TERMS AND CONDITIONS

LIABILITY

-Note that the organization you are doing business with is Schmitt/Siebenberg,LLC DBA LIGHT Photographic Workshops and will be considered in this document as “us, we, our and LIGHT”.

By attending one of our workshops you are accepting certain risks. Your registration shall serve as a release of our liability and a complete assumption of all risks by you and your heirs, administrator, executor, successors, and assign for all family members. By accepting our terms of service, you are acknowledging that you are aware that travel, wherever it may be, and by whatever means, involves some inherent risk of injury, illness, death, loss, or damage to personal property, which may be caused by acts of nature, negligence or actions of others. 

In consideration of, and as part of the payment for your participation in a program, workshop, adventure, tour, other activities, or any program that LIGHT , or their assigns, may be conducting, you are voluntarily releasing LIGHT, their employees, assigns, independent contractors, or anyone involved thereof, from any damages, liabilities, costs, injuries whether mental or physical, known or unknown, and by participation you agree to assume all risks whether known or unknown. You acknowledge voluntarily that by traveling to areas that may be remote, foreign, mountainous, wilderness, wild rivers, remote deserts, and may not be maintained to the standards you are accustomed and therefore may involve certain additional risks, dangers, and inconveniences including, but not limited to, terrorism, forces of nature, wild animals, hotel accommodations, airplane, vehicles, trains, boats, roads, walkways, trails, and other means of conveyance or other unknown risks. You acknowledge that medical services and facilities may not be readily available during all or part of the trip, including medical care, presence of physicians, and medication. We assume no liability for medical care. We assume no liability for dietary requirements you have.

Your application signifies your full understanding and agreement that you release and hold harmless LIGHT, it’s officers, agents, sponsors, associates, sub-contractors, from any and all liability, actions, causes of actions, claims, debts, and demands of every kind whatsoever, known or unknown which may arise in connection with your participation in any activities arranged by them without limitation, all liability, actions, causes of action, claims, debts, and demands related to the negligence of said persons.

You also acknowledge that you understand that travel with a group invariably involves compromise to accommodate the diverse desires, travel goals, personalities, and physical abilities of group members. You also understand that while itineraries are carefully planned, they are not a guaranteed schedule of activities, events, or participation, but only a guideline and example. Group participants must allow for flexibility and changes deemed necessary by the program leader or professional guides. There may be situations beyond our control due to geographic, climatic, physical, or governmental restrictions that will cause further changes in timing, locations, and activities. Understanding this, you further agree that there will be no discounts or refunds for activities curtailed or otherwise affected by such circumstances.

You have assumed the responsibility to select an activity appropriate to your physical abilities and interests. You are personally responsible for being in sufficiently good health to undertake the activity. By accepting our terms of service, and by your deposit, you certify that you do not knowingly have any physical or other considerations of disability that would create a risk for you or other participants. We reserve the right to request a doctor’s statement of good health.

You will be responsible for studying all pre-trip information; for bringing all equipment, personal items, and appropriate clothing; for conforming to standards of dress and hygiene; and for acting in a manner considerate of fellow participants, locations and environments, models, and locations. We reserve the right to cancel any activity and to accept or reject any person as a member of any activity. The program, workshop, expedition, excursion, or trip leader’s judgment shall provide the ultimate determination of an individual’s ability to participate in, or continue to participate in, any activity or program.

ARBITRATION

You agree to have any claim, controversy, or dispute relating to the enforcement or interpretation of this document or arising or relating to your registration, participation, or attendance at a LIGHT workshop, submitted to binding arbitration under the rules and regulations of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall take place in San Luis Obispo County, California. You do hereby waive your right to bring an action before a judge or jury in any court and you understand that you have given up your rights to discovery and appeal. Any award rendered in any arbitration may be made a judgment by any court of competent jurisdiction. You understand that if you refuse to submit to arbitration after agreeing to this provision, you may be compelled to arbitrate under the authority of the California Code of Civil Procedure.

USE OF NAMES AND LIKENESS

We reserve the right to take photographs or videos during the operation of any workshop or part thereof and to use the resulting photography in whole or in part for promotional purposes, including, but not limited to: advertising and publicity both in print and electronic media. By booking a reservation with LIGHT, participants agree to allow their images to be used in such photography; participants who prefer that their image not be used are asked to identify themselves to their instructor and/or workshop assistant or office manager once they arrive for their workshop tour or trip.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP OR TOUR FEE

Air transportation and related fees (except as indicated in the itinerary); lodging unless otherwise noted in the tour, trip, or workshop itinerary or description; activities noted as optional in the itinerary; gratuities, unless otherwise noted on the itinerary page; passport and visa expenses; baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone calls, meals (except as indicated on the itinerary) alcoholic beverages; and any other items not specifically noted as included.

TRAVEL AND DOCUMENTATION FOR TOURS AND ADVENTURES

You are responsible for ensuring that you have the proper travel documents and immunizations. You should check with the respective consulate(s) or visa agencies to determine whether visas are required. Valid passports are required for international travel.

INSURANCE

Unless you are already covered under an existing policy, we recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Such insurance often provides coverage for losses suffered in the event of trip cancellation and interruption, travel delay, loss of baggage and travel documents, baggage delay, medical emergencies and accidental death.

THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

You understand that we rely upon third party tour organizers, transportation providers, hotel operators and food providers to provide the services associated with the workshops. All tickets, coupons, reservations, etc. are subject to the terms and conditions and other policies of the third-party service provider. We cannot control the actions of such third-parties and do not assume responsibility for unanticipated events that may occur, including, without limitation, travel delays, lost luggage, cancellations, overbooking, and other reservation errors. You should build some flexibility into your schedule in case we need to extend the length of the Workshop or make other reasonable scheduling changes to accommodate unanticipated events such as travel delays, lost luggage, cancellations, overbooking and other reservation errors. You will not be entitled to a refund in the event of unanticipated events requiring scheduling changes. You further agree to hold us harmless from and against any liability for injury, death, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity that might occur in connection with any services provided by third parties.

CANCELLATION OR CHANGE OF A WORKSHOP

While LIGHT will make every attempt to operate a trip, tour or workshop once confirmed, we do reserve the right to cancel or change, at any time due to insufficient bookings and/or reasons beyond our control that might create unsafe or undesirable travel conditions for the participants. In such case, a full and immediate refund will be issued. However, the financial liability of LIGHT shall be limited to the amount paid to LIGHT for the Workshop only and shall not be extended to cover any other associated travel costs incurred (e.g. non-refundable air tickets, visa fees if applicable, clothing, equipment, miscellaneous transportation costs, medical expenses, travel insurance premiums, etc.). We reserve the right to refuse acceptance of any participant, for any reason, at any time. We are not responsible for any additional expenses incurred by such participants. For these cases we do recommend travel insurance and have some recommendations on where to get travel insurance if you call the office.

CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY

If you cancel and the workshop is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a 5% service charge. If the workshop does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the workshop:

Greater than 60 days from the start date of the Workshop: full refund minus 5% fee.

30-45 days: 50% refund or 50% transfer to a different class

Less than 30 days: no refund

Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made. Refunds will be initiated within 5 business days of the time that the request is approved.