TERMS & CONDITIONS
We wish we didn't need all this, but occasionally, some people do odd things. We will do anything to help our clients be successful, but we need you all to follow the studio rules so everyone wins.
BOOKINGS
1. Bookings are handled on a first come, first serve basis.
2. We do not take holds or put them on the calendar. We have found that doing so creates email ping-pong, which does not help anyone. Sorry!
3. A non-refundable deposit of $100/day is required for all bookings. The deposit is applied to the balance of the shoot.
4. Full payment is required on the day before the shoot. Any other fees, such as going over the booked hours, fees for running into someone else’s shoot, or damage, will be charged after the shoot on a separate online invoice. If full payment is not received before the shoot time and date, the shoot will not be able to proceed, and the deposit will be forfeited. That would be really sad, so please be nice!
5. Bookings may be paid with debit/credit cards/ApplePay or ACH transfer via Square payments. StudiowerksDC does not accept checks.
6. There is a 2.9% Llama Grooming Fee if you use a credit card (it’s not a credit card fee). The Square online invoice has an ACH bank transfer option. If you would like to use that, let us know, and we can remove the lama grooming fee.
7. If you exceed your booked time and someone else’s booking is delayed outside the studio, you will be charged a $500 penalty and asked to leave. You will also most likely be barred from using the studio again.
8. Your booking should include the time spent setting up, breaking down, and cleaning up. Please include this time in setup (lights, hair, makeup, etc.), breakdown (packing up, etc.), and cleanup (food in trash cans, props returned, etc.) as part of your shoot. You will be charged additional hours if you or anyone involved in your shoot occupies the studio after or before your booking time.
9. If you wish to change or extend the time of your booking, send an email to bookings@StudiowerksDC.com with your request. Extending your booking does not constitute a cancellation. We will be happy to change your booking if it can be supported by the studio calendar. The $100 deposit is transferable as long as the change is 5 days before the booking.
10. Renters may be charged an additional cleanup fee if the studio is left overly messy, and you probably won't be allowed to book again. This is at the staff’s discretion and will be charged to the card on the credit card authorization form.
OVERTIME
11. Overtime is prorated in 30-minute intervals, rounded up. Running over your booking is not a problem as long as no one is behind you. Generally, we only take one client per day.
12. If the studio is available, you may enter the studio before your scheduled shoot time. You will be charged for that time in addition to your booked time, even if you end early.
CANCELLATION
13. If you cancel your booking, the $100 deposit is not refundable. If the cancellation is less than five days before the booking, the full amount of your booking will be charged.
STUDIO HOURS
14. The earliest you can arrive is 6 a.m. You must be locked up and driving away by 10 p.m. We are in a residential area and can continue to operate because our neighbors love us. A $500 penalty will be charged to your card if you breach this condition.
CANCELLING DUE TO WEATHER
15. The D.C. or Federal Government must declare a weather emergency to cancel your booking due to weather within five days of the shoot. This warning includes telling their government minions not to come to work that day. This is the only time weather can be used as a cancellation reason. This keeps it simple and clear-cut for everyone.
RESETTING THE STUDIO
16. You must leave the studio clean and neat, the same as you found it. The furniture and equipment must be returned as you found them. You will be charged a fee if the studio is not reset at the studio’s discretion.
You can always see how the studio was set up by looking at the 3D Virtual Scout on our homepage.
LOST AND FOUND
17. Items will be kept for two weeks. After that, they will be donated or disposed of.
DAMAGE
18. You will be responsible for the cost of replacing or repairing any equipment broken or damaged by you or anyone involved with or attending your shoot.
19. You agree that we can use the signed credit card authorization to repay for damaged and missing equipment or damage to the premises.
20. StudiowerksDC is in no way responsible for loss or damage to member-owned equipment, including cameras, lenses, strobes and diffusers, light stands, props, clothing, etc
21. Our insurance does not cover any belongings and equipment left in the studio during the day or overnight; that is what your insurance is for. Please make sure all of your equipment is insured.
BREACH OF STUDIO RULES
22. StudiowerksDC reserves the right to end a booking before or during without a refund for the following reasons:
22.1 Causing a nuisance to others in or outside the studio
22.2 Mistreatment of StudiowerksDC staff, including verbal abuse.
22.3 Illegal activity, including any type of pornography as per DC law (tasteful nudity is allowed)
22.4 Drug/Alcohol abuse
22.5 Destruction/vandalism of StudiowerksDC equipment or facilities
22.6 Nonadherence to StudiowerksDC posted parking rules
22.7 Violation of any term of this contract
AUDIO/NOISE
23. If you are recording audio during a video shoot, please be aware that we cannot control the amount of ambient noise outside the studio. We are in the middle of a city, so we can’t control aircraft overhead or if the city decides to jackhammer up a nearby road on the day of your shoot.
INTERNET
24. At StudiowerksDC, we have Verizon FIOS high-speed internet and also an AT&T 5G backup. However, internet provider and equipment failures happen. We do not guarantee our internet will work or guarantee any specific speed. We strongly suggest that someone from your production has the ability to create a hotspot from a device they bring to the studio as a backup.
POWER
25. We do not guarantee the studio will have power (electricity). We do not have a backup generator at the studio. If our provider, Pepco, has an outage, the studio will lose all power. This is extremely rare as in D.C., the power lines are underground, but it could happen.
TRASH TRUCKS
26. On Monday, two trash trucks come, usually before 9am. On Thursday, there is one trash truck, usually around 6-9am.
FIREARMS
27. No firearms are allowed in the studio except law enforcement officers.