approval - When the artwork is complete, but before printing and sending, we email you a preview 'proof', which is a miniature version to show you in advance almost exactly how the finished full-size print will look. If you like the proof, we print and send the finished, full-size print, and payment shall be due. Alternatively, if after seeing the proof you would like it altering slightly, in colour or minor details, we can, (within technical, time and price constraint limitations) do that, and then email you another proof of the newly altered version to approve before printing and sending. If you still reject the second proofs completely and cancel the order without ordering a print, no further work will be done and you can keep the emailed miniature proof for your own use, though a payment will still be due of whichever sum shall be the larger of these two: 30% of the non-delivered price, or £25.
   The purchase and commission of original art is a serious and rewarding undertaking. Though we use digital techniques, the art we create is not produced by automated processes, but is painstakingly produced uniquely for you. We thus make the above stipulations as an indicator of our commitment to provide a serious and high quality level of product and service in return for your commitment to the serious commission and purchase of original art. We do not ask clients to prepay a deposit, but we do expect you to honour the abovementioned charge which may be levied in compensation for cancellation of orders in which we will have invested many hours or days of work.
   To be honest however, at time of writing, we've never had a proof turned down yet - Most people are absolutely delighted with the first proof and immediately instruct us to proceed to print and send the full size version.
   

8. Copyright: As the artists, authors and creators of the created photographically-altered work which Photoaltering.co.uk will produce for you, Photoaltering.co.uk (the artist) retains all copyrights to the created images and their use in reproduction form, i.e. limited edition prints, merchandise, and has the right to the distribution of the reproductions of created images. The artist has the right to use the created images publicly for advertising and promotional displays. The artist is ordinarily given a term of such copyright ownership enduring the artist's life, plus an additional 70 years after the artist's death.
   You, the commissioner and/or purchaser of the item may enjoy and reproduce the item in any reasonable quantities for private use, to retain for self or to give as a gift, or among family and friends, (for example, multiple copies for a party invitation), however, commercial use or reproduction of the created images is prohibited without express permission of the artist. Please contact us directly with any commercial use inquiries. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution or public display (such as on an internet webpage) of the work we create for you, immediate or eventual (by you or any third party†) with intention to sell or distribute for profit or public use or application will constitute infringement of our copyright, and PhotoAltering.co.uk will move to demand and recoup compensation from you the commissioning client and/or any third party† in respect of such copyright infringement.
   
   
9. For Pop Art ('Warhol'-style) portraits, in the case of photographs sent to us containing two or more people in the picture requiring 'warholaization', we may (at our discretion) make a proportionally small additional charge to cover the added work necessary in the extra face(s). If such a charge is applicable, the client will be quoted this before we begin the work.
   
   
10. Clients desiring rights to reproduction of the work for commercial, business or advertising purposes should consult our commercial services tariff (click here) for which slightly higher fees are levied in exchange for extended reproduction rights for commercial purposes, although PhotoAltering.co.uk, as creators of the work, will still retain copyright.
    
    
11. Delivery: If a package arrives irreparably or significantly damaged or inferior, you must inform us within 48 hours after receipt of the product. Please do not return the product, but inform us first. Products returned to us without prior written or verbal notification or authorization will not be accepted. If we are not notified within 48 hours, it will be assumed that the shipment arrived complete and undamaged and was deemed satisfactory. We assume no liability beyond 48 hours. If you therefore receive a damaged or defective shipment, please immediately contact customer.service@photoaltering.co.uk. All damaged packages shipped via FedEx or similar special courier must be inspected by FedEx or the courier and its representatives themselves actually on your premises before a valid restitution claim can be made. After you contact us, we will notify FedEx or the special courier concerned and they will come to your location to inspect the damaged package. Please note that if:
    a) the product is not retained in the original shipping packaging, or
    b) the package is shipped back to us or to any other destination before FedEx or the courier concerned inspects the damage, eligibility for compensation is voided.
    
    
12. Payment: Payment is welcome any time after your instruction to us to proceed with a work, but is actually due from the date of confirmation of your approval or rejection of the final proof.
    
    
13. In the act of enquiring of and commissioning PhotoAltering.co.uk for work, you implicitly agree to accept and be legally bound by all the above terms and conditions.
    
    
    
    Click here now for price information, enquiries,
    and to order your uniquely altered photos...