Terms of service

1. General terms

1.1 About these terms

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern access to and use of the website operated under the name Paoletti Studio, as well as any photo editing, retouching, image enhancement, compositing, consulting, or related creative services provided through or in connection with the website.

By requesting a quotation, accepting a project proposal, making a payment, or otherwise instructing Paoletti Studio to begin work, you agree to be bound by the version of these Terms applicable at the time the relevant project is agreed.

These Terms should be read together with any quotation, project proposal, service agreement, invoice, or other written document issued for a specific project. Where a project-specific agreement expressly differs from these Terms, the project-specific agreement will prevail only in relation to that specific provision.

Nothing contained on the website, including service descriptions, portfolio examples, estimated pricing, or starting prices, constitutes a binding offer unless expressly confirmed in writing by Paoletti Studio.

1.2 About Paoletti Studio

Paoletti Studio is an independent creative studio providing professional photo editing and retouching services, with a primary focus on landscape and travel photography.

References in these Terms to “Paoletti Studio”, “the Studio”, “we”, “us”, or “our” refer to the person or legal entity operating Paoletti Studio at the time the relevant service is provided.

References to “Client”, “you”, or “your” refer to the individual, professional, company, organisation, agency, or other entity requesting or purchasing services from Paoletti Studio.

The Studio’s current contact details and any legally required business information are made available on the website and may be updated where necessary to reflect changes in the business.

1.3 Eligibility and client authority

By requesting or purchasing Services, you confirm that you have the legal capacity and authority required to enter into an agreement with Paoletti Studio.

If you act on behalf of a company, agency, organisation, photographer, client, or other third party, you represent that you are duly authorised to bind that party in relation to the project.

You are responsible for ensuring that all information provided to Paoletti Studio in connection with a project is accurate, complete, and not misleading.

Where Services are purchased by a consumer, nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude, restrict, or override any mandatory rights granted under applicable consumer protection law.

1.4 Electronic communications

You agree that communications relating to inquiries, quotations, project approvals, revisions, payments, delivery, contractual notices, and other matters connected with the Services may be made electronically, including by email or through other agreed digital communication channels.

Electronic communications may be used to record project instructions, approvals, amendments, and other agreements between you and Paoletti Studio, unless a specific form is required by applicable law.

You are responsible for providing a valid and monitored email address and for informing Paoletti Studio promptly if your contact information changes.

The use of electronic communications does not, by itself, affect their legal validity.

2. Services and project scope

2.1 Services offered

Paoletti Studio provides professional photo editing, retouching, image enhancement, compositing, image blending, object removal, print preparation, and related creative services.

The nature and extent of the Services provided for each project will depend on the Client’s requirements, the condition and quality of the source files, the intended use of the final images, and any technical or creative limitations identified during project review.

The Studio may accept or decline any request at its discretion, including where the requested result is technically unsuitable, outside the Studio’s area of expertise, incompatible with the available source material, or otherwise inappropriate to undertake.

2.2 Website information and starting prices

Descriptions of Services, portfolio examples, starting prices, turnaround indications, and other information published on the website are provided for general guidance only.

Any price displayed as “from”, “starting from”, or otherwise indicative represents a minimum reference price and does not constitute a fixed quotation for every project.

The final price may vary depending on factors including, but not limited to, the number of images, the complexity of the requested work, the condition and resolution of the source files, the number of required techniques, the intended output, delivery requirements, and the overall scope of the project.

No price displayed on the website shall become binding unless confirmed by Paoletti Studio in writing for the relevant project.

2.3 Project inquiries and quotations

Submitting a contact form, sending an email, providing image files, requesting an estimate, or otherwise contacting Paoletti Studio does not create a binding obligation on either party.

Before accepting a project, the Studio may request source images, references, specifications, examples, intended output requirements, or any other information reasonably necessary to assess feasibility, scope, timing, and price.

Any quotation or project proposal issued by Paoletti Studio is based on the information available at the time it is prepared. If the information provided by the Client is incomplete, inaccurate, or changes materially after the quotation is issued, the Studio may revise the scope, price, or estimated delivery time before work begins or, where appropriate, during the project.

Unless otherwise stated in writing, quotations remain valid only for the period specified in the quotation.

2.4 Formation of the agreement

A quotation, proposal, estimate, invoice, project inquiry, exchange of messages, or submission of Client materials does not by itself create a binding obligation on either party to proceed with a project, unless Paoletti Studio expressly states otherwise in writing.

A project becomes binding when the applicable Project Agreement has been signed by the parties. Unless the Project Agreement provides otherwise, the agreement becomes effective on the date of the last signature.

The applicable quotation or proposal identified in the Project Agreement, together with these Terms and any other document expressly incorporated into the Project Agreement, forms part of the contractual agreement between the Client and Paoletti Studio. The project-specific scope, Deliverables, price, timeline, and other commercial terms are those stated in the applicable quotation or other incorporated project document.

Payment of an invoice, deposit, or other amount does not by itself replace the requirement for a signed Project Agreement where one has been issued. Where payment is required before work begins, Paoletti Studio is not required to commence the Services until the relevant Project Agreement has become effective, the required payment has been received, and the Client has provided any materials, information, instructions, or approvals reasonably necessary to begin the project.

2.5 Scope of work

The Studio is required to provide only the Services expressly included in the agreed project scope.

Any task, image, deliverable, modification, output format, revision, or additional service not expressly included in the agreed scope will not be considered part of the original project merely because it is related to the same image or general objective.

The Client is responsible for reviewing the agreed scope before authorising the project to begin.

Where the scope is described by reference to specific images, quantities, techniques, or deliverables, those limitations form part of the agreement.

2.6 Standard editing, advanced editing and custom projects

For general guidance, Paoletti Studio may categorise work as Standard Editing, Advanced Editing, or Custom Projects.

Standard Editing generally includes routine image refinement such as color correction, tonal adjustments, contrast, sharpening, noise reduction, perspective correction, and basic cleanup.

Advanced Editing generally includes more complex or time-intensive work such as advanced object removal, background reconstruction, compositing, sky replacement, atmospheric effects, exposure blending, focus stacking, panorama stitching, or similar image manipulation.

Custom Projects are intended for larger batches, mixed editing requirements, commercial projects, recurring work, or projects whose scope cannot reasonably be described using a standard per-image service.

These categories are descriptive only. The final classification and pricing of any project will depend on the actual work required.

2.7 Additional work and scope changes

Any request that extends beyond the originally agreed scope may be treated as additional work.

Additional work may include, for example, new images, additional editing techniques, extra deliverables, changes to the agreed creative direction, more extensive retouching, additional output formats, new print specifications, or work requested after the original scope has been completed.

Paoletti Studio may provide a revised quotation or additional fee before carrying out such work.

Where a scope change materially affects the complexity or duration of the project, the Studio may also revise the estimated delivery time.

Paoletti Studio is not required to begin additional work until the Client has accepted any revised price, scope, or timeline that applies.

3. Client responsibilities

3.1 Client materials and instructions

The Client is responsible for providing Paoletti Studio with all images, files, references, specifications, instructions, and other materials reasonably required to complete the agreed Services.

All materials and instructions must be provided in sufficient quality and detail to allow the Studio to assess and perform the requested work.

The Client is responsible for reviewing all instructions, reference images, output requirements, dimensions, file specifications, and other project information before work begins. Paoletti Studio is entitled to rely on the information supplied by the Client unless an error or inconsistency is reasonably apparent.

If relevant information is incomplete, unclear, contradictory, or provided after work has begun, the Studio may request clarification, suspend work, revise the estimated delivery time, or treat any resulting additional work as a change in scope.

3.2 Accuracy of information

The Client represents that all information provided in connection with a project is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge.

The Client must promptly notify Paoletti Studio of any error, change, or circumstance that may affect the project, including changes to the intended use of an image, technical specifications, creative direction, delivery requirements, or rights associated with the submitted materials.

Paoletti Studio will not be responsible for errors, additional work, delays, or unsuitable deliverables resulting from inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, or misleading information supplied by the Client.

3.3 Rights to submitted materials

The Client retains ownership of any rights they hold in the original photographs, images, files, and other materials submitted to Paoletti Studio.

By submitting materials for editing, the Client represents and warrants that they own the relevant rights or have obtained all licences, permissions, consents, and authorisations necessary to provide those materials to Paoletti Studio and to request the agreed editing or modification.

The Client grants Paoletti Studio a limited, non-exclusive permission to access, reproduce, process, modify, store, and otherwise use the submitted materials solely to the extent reasonably necessary to perform the Services and fulfil the relevant project agreement.

Submission of a file to Paoletti Studio does not transfer ownership of that file or its underlying intellectual property rights to the Studio.

3.4 Third-party rights, releases and permissions

The Client is solely responsible for determining whether any additional permissions, releases, licences, or approvals are required for the intended use of the submitted materials or final Deliverables.

This may include, where applicable, copyright permissions, model releases, property releases, trademark permissions, location permissions, contractual approvals, or any other third-party rights.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, Paoletti Studio does not investigate ownership, copyright status, model consent, property rights, trademarks, or other third-party rights associated with materials supplied by the Client.

The Studio’s acceptance of a project does not constitute confirmation that the Client possesses all rights necessary for the intended use of the image.

3.5 Images containing identifiable persons or personal data

Where submitted images or project materials contain identifiable individuals or other personal data, the Client is responsible for ensuring that such materials may lawfully be disclosed to and processed by Paoletti Studio for the purposes of the project.

Where applicable, the Client must provide any information, instructions, permissions, or contractual documentation reasonably required to allow the Studio to process such data lawfully.

Depending on the circumstances, Paoletti Studio may act as an independent controller or as a processor acting on behalf of the Client. Where applicable law requires a separate data processing agreement, the parties may be required to enter into such an agreement before the relevant processing begins.

3.6 Cooperation and timely feedback

The Client must provide any approvals, selections, clarification, feedback, or additional materials reasonably requested by Paoletti Studio within a reasonable time.

Project timelines are based on the assumption that the Client will cooperate without undue delay. If the Client does not provide required information or feedback, the Studio may pause the project and adjust the delivery schedule accordingly.

Paoletti Studio will not be responsible for delays caused wholly or partly by the Client’s failure to provide timely instructions, materials, approvals, or responses.

Where a delay materially affects availability or scheduling, the Studio may propose a revised completion date before work resumes.

3.7 Review of project requirements

Before approving a project, the Client is responsible for confirming that the agreed quotation or project agreement accurately reflects the requested number of images, Services, deliverables, output specifications, and intended use.

Any requirement not communicated before approval may fall outside the agreed scope.

If the Client becomes aware that the project requirements have changed, they must notify the Studio before further work is carried out whenever reasonably possible.

3.8 Prohibited or unlawful requests

Paoletti Studio reserves the right to refuse, suspend, or terminate any project that the Studio reasonably believes may involve unlawful conduct, infringement of third-party rights, fraud, deception, harassment, defamation, misuse of personal data, or other activity that could expose the Studio or another person to legal or regulatory risk.

The Studio may also refuse work that is materially different from the Services normally offered or that it considers inappropriate, unsafe, or inconsistent with its professional standards.

Where a project is refused or terminated for these reasons, the treatment of any amounts already paid will depend on the work already performed, applicable law, and the circumstances of the project.

3.9 Responsibility for final use

The Client is responsible for determining whether the final Deliverables are suitable and legally permissible for their intended use, including publication, advertising, commercial distribution, printing, competition entry, editorial use, or submission to third-party platforms.

Unless expressly included within the agreed Services, Paoletti Studio does not provide legal, regulatory, copyright, advertising, publishing, or platform-compliance advice.

The Client remains responsible for complying with any rules, technical specifications, disclosure obligations, or usage restrictions imposed by third parties in connection with the final image.

4. Revisions, delivery and files

4.1 Revisions

Unless otherwise stated in the relevant project agreement, each project includes two rounds of revisions.

Included revisions are intended for reasonable, minor adjustments to the work already completed within the agreed creative direction and scope. They may include, for example, refinements to color, tone, contrast, brightness, local adjustments, or other comparable changes to an existing edit.

A revision does not include a substantial change in creative direction, a different editing concept, work on additional images, the addition of new services, or the performance of work that was not included in the original project scope.

Any revision requested after the two included rounds will normally be charged at €15 per revision, unless a different fee has been agreed in writing.

Where a requested change requires substantial additional work, Paoletti Studio may treat it as additional work rather than a standard revision and provide a separate quotation before proceeding.

Nothing in this section limits any mandatory statutory rights available to a consumer under applicable law.

4.2 Revision requests

Revision requests should be clear, specific, and consolidated wherever reasonably possible.

The Client should identify the relevant image and describe the requested changes with sufficient detail to allow Paoletti Studio to understand and implement the request efficiently.

Where feedback is incomplete, contradictory, or materially different from the previously approved direction, the Studio may request clarification before proceeding.

Unless otherwise agreed, revision requests should relate to the version most recently delivered by the Studio. Revisions based on outdated versions, superseded instructions, or previously rejected directions may be treated as additional work where they materially increase the amount of work required.

4.3 Delivery times

Any delivery date or turnaround time communicated by Paoletti Studio is based on the project scope, workload, information, and materials available at the time the estimate is provided.

Unless expressly stated otherwise in writing, delivery times are estimates rather than guarantees.

The agreed timeframe begins only once Paoletti Studio has received all materials, instructions, approvals, and payments required to begin the relevant work.

Delivery dates may be reasonably extended where delays result from changes in scope, additional requests, late Client feedback, missing files, technical issues affecting materials supplied by the Client, or circumstances outside the Studio’s reasonable control.

Where a fixed deadline is essential to the Client, it must be expressly communicated and accepted by Paoletti Studio in writing before the project begins.

4.4 Client delays and inactivity

The Client is expected to provide requested feedback, approvals, files, selections, and instructions within a reasonable time.

Where progress is prevented by Client inactivity, Paoletti Studio may pause the project until the required information is received.

Any agreed delivery date may be adjusted to reflect the period of delay and the Studio’s availability when work resumes.

If a project remains inactive for an extended period, Paoletti Studio may notify the Client that the project will be archived or closed. Resumption may then be subject to a revised schedule and, where substantial additional administration or work is required, an additional fee agreed in advance.

A project will not be treated as abandoned or terminated solely because of a short or reasonable delay in communication.

4.5 Delivery and review of deliverables

Final or review files may be delivered by email, secure download link, cloud transfer service, client portal, or another digital method agreed between the parties.

The Client is responsible for reviewing the delivered files promptly and notifying Paoletti Studio of any requested revisions or apparent problems within a reasonable period.

Where the Client requests revisions, the project will remain open until the agreed revision process has been completed or the parties otherwise agree that the work is final.

Approval may be given expressly in writing or by another clear indication that the Client accepts the final work.

The absence of a revision request does not waive any mandatory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded, including any applicable consumer rights relating to conformity of the contracted service.

4.6 Deliverables and file formats

Paoletti Studio will provide only the deliverables and file formats expressly included in the agreed project scope.

Unless otherwise agreed, the Studio may determine appropriate technical export settings having regard to the Client’s stated intended use and the nature of the source material.

Where the Client requires a particular file format, resolution, color profile, physical print dimension, compression setting, or other technical specification, this must be communicated before final delivery wherever reasonably possible.

Additional formats, alternative exports, resized versions, print-ready files, or other deliverables requested after the agreed work has been completed may be treated as additional services where they require further preparation.

The Client is responsible for checking that any required technical specifications imposed by a printer, publisher, platform, agency, or other third party have been correctly communicated to Paoletti Studio.

4.7 Source files and working files

Unless expressly included in the relevant quotation or project agreement, delivery of the final edited image does not include Paoletti Studio’s source files, working files, intermediate versions, project files, layered files, editing history, masks, working documents, or other production materials used in creating the final Deliverable.

Where source or editable files are available and the Studio agrees to provide them, they may be subject to a separate fee and any additional terms specified in the project agreement.

Paoletti Studio is not required to retain editable working files indefinitely after a project has been completed.

Any tools, workflows, techniques, templates, settings, processes, or other Studio materials contained within or associated with a working file remain subject to the intellectual property provisions of these Terms.

4.8 File storage and retention

The Client is responsible for downloading, verifying, and securely backing up all final Deliverables after delivery.

Paoletti Studio may retain Client materials, working files, and final Deliverables for a limited period after project completion for operational, backup, revision, legal, or administrative purposes, but does not provide permanent file storage or archival services unless expressly agreed in writing.

The Studio may delete project files after the applicable retention period without further obligation to recreate or restore them.

Where a Client requests restoration, re-export, or retrieval of archived materials that remain available, Paoletti Studio may charge a reasonable fee where the request requires additional work.

Any retention or deletion of files containing personal data will also be subject to the Studio’s applicable Privacy Policy and data protection obligations.

4.9 Loss or corruption after delivery

Once the final Deliverables have been successfully made available to the Client, the Client is responsible for maintaining suitable copies and backups.

Paoletti Studio will not be responsible for the subsequent loss, deletion, corruption, accidental modification, or unavailability of files resulting from the Client’s own storage systems, devices, software, cloud services, or third-party platforms.

This provision does not exclude responsibility for any loss caused by Paoletti Studio where such responsibility cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

5. Technical and creative limitations

5.1 Creative judgment

Photo editing and retouching involve a degree of professional and creative judgment.

Paoletti Studio will perform the Services in accordance with the agreed brief, references, intended use, and project requirements, while applying its own professional judgment to matters such as color, tonal balance, contrast, local adjustments, compositing, atmosphere, and overall image treatment.

The Client acknowledges that aesthetic preferences are inherently subjective. Unless a specific result has been expressly agreed in writing, differences in personal taste alone will not constitute a failure to perform the Services.

Where the Client has a specific visual direction in mind, they are responsible for communicating it as clearly as reasonably possible before work begins.

5.2 Reference images and visual examples

Reference images, mood boards, sample edits, screenshots, or other visual examples supplied by the Client are used to communicate direction and expectations.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise, a reference image does not constitute a guarantee that the final Deliverable will reproduce the same appearance exactly.

Differences in subject matter, lighting, weather, exposure, dynamic range, focal length, image quality, color information, perspective, and source-file characteristics may affect how closely a reference can be matched.

Paoletti Studio will use reasonable professional efforts to follow the agreed visual direction while preserving a technically and visually coherent result.

5.3 Source image quality

The quality and technical characteristics of the final Deliverable are necessarily influenced by the quality of the source material supplied by the Client.

Paoletti Studio cannot guarantee the complete correction or recovery of defects that are materially present in the original file, including severe motion blur, missed focus, clipping, excessive noise, compression artifacts, banding, insufficient resolution, limited dynamic range, damaged image data, or other technical limitations.

Where such limitations are apparent before the project begins, the Studio may inform the Client and recommend an alternative approach.

The Studio will not be responsible for characteristics of the source file that could not reasonably be corrected within the agreed scope or that were not reasonably detectable before editing began.

5.4 Advanced editing and image reconstruction

Certain Advanced Editing Services may require the creation, reconstruction, replacement, or interpretation of visual information that is not fully present in the original photograph.

This may occur, for example, when removing a large object, reconstructing an obscured background, replacing a sky, adding atmospheric elements, extending an image, or performing compositing work.

The Client acknowledges that reconstructed or generated visual areas may necessarily involve professional interpretation and cannot always represent with certainty what was physically present in the original scene.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise, Paoletti Studio does not guarantee that reconstructed areas will constitute a historically, geographically, architecturally, or physically exact representation of information that was not visible or recorded in the source image.

The Studio will instead aim to produce a visually coherent and natural result consistent with the agreed creative direction.

5.5 Image blending and multiple-source editing

Where the Services involve exposure blending, focus stacking, panorama stitching, compositing, or other techniques that combine multiple source images, the final result depends on the compatibility and quality of the supplied files.

Differences in camera position, subject movement, focus, exposure, focal length, perspective, weather conditions, or image alignment may limit the extent to which multiple images can be combined seamlessly.

Paoletti Studio may decline to perform a requested blending technique where the supplied files are technically unsuitable, or may propose an alternative approach where appropriate.

Any substantial reconstruction required because the source files cannot be combined normally may be treated as additional work.

5.6 Upscaling and resolution enhancement

Upscaling and resolution enhancement may improve the apparent resolution, sharpness, detail, and usability of an image, but they cannot guarantee the recovery of genuine photographic information that was never captured in the original file.

The achievable result depends on factors including source resolution, focus, compression, noise, subject detail, and the degree of enlargement requested.

Paoletti Studio does not guarantee that an upscaled image will be visually equivalent to an image originally captured at the requested native resolution.

Where a requested enlargement is likely to produce an unsuitable result, the Studio may recommend a lower output size or alternative preparation method.

5.7 Print-ready preparation

Where Paoletti Studio provides print-ready preparation, the Studio will prepare the file according to the dimensions, resolution, output sharpening, format, and other specifications agreed for the project.

The Client is responsible for providing any printer-specific requirements, including preferred dimensions, bleed, color space, ICC profile, file format, or other production specifications, where applicable.

“Print-ready” does not mean that Paoletti Studio guarantees an identical visual appearance across all monitors, printers, papers, inks, laboratories, or viewing conditions.

Accurate print reproduction depends on factors outside the Studio’s control, including monitor calibration, printer calibration, paper characteristics, ink, color-management settings, ICC profiles, ambient lighting, and the practices of the selected print provider.

Where a printer or laboratory supplies a specific ICC profile or production specification, the Client should provide it before the final print-ready file is prepared.

5.8 Display differences

The Client acknowledges that the same image may appear different across devices and applications due to variations in display calibration, brightness, contrast, color gamut, operating-system settings, browser rendering, and color-management support.

Paoletti Studio cannot guarantee that a Deliverable will appear identical on every screen or device.

Where color-critical output is required, the Client should use an appropriately calibrated and color-managed display environment.

5.9 Technical compatibility

Where the Client requires a Deliverable to comply with particular technical specifications imposed by a printer, publisher, website, application, agency, competition, marketplace, or other third party, those requirements must be communicated to Paoletti Studio before final delivery.

The Studio will use reasonable care to prepare the Deliverable according to specifications that have been clearly communicated and accepted.

Paoletti Studio is not responsible for incompatibility arising from undisclosed, incorrect, incomplete, or subsequently changed third-party requirements.

6. Pricing and payment

6.1 Prices and currency

Unless otherwise stated in writing, all prices quoted by Paoletti Studio are expressed in euros (EUR).

Prices published on the website are indicative starting prices only and are not binding for a specific project unless confirmed in a written quotation, proposal, invoice, or project agreement.

The final project price will be determined according to the agreed scope of work and may take into account factors including the number of images, complexity of the requested editing, required techniques, output specifications, turnaround requirements, and any additional services requested by the Client.

Where applicable, any taxes or other mandatory charges will be identified in accordance with applicable law before the Client becomes bound by the relevant agreement.

For consumer contracts, the total price payable, including applicable taxes and any additional charges that can reasonably be calculated in advance, will be disclosed before the Client is required to make payment.

6.2 Quotations and final pricing

A quotation issued by Paoletti Studio reflects the scope and information available at the time it is prepared.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, a quotation includes only the Services, deliverables, image quantities, revisions, and technical requirements specifically identified in that quotation.

If the Client subsequently changes the scope, supplies materially different source files, requests additional images, adds new techniques, alters the intended output, or otherwise increases the amount of work required, Paoletti Studio may revise the price before carrying out the additional work.

Where the full price cannot reasonably be calculated in advance because the scope depends on information not yet available, the Studio will explain the applicable pricing basis or method of calculation before the Client becomes bound.

6.3 Payment terms

Payment terms will be stated in the relevant quotation, invoice, project agreement, or payment request.

Depending on the nature and value of the project, Paoletti Studio may require:

• payment in full before work begins;

• an advance payment or deposit, with the balance due at a later agreed stage; or

• another payment schedule expressly agreed in writing.

The Studio is not required to begin or continue work until any payment due at that stage has been successfully received.

Payment of an invoice, deposit, or other agreed amount does not replace the requirement for a signed Project Agreement where one has been issued.

6.4 Advance payments and deposits

Where an advance payment or deposit is required, its amount, purpose, and payment deadline will be stated before the Client commits to the project.

An advance payment may be used to secure project scheduling, reserve Studio capacity, or cover work performed before final delivery.

The treatment of any advance payment following cancellation will depend on the applicable cancellation terms, the amount of work already performed, any capacity reasonably reserved for the project, and any mandatory rights available to the Client under applicable law.

No provision describing a deposit or advance payment as non-refundable will override any mandatory consumer right that cannot lawfully be excluded.

6.5 Payment processing

Payments may be processed through Stripe or another payment method expressly accepted by Paoletti Studio.

Where a third-party payment provider is used, the payment may also be subject to that provider’s applicable terms, authentication requirements, security procedures, and technical limitations.

Paoletti Studio does not receive or store complete payment-card credentials where those details are handled directly by the payment provider.

A payment will be treated as received only once the relevant transaction has been successfully authorised and settled or otherwise confirmed to Paoletti Studio.

If a payment is declined, reversed, cancelled, disputed, or otherwise unsuccessful, the Client remains responsible for any amount lawfully due under the project agreement.

6.6 Payment method fees

Paoletti Studio will not impose an unlawful surcharge merely because a consumer chooses to pay using a payment method for which such surcharges are prohibited.

Where applicable law permits a specific payment-related charge, any such charge will be disclosed before the Client becomes bound and will not exceed any applicable legal limit.

6.7 Invoices and payment records

Paoletti Studio may issue invoices, receipts, payment confirmations, or other accounting documentation as required by applicable law or appropriate to the Client’s status and the nature of the transaction.

The Client is responsible for providing accurate billing information, including any business name, registered address, tax identification number, VAT number, or other details reasonably required for invoicing.

If the Client fails to provide correct billing information before an invoice is issued, any correction or reissue will be handled in accordance with applicable tax and accounting rules.

6.8 Payment deadlines

Any payment due date stated in a quotation, invoice, or project agreement forms part of the agreed payment terms.

The Client is responsible for making payment by the specified due date.

Where payment is overdue, Paoletti Studio may suspend further work, withhold delivery of outstanding Deliverables, postpone scheduled work, or decline to begin subsequent project stages until the amount due has been paid.

Any resulting delay in delivery will not constitute a delay by Paoletti Studio where it is caused by the Client’s failure to make payment when due.

6.9 Late payments by business clients

Where the Client is acting in the course of a business, trade, or professional activity, overdue amounts may be subject to statutory interest, compensation, and recovery costs to the extent permitted by applicable law.

For qualifying commercial transactions governed by Italian law, statutory late-payment rights may arise under Legislative Decree No. 231/2002. That legislation provides for statutory default interest in commercial transactions and permits different contractual arrangements within the limits established by law.

Paoletti Studio’s decision not to enforce late-payment interest or recovery costs on one occasion does not constitute a waiver of the right to do so in relation to another overdue payment.

6.10 Failed, reversed or disputed payments

If a payment is rejected, reversed, recalled, charged back, or otherwise withdrawn after Services have been provided, Paoletti Studio may suspend the project and any further delivery while the matter is investigated.

A payment dispute or chargeback does not automatically cancel any contractual obligation to pay for Services properly performed and lawfully due.

The Client should contact Paoletti Studio promptly if they believe that a payment has been made incorrectly or if they wish to raise a concern regarding a charge.

Paoletti Studio may retain relevant project records, communications, approvals, payment confirmations, evidence of delivery, and accepted contractual terms for the purpose of responding to payment disputes.

6.11 Additional fees and expenses

No additional fee will be charged for work outside the agreed scope without the Client being informed of the additional charge or pricing basis before that additional work is undertaken.

Additional fees may apply where agreed for services such as extra revisions, additional images, expedited delivery, new editing techniques, alternative output requirements, file preparation, or other work outside the original scope.

Any third-party expense that the Client is expected to reimburse must be agreed in advance unless immediate expenditure is reasonably necessary to prevent loss or project failure and obtaining prior approval is not practicable.

For consumer contracts, optional additional payments will not be imposed through pre-selected options or other mechanisms that do not reflect the Client’s express choice.

6.12 Currency conversion and bank charges

Where the Client pays from an account or payment method denominated in a currency other than EUR, their bank, card issuer, payment provider, or other intermediary may apply its own exchange rate or currency-conversion fee.

Such charges are determined by the relevant third party and are outside Paoletti Studio’s control.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise, the amount due to Paoletti Studio is the EUR amount stated in the relevant quotation or invoice.

Any conversion or banking costs charged directly to the Client by their own provider remain the Client’s responsibility.

6.13 Withholding of final deliverables

Where an outstanding payment remains due, Paoletti Studio may withhold final high-resolution Deliverables, source files, editable files, or other remaining project materials until payment has been received in full, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

This does not permit the Studio to withhold anything that applicable law requires to be provided notwithstanding a payment dispute.

Any intellectual property rights or licences that are expressly stated elsewhere in these Terms to arise only upon full payment will remain subject to those provisions.

7. Cancellations, refunds and consumer rights

7.1 Client cancellations

The Client may request cancellation of a project by contacting Paoletti Studio in writing.

A cancellation request does not automatically entitle the Client to a full refund. The amount, if any, refundable will depend on the Client’s legal status, the stage reached by the project, the work already performed, any costs already incurred, and any mandatory rights applicable under consumer law.

Where work has not yet begun and no non-recoverable cost has been incurred, Paoletti Studio may, where appropriate, cancel the project and refund any amount paid, subject to any expressly agreed and legally valid reservation or deposit terms.

Where work has already begun, the Studio may retain or charge an amount proportionate to the Services lawfully performed up to the date of cancellation, together with any other amount that may lawfully be retained under the applicable agreement.

7.2 Cancellation by Paoletti Studio

Paoletti Studio may cancel or terminate a project where there is a reasonable basis to do so, including where:

• the Client fails to provide required materials, instructions, approvals, or payments;

• the requested work becomes technically impracticable;

• the Client materially changes the scope without accepting a revised quotation;

• the project involves unlawful, infringing, abusive, or otherwise unacceptable material;

• continued performance would expose the Studio to legal, regulatory, security, or professional risk; or

• circumstances outside the Studio’s reasonable control make completion impracticable.

Where Paoletti Studio cancels a project for reasons not attributable to the Client, the Studio will account fairly for any Services already performed and any amount paid, subject to applicable law and the specific circumstances.

7.3 Refunds

Refunds are assessed according to the circumstances of the relevant project and are not automatically available merely because the Client changes their mind after work has begun or because the final result differs from a subjective preference that was not part of the agreed brief.

Where the Studio has failed to provide Services in accordance with the agreed scope, or where applicable law requires a remedy, the Client remains entitled to any remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, including where relevant correction, price reduction, cancellation, or refund.

Any voluntary refund granted by Paoletti Studio in a particular case does not create an obligation to grant the same remedy in unrelated future cases.

Refunds approved by the Studio will normally be returned using the original payment method where practicable. Refunds may take several business days to appear on the Client’s account after processing.

7.4 Non-refundable work already performed

To the extent permitted by applicable law, work that has already been properly performed in accordance with the agreed scope is not refundable solely because the Client later decides not to use the Deliverable, changes their creative direction, no longer needs the project, or experiences circumstances unrelated to the quality or conformity of the Services.

This does not affect any mandatory consumer right, any valid claim relating to non-conformity, or any right arising from a failure by Paoletti Studio to perform the agreed Services.

7.5 Consumer right of withdrawal

Where the Client qualifies as a consumer under applicable EU or Italian law and the agreement is concluded at a distance, the Client may generally have the right to withdraw from the contract within 14 days from the date the service contract is concluded, without giving a reason.

The right of withdrawal is subject to the statutory conditions, exceptions, and procedures applicable to the relevant contract.

Where required by law, Paoletti Studio will provide the Client with the information necessary to exercise this right before the Client becomes bound by the contract.

7.6 Starting work during the withdrawal period

If a consumer wishes Paoletti Studio to begin performing the Services before the 14-day withdrawal period has expired, the Studio may require the Client to make an express request for early performance.

Where required by law, the Client will also be informed that, if the Services are fully performed during the withdrawal period following the required express consent and acknowledgement, the right of withdrawal may be lost once performance has been completed.

This request and acknowledgement should be obtained separately and clearly, rather than being hidden within general contractual wording.

7.7 Withdrawal after work has begun

Where a consumer validly withdraws after expressly requesting that performance begin during the withdrawal period, the consumer may be required to pay an amount proportionate to the Services performed up to the time the withdrawal is communicated, where permitted by law.

The proportionate amount will be calculated having regard to the work actually performed and the agreed total price, or, where legally required, the market value of the part already provided.

If the Studio has failed to provide the legally required information or has begun performance without the Client’s required express request, the Client may not be liable for certain costs incurred during the withdrawal period.

7.8 Loss of the right of withdrawal after full performance

For service contracts that place the consumer under an obligation to pay, the right of withdrawal may cease once the service has been fully performed, provided that performance began with the consumer’s prior express consent and the consumer acknowledged that the right of withdrawal would be lost once the service was fully completed.

Paoletti Studio will rely on this exception only where the legal requirements for doing so have been satisfied.

7.9 Refunds following a valid withdrawal

Where a consumer validly exercises a statutory right of withdrawal, Paoletti Studio will refund any amounts that must legally be returned within the period required by applicable law.

Any amount lawfully due for Services already performed following the consumer’s express request to begin work during the withdrawal period may be deducted or otherwise accounted for as permitted by law.

Refunds will ordinarily be made using the same means of payment used for the original transaction, unless another method is expressly agreed and permitted.

7.10 Business clients

The statutory consumer withdrawal rights described in this section do not apply to Clients acting wholly in the course of their trade, business, craft, or profession unless applicable law provides otherwise.

For business Clients, cancellation and refund rights are governed primarily by the relevant project agreement, these Terms, and applicable commercial law.

7.11 Payment disputes and chargebacks

A refund request and a payment dispute or chargeback are separate processes.

Clients are encouraged to contact Paoletti Studio first if they believe a payment, cancellation, refund, or delivery issue has arisen so that the matter can be reviewed directly.

If a chargeback or payment dispute is initiated, Paoletti Studio may provide the payment provider or relevant financial institution with appropriate evidence of the transaction, accepted Terms, project scope, communications, approvals, delivery, and work performed.

8. Intellectual property

8.1 Ownership of Client materials

The Client retains all rights, title, and interest that they lawfully hold in the original photographs, images, files, references, and other materials supplied to Paoletti Studio.

Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of the Client’s original materials to Paoletti Studio.

Paoletti Studio receives only the limited permission necessary to access, copy, store, process, modify, and otherwise use those materials for the purpose of performing the agreed Services.

Where materials are owned by a third party, the Client remains responsible for having the authority necessary to provide them to the Studio and to request the relevant editing or modification.

8.2 Permission to edit Client materials

By submitting an image or other material for editing, the Client authorises Paoletti Studio to make the alterations reasonably necessary to perform the agreed Services.

Such alterations may include color and tonal changes, retouching, object removal, compositing, image reconstruction, cropping, resizing, blending, atmospheric effects, or other modifications expressly included within the project scope.

The Client is responsible for ensuring that any such modification is permitted by the rights applicable to the underlying material.

This is particularly important where the Client is not the original author of the image or where third-party rights may restrict alteration of the work.

8.3 Rights in final Deliverables

Unless the relevant project agreement expressly provides otherwise, Paoletti Studio does not claim ownership of the Client’s underlying photograph merely because the Studio has edited or retouched it.

Upon full payment of all amounts due for the relevant project, the Client may use the final Deliverables for the purposes reasonably contemplated by the project agreement and any rights already held by the Client in the underlying material.

Where Paoletti Studio creates original material that is legally capable of attracting separate intellectual property protection, any transfer or licence of such rights will be limited to what is expressly agreed in writing for the relevant project.

No broader assignment of intellectual property rights shall be implied merely from delivery of the final files.

8.4 Rights conditional on full payment

Any licence, permission, assignment, or other right granted by Paoletti Studio in relation to Studio-created material becomes effective only once all amounts due for the relevant project have been paid in full, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.

Until full payment has been received, the Client may review Deliverables supplied for approval but may not exercise any additional rights in Studio-created material beyond what is reasonably necessary to review the work.

This provision does not restrict rights that the Client independently holds in their own original photographs or other Client Materials.

8.5 Studio materials and pre-existing intellectual property

Paoletti Studio retains all rights in its pre-existing materials, methods, know-how, workflows, processes, techniques, templates, actions, settings, presets, systems, internal documentation, reusable assets, and other tools used in providing the Services.

The fact that such materials or techniques are used in connection with a Client project does not transfer ownership of them to the Client.

Where any Studio material is embedded in or technically necessary for use of a Deliverable, the Client receives only such permission as is reasonably necessary to use the final Deliverable for the agreed purpose.

Nothing in these Terms requires Paoletti Studio to disclose its internal workflow, production methods, or proprietary processes.

8.6 Source and working files

Source files and working files created or maintained by Paoletti Studio, including layered files, editable project files, masks, intermediate versions, working documents, editing histories, project structures, and other production materials, are not included in the final Deliverables unless expressly agreed in writing.

Where such files are delivered, delivery does not automatically transfer ownership of any underlying Studio method, reusable element, technique, or pre-existing intellectual property contained within them.

Any additional rights associated with source or working files must be expressly agreed as part of the relevant project.

8.7 Third-party materials and licensed assets

A project may, where agreed or reasonably necessary, incorporate materials subject to third-party rights or licence terms.

This may include stock elements, textures, fonts, overlays, replacement skies, licensed visual assets, or other third-party material.

Any such material remains subject to the applicable third-party licence, and Paoletti Studio cannot grant the Client broader rights than the Studio itself lawfully holds.

Where a particular third-party licence materially restricts the Client’s intended use, Paoletti Studio will take reasonable steps to disclose that restriction where it is known and relevant to the project.

The Client may be required to obtain a separate licence directly where the applicable third-party terms require it.

8.8 Client-supplied third-party materials

Where the Client instructs Paoletti Studio to incorporate a third-party image, asset, logo, graphic, texture, photograph, or other material, the Client represents that they have all rights and permissions necessary for that use.

Paoletti Studio is entitled to rely on that representation unless there is an obvious reason to believe otherwise.

The Studio is not responsible for investigating the ownership or licensing status of materials supplied or specifically requested by the Client unless that investigation is expressly included within the agreed Services.

8.9 Client modification of Deliverables

After lawful delivery and payment, the Client may further modify the Deliverables to the extent permitted by the rights they hold in the underlying material and by any applicable licence governing Studio-created or third-party elements.

Paoletti Studio is not responsible for the quality, accuracy, appearance, or legal consequences of changes made by the Client or by third parties after delivery.

The Client should not represent subsequent third-party modifications as work produced or approved by Paoletti Studio where doing so would be misleading.

8.10 Moral rights and attribution

Nothing in these Terms is intended to waive, transfer, or restrict any moral right that cannot lawfully be waived, transferred, or excluded.

Where applicable law recognises an author’s right to attribution or to object to certain prejudicial modifications, those rights remain subject to the applicable legal framework.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise, Paoletti Studio does not require the Client to provide a public credit for ordinary photo editing or retouching Services.

8.11 Portfolio and promotional use

Paoletti Studio will not publish, display, reproduce, or otherwise use Client images or final Deliverables for portfolio, website, social media, advertising, award submissions, promotional material, or other public-facing purposes without the Client’s prior permission.

Where the Client grants such permission, the scope of permitted use may be agreed separately and may be withdrawn prospectively where the relevant permission allows withdrawal.

Refusal to grant portfolio permission does not affect the price, quality, or availability of the Services.

8.12 No implied transfer of rights

Except where expressly stated in a project-specific agreement, no intellectual property right, licence, assignment, exclusivity right, or permission shall be implied solely from:

• payment of an invoice;

• delivery of a file;

• access to a working file;

• provision of a revision;

• use of an image by the Client; or

• the fact that work was commissioned specifically for the Client.

Any transfer or licence of rights beyond those reasonably necessary for the agreed use must be set out expressly in writing.

8.13 Survival of intellectual property provisions

The provisions of this section continue to apply after completion, cancellation, termination, or expiry of a project to the extent necessary to govern ownership, licensing, confidentiality, permitted use, and any rights or obligations that by their nature are intended to continue.

9. Confidentiality and collaborators

9.1 Confidential information

For the purposes of these Terms, “Confidential Information” means any non-public information disclosed by or on behalf of the Client in connection with a project that, by its nature or the circumstances of disclosure, should reasonably be understood to be confidential.

Confidential Information may include, without limitation, unpublished photographs, source files, project briefs, commercial plans, campaign materials, client lists, business information, pricing information, private correspondence, technical specifications, unreleased creative work, and other non-public materials supplied to Paoletti Studio.

Information will not be considered Confidential Information to the extent that Paoletti Studio can reasonably demonstrate that it:

• was lawfully known to the Studio before disclosure;

• becomes publicly available without breach of these Terms;

• is lawfully received from a third party without an obligation of confidentiality; or

• is independently developed without use of the Client’s Confidential Information.

9.2 Confidentiality obligations

Paoletti Studio will use Confidential Information only to the extent reasonably necessary to assess, perform, administer, support, or complete the relevant project, or to comply with legal, accounting, regulatory, or professional obligations.

The Studio will take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised access to, use of, or disclosure of Confidential Information.

Confidential Information will not be disclosed to third parties except:

• to collaborators, contractors, professional advisers, service providers, or other persons who reasonably require access for the relevant purpose and are subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations;

• where the Client has authorised the disclosure;

• where disclosure is required by applicable law, regulation, court order, or competent authority; or

• where disclosure is otherwise necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal rights.

Paoletti Studio will apply at least reasonable care to the protection of Client Confidential Information and will not knowingly use such information for purposes unrelated to the relevant project.

9.3 Unpublished and sensitive project materials

Paoletti Studio will treat unpublished Client images, unreleased commercial materials, confidential campaigns, and other clearly sensitive project content with particular care.

Such materials will not be publicly displayed, posted, submitted to competitions, used in marketing, or otherwise disclosed for promotional purposes without the Client’s prior permission.

This provision operates together with the portfolio restrictions set out in Section 8 and does not grant Paoletti Studio any independent right to publish Client materials.

Where a project is subject to a separate non-disclosure agreement, the terms of that agreement will apply in addition to these Terms and will prevail to the extent of any direct inconsistency.

9.4 Use of collaborators and subcontractors

Paoletti Studio may, where reasonably appropriate, engage qualified employees, freelancers, contractors, consultants, or other collaborators to assist with administrative, technical, production, retouching, quality-control, or project-management tasks.

The use of collaborators does not automatically change the Client’s contractual relationship with Paoletti Studio. Unless otherwise agreed, Paoletti Studio remains responsible for coordinating the Services provided under the relevant project agreement.

Any collaborator given access to Client materials or Confidential Information will be required to handle such materials consistently with the confidentiality obligations applicable to the Studio.

Paoletti Studio will use reasonable care when selecting collaborators and will limit access to Client materials to what is reasonably necessary for the role being performed.

9.5 Restrictions on subcontracting

Where the Client has a legitimate confidentiality, security, contractual, regulatory, or commercial reason to require that work be performed only by Paoletti Studio or by specifically approved persons, that requirement must be communicated before the project is agreed.

If Paoletti Studio accepts such a restriction in writing, the Studio will comply with it for the relevant project.

A request to prohibit or restrict subcontracting after the project has already been agreed may constitute a change in scope where it materially affects the Studio’s workflow, availability, cost, or ability to perform the Services.

9.6 Personal data processed on behalf of the Client

Where Paoletti Studio processes personal data solely on behalf of a Client and in accordance with the Client’s instructions, the Studio may act as a processor for the purposes of applicable data protection law.

In such circumstances, Paoletti Studio will process the relevant personal data only for the agreed purposes and in accordance with documented instructions, subject to any legal obligation requiring otherwise.

Where required by Article 28 GDPR or other applicable law, the parties will enter into an appropriate data processing agreement governing the processing before the relevant processing activity begins.

9.7 Sub-processors and service providers

Where Paoletti Studio acts as a processor and engages another service provider to process personal data on the Client’s behalf, that provider may constitute a sub-processor under the GDPR.

Where legally required, Paoletti Studio will not appoint such a sub-processor without the Client’s prior specific or general written authorisation and will ensure that appropriate contractual data protection obligations are imposed on the sub-processor.

Where general authorisation is relied upon, the Client will be given the information and opportunity to object required by applicable law or the relevant data processing agreement.

9.8 Third-party platforms and operational providers

Paoletti Studio may use reputable third-party platforms and service providers for functions such as payment processing, email, file transfer, storage, hosting, project administration, communications, or other operational purposes.

Access to Client materials or personal data through such providers will be limited to what is reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose and will be subject to applicable contractual and data protection requirements.

Further information regarding the categories of service providers used for the Studio’s own processing of personal data will be set out in the Privacy Policy.

Nothing in this section authorises the Studio to disclose Client materials to third parties for unrelated advertising, resale, model training, or other independent commercial purposes.

9.9 Data security

Paoletti Studio will implement reasonable technical and organisational measures appropriate to the nature of the information processed and the risks associated with unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or destruction.

No method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Accordingly, while Paoletti Studio will take reasonable precautions, absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

Where applicable data protection law imposes specific security obligations, those obligations will apply independently of this contractual provision.

9.10 Data minimisation and access

Paoletti Studio will seek to limit access to Client materials and personal data to those persons who reasonably require access for the relevant project or operational purpose.

Where personal data is processed, the Studio will seek to avoid collecting or retaining information that is unnecessary for the relevant purpose.

Clients should likewise avoid submitting unnecessary sensitive or personal information where it is not required for the performance of the Services.

9.11 Legally required disclosure

Paoletti Studio may disclose Confidential Information where required by applicable law, regulation, court order, subpoena, or binding request of a competent authority.

Where legally permitted and reasonably practicable, the Studio may notify the Client before making such disclosure so that the Client has an opportunity to seek appropriate protective measures.

Any disclosure will, where reasonably possible, be limited to the information legally required to be disclosed.

9.12 Duration of confidentiality obligations

The confidentiality obligations in this section continue after completion, cancellation, or termination of a project for as long as the relevant information remains confidential by its nature.

Where a separate non-disclosure agreement specifies a different confidentiality period, that agreement will govern the relevant information.

Nothing in this section requires Paoletti Studio to retain Client materials for longer than the applicable file-retention period set out elsewhere in these Terms or in the Privacy Policy.

10. Liability and risk

10.1 Standard of care

Paoletti Studio will perform the agreed Services with reasonable professional care and skill, having regard to the nature of the project, the agreed scope, the Client’s instructions, and the technical characteristics of the materials supplied.

The Studio does not warrant that every subjective preference or expectation of the Client will be satisfied where that preference was not expressly incorporated into the agreed project scope.

Nothing in these Terms excludes any obligation to provide the Services in accordance with mandatory standards imposed by applicable law.

10.2 No guarantee of commercial or professional results

Paoletti Studio does not guarantee that any Deliverable will produce a particular commercial, financial, promotional, artistic, competitive, editorial, or professional result.

Without limitation, the Studio does not guarantee:

• increased sales, bookings, engagement, conversions, or website performance;

• acceptance by a publisher, competition, agency, marketplace, stock platform, printer, or other third party;

• awards, publication, licensing opportunities, or commercial success;

• any particular reaction from viewers, clients, customers, or audiences.

The Studio’s responsibility is limited to performing the agreed editing Services, not to guaranteeing the subsequent performance or commercial outcome of the Client’s use of the Deliverables.

10.3 Client decisions and intended use

The Client remains responsible for decisions regarding the publication, distribution, printing, commercial exploitation, submission, or other use of the Deliverables.

Where the Client relies on the Deliverables for a particular technical, commercial, legal, advertising, editorial, or production purpose, the Client is responsible for communicating all relevant requirements before the project is completed.

Paoletti Studio will not be responsible for loss arising solely because the Client used a Deliverable for a purpose that was not disclosed, reasonably foreseeable, or included within the agreed project requirements.

10.4 Third-party decisions and platforms

Paoletti Studio has no control over the policies, technical requirements, decisions, moderation systems, acceptance criteria, algorithms, output processes, or business practices of third parties.

Accordingly, the Studio does not guarantee that a Deliverable will be accepted, displayed, printed, reproduced, published, uploaded, licensed, or otherwise processed by any particular third-party platform, printer, publication, agency, marketplace, competition, or service provider.

Where the Client provides applicable third-party specifications in advance, the Studio will use reasonable care to prepare the Deliverable accordingly.

10.5 Third-party services and infrastructure

Paoletti Studio may rely on third-party services for functions such as payment processing, hosting, email, file transfer, cloud storage, communications, or other operational purposes.

The Studio is not responsible for temporary interruptions, delays, outages, technical failures, or data-access problems caused solely by third-party systems outside its reasonable control, provided that the Studio has exercised reasonable care in selecting and using such services.

Where reasonably possible, Paoletti Studio will take appropriate steps to mitigate the effects of a third-party failure on an active project.

This provision does not exclude any responsibility that applicable law does not permit the Studio to exclude.

10.6 Loss of Client materials

The Client is responsible for retaining independent backup copies of all original images and other materials supplied to Paoletti Studio.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise, the Studio is not intended to operate as the Client’s primary or permanent archive.

Paoletti Studio will take reasonable care when handling Client materials, but cannot guarantee against every possible event involving data loss, corruption, or technical failure.

If Client materials are lost or corrupted due to circumstances for which Paoletti Studio is legally responsible, any resulting liability will remain subject to the limitations and mandatory-law exceptions set out in this section.

10.7 Indirect and consequential losses

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and particularly in relation to Business Clients, Paoletti Studio will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential loss that does not arise as the direct and reasonably foreseeable consequence of the Studio’s breach.

This may include, where legally permissible, loss of profit, loss of revenue, loss of business opportunity, loss of anticipated savings, reputational loss, or losses arising from the Client’s separate contractual relationships with third parties.

This exclusion does not apply where such liability cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

10.8 Limitation of aggregate liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Paoletti Studio’s aggregate contractual liability arising out of or in connection with a specific project will not exceed the total amount actually paid by the Client to Paoletti Studio for that project.

This limitation is intended to allocate commercial risk proportionately to the value of the Services purchased.

It does not apply to liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including any liability arising from fraud, wilful misconduct, gross negligence where applicable law prohibits limitation, or any other matter for which limitation is prohibited.

10.9 Liability exclusions required by law

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation would be unlawful.

In particular, no provision is intended to exclude or improperly restrict:

• liability arising from fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;

• liability that cannot be excluded because of wilful misconduct or gross negligence under applicable law;

• liability for death or personal injury where applicable law prohibits its exclusion;

• mandatory consumer remedies;

• statutory rights relating to non-performance or defective performance that cannot be contractually waived.

Any limitation in these Terms will be interpreted only to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

10.10 Consumer protection carve-out

Where the Client is a consumer, the limitations and exclusions in this section apply only to the extent that they are compatible with applicable consumer protection law.

Nothing in these Terms deprives a consumer of mandatory remedies available for Services that are not supplied as agreed.

If a limitation contained in these Terms would create an unfair imbalance to the detriment of a consumer, that limitation will apply only to the extent lawfully enforceable.

10.11 Client indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Client will indemnify and hold Paoletti Studio harmless from third-party claims, losses, liabilities, damages, and reasonable costs arising directly from:

• materials supplied by the Client that infringe intellectual property, privacy, publicity, contractual, or other third-party rights;

• the Client’s lack of required permissions, licences, releases, or authority;

• unlawful or misleading instructions supplied by the Client;

• use of the Deliverables by the Client in a manner that exceeds the rights available to the Client or violates applicable law; or

• material alteration of the Deliverables by the Client or a third party where the resulting claim is attributable to that alteration.

This indemnity does not apply to the extent that the relevant claim was caused by Paoletti Studio’s own breach, unlawful conduct, or other responsibility that cannot lawfully be transferred to the Client.

10.12 Duty to mitigate losses

Each party should take reasonable steps to reduce or avoid unnecessary loss where a problem affecting the project becomes known.

The Client should notify Paoletti Studio promptly of any material defect, incorrect file, delivery problem, or other issue so that the Studio has a reasonable opportunity to investigate and, where appropriate, correct the problem.

Paoletti Studio will likewise take reasonable steps to mitigate foreseeable loss resulting from a problem for which it is responsible.

Nothing in this clause requires either party to incur unreasonable cost or undertake disproportionate action.

10.13 Force majeure

Paoletti Studio will not be treated as being in breach for a delay or failure to perform caused by circumstances genuinely outside its reasonable control and which could not reasonably have been avoided despite appropriate care.

Such circumstances may include serious illness or incapacity, natural disasters, major power or telecommunications failures, widespread infrastructure outages, war, civil disturbance, governmental restrictions, or comparable extraordinary events.

Where such an event occurs, Paoletti Studio will, where reasonably practicable:

• notify the Client;

• take reasonable steps to minimise disruption; and

• resume performance as soon as reasonably possible.

If the event continues for a period that makes completion of the project impracticable, either party may seek to terminate the remaining unperformed part of the project, subject to a fair accounting for work already completed and any mandatory rights under applicable law.

10.14 No liability for Client-caused loss

Paoletti Studio will not be responsible for loss or additional cost to the extent caused by the Client’s own act or omission, including:

• inaccurate or incomplete instructions;

• failure to provide required specifications;

• use of an incorrect or outdated file;

• failure to review or download Deliverables;

• unauthorised modification after delivery;

• failure to maintain backups;

• failure to obtain necessary permissions or releases; or

• use of the Deliverables contrary to the agreed purpose or applicable law.

This provision applies only to the extent that the Client’s action or omission actually caused or contributed to the relevant loss.

10.15 Allocation of responsibility

Where loss results from the acts or omissions of more than one party, responsibility will be allocated in accordance with applicable law and the extent to which each party contributed to the relevant event.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to make the Client responsible for loss caused solely by Paoletti Studio, or Paoletti Studio responsible for loss caused solely by the Client or an unrelated third party.

11. Suspension, termination and disputes

11.1 Suspension of Services

Paoletti Studio may temporarily suspend work where there is a reasonable basis to do so, including where a payment is overdue, required Client materials or approvals are missing, a requested change falls outside the agreed scope, or continued performance would create a material legal, technical, security, or professional risk.

Where reasonably practicable, the Studio will inform the Client of the reason for the suspension and what is required for work to resume.

Any delivery date may be adjusted to reflect the period of suspension and the Studio’s availability once the relevant issue has been resolved.

11.2 Termination

Either party may terminate an active project where permitted by these Terms, the relevant project agreement, or applicable law.

The Client may request termination in writing. Any refund, outstanding balance, or treatment of work already performed will be determined in accordance with Section 7 and the applicable project agreement.

Paoletti Studio may terminate a project where the Client commits a material breach, fails to make required payments, requests unlawful or infringing work, engages in seriously abusive or fraudulent conduct, or where lawful or professional completion of the project becomes impracticable.

Where a breach can reasonably be remedied, the Studio may first give the Client an opportunity to correct it within a reasonable period.

11.3 Effect of termination

Termination ends the obligation to perform Services that have not yet been completed, except where the parties agree otherwise.

Termination does not affect rights or obligations that arose before termination, including amounts already due, confidentiality obligations, intellectual property provisions, valid licences, liability provisions, or dispute-related rights.

Where appropriate, Paoletti Studio may provide completed or partially completed work subject to the payment, cancellation, and intellectual property provisions applicable to the project.

11.4 Complaints

If the Client believes that the Services have not been provided in accordance with the agreed scope, they should notify Paoletti Studio as soon as reasonably possible and provide sufficient information to identify and assess the issue.

The Client should, where relevant, identify the affected project or Deliverable and describe the problem clearly.

Paoletti Studio will review complaints in good faith and may, where appropriate, propose a correction, further performance, clarification, price adjustment, refund, or another proportionate remedy, subject to the circumstances and applicable law.

11.5 Informal dispute resolution

Before commencing formal proceedings, the parties are encouraged to make reasonable efforts to resolve disputes directly and in good faith.

This may include reviewing the agreed scope, relevant communications, project records, Deliverables, payments, and any other information necessary to understand the issue.

Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking urgent legal relief where necessary or limits any mandatory consumer right.

11.6 Payment disputes and chargebacks

If the Client believes that a payment is incorrect or that a refund is due, they are encouraged to contact Paoletti Studio before initiating a chargeback or other payment dispute so that the matter can first be reviewed directly.

Where a payment dispute is initiated, Paoletti Studio may provide Stripe, the relevant bank, card issuer, payment provider, or other competent institution with documentation reasonably necessary to respond to the dispute.

Such documentation may include the accepted quotation or project agreement, evidence of acceptance of these Terms, payment records, Client instructions, correspondence, approvals, revision history, and evidence of performance or delivery.

A chargeback does not by itself determine the parties’ contractual rights or establish that the underlying payment was not lawfully due.

Paoletti Studio may defend any dispute that it reasonably believes is unsupported, inaccurate, or inconsistent with the Services actually ordered and provided, without limiting the Client’s right to raise a legitimate payment dispute.

11.7 Alternative and cross-border consumer dispute resolution

Where applicable, a consumer may have access to recognised Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures or other consumer redress mechanisms before or instead of commencing court proceedings.

In cross-border EU or EEA disputes, the consumer may also be able to obtain assistance from the European Consumer Centres Network or use other procedures available under applicable consumer law.

The availability, procedure, cost, jurisdiction, and binding effect of any such mechanism depend on the nature of the dispute and the rules applicable to the relevant body or procedure.

Where required by law, Paoletti Studio will provide consumers with information regarding applicable dispute-resolution mechanisms.

11.8 Court proceedings

Nothing in these Terms prevents either party from bringing a claim before a court of competent jurisdiction where informal resolution or any applicable alternative dispute-resolution procedure is unavailable, unsuccessful, inappropriate, or not legally required.

Any court proceedings will be subject to the governing-law and jurisdiction provisions set out in Section 12 and to any mandatory jurisdictional protections applicable to consumers.

12. Legal provisions

12.1 Changes to these Terms

Paoletti Studio may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in the Services, business operations, legal requirements, regulatory guidance, or other legitimate reasons.

Any revised version will apply prospectively from the date it is published or otherwise communicated.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise, changes to these Terms will not retroactively alter the contractual terms governing a project that was already concluded before the revised Terms became applicable.

Where a material change affects an ongoing project and the Client’s consent is legally or contractually required, the revised provision will apply only after such consent has been obtained.

12.2 Entire agreement

For each project, the agreement between the Client and Paoletti Studio consists of the applicable Project Agreement, the quotation expressly incorporated into it, these Terms, and any subsequent written amendment or Change Order expressly agreed by the parties.

An invoice, payment request, or other administrative document does not modify the agreed scope or contractual terms unless it expressly states otherwise and is accepted by both parties.

These documents supersede prior discussions, representations, or communications relating to the same subject matter to the extent that those earlier communications are inconsistent with the final agreed terms. Nothing in this provision excludes liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any representation that applicable law does not permit the parties to exclude.

12.3 Order of precedence

If there is a direct inconsistency between these Terms and a project-specific agreement expressly accepted by both parties, the project-specific agreement will prevail only in relation to that inconsistency.

Any provision dealing with mandatory consumer rights, applicable law, or other rights that cannot lawfully be excluded remains subject to the applicable legal requirements.

This clause is intended to clarify the relationship between general Terms and individually agreed project terms rather than to override mandatory law.

12.4 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found by a competent court or authority to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision will be treated as ineffective only to the extent necessary.

The remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent that the agreement can reasonably continue without the affected provision.

Where legally appropriate, an invalid provision may be interpreted or applied in a manner that most closely reflects its lawful purpose without materially altering the agreed balance between the parties.

12.5 No waiver

A failure or delay by either party in exercising a contractual or legal right does not automatically constitute a waiver of that right.

A waiver will apply only where it is clearly made and only to the specific right or circumstance to which it relates.

The exercise of a right on one occasion does not prevent that party from exercising the same or another right in the future where legally permitted.

12.6 Assignment

The Client may not transfer or assign the relevant project agreement to another person or entity where doing so would materially affect Paoletti Studio’s obligations, risk, or performance, unless the Studio has agreed in writing or applicable law provides otherwise.

Paoletti Studio may transfer its contractual rights or obligations as part of a legitimate reorganisation, transfer of business, succession, or similar transaction, provided that such transfer does not materially reduce any mandatory rights or contractual protections available to the Client.

Nothing in this clause prevents Paoletti Studio from using collaborators or subcontractors in accordance with Section 9.

12.7 Governing law

Unless mandatory law requires otherwise, these Terms and each project agreement are governed by the laws of Italy.

Where the Client is a consumer and applicable conflict-of-law rules provide the consumer with mandatory protections under the law of another country, the choice of Italian law does not deprive the consumer of those protections.

12.8 Jurisdiction

Subject to any mandatory jurisdictional rules, disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms or a project agreement will be submitted to the courts having jurisdiction under applicable law.

For Clients acting in the course of a business, trade, craft, or profession, the parties may agree in the relevant project agreement on a specific competent court where legally permitted.

Where the Client is a consumer, nothing in these Terms limits any mandatory right to bring proceedings before the courts made available to the consumer under applicable law.

12.9 Mandatory consumer protections

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude, restrict, or waive any consumer right that cannot lawfully be excluded by contract.

If a provision of these Terms conflicts with mandatory consumer protection law applicable to a particular Client, that mandatory law will prevail to the extent of the conflict.

12.10 Interpretation

Headings are included for convenience and do not affect the interpretation of these Terms.

Words in the singular include the plural where appropriate and vice versa.

References to laws, regulations, or legal rules include amendments, replacements, or successor provisions where applicable.

Where different interpretations of a standard consumer term are reasonably possible, the interpretation required by applicable consumer protection law will apply.

12.11 Language

These Terms may be made available in more than one language for convenience.

Unless mandatory law requires otherwise, the English-language version will be the reference version for interpretation where there is a discrepancy between translations.

This clause does not override any legal requirement concerning the language in which pre-contractual information or contractual terms must be provided to a consumer.

13. Contact and legal information

13.1 Contact information

Questions regarding the Services, active projects, quotations, payments, or these Terms may be sent to Paoletti Studio using the contact details made available on the website.

General project communications may be sent to:

Paoletti Studio
Website: paolettistudio.com
Email: hello@paolettistudio.com

The Client is responsible for using accurate contact information and for keeping their own contact details up to date during an active project.

13.2 Legal and formal notices

Formal notices relating to these Terms, contractual disputes, intellectual property matters, privacy or data protection matters, legal claims, or other formal communications should be sent to:

Paoletti Studio
Legal email: legal@paolettistudio.com

Where applicable, Paoletti Studio may provide additional legal, business, tax, or registration information on the website as required by applicable law.

A notice sent electronically will be treated in accordance with the electronic communications provisions of these Terms and any mandatory requirements concerning the form or delivery of legal notices.

13.3 Business identification

Paoletti Studio will make available on the website the identification and business information required by applicable law, which may include, as applicable:

• the legal name of the person or entity operating Paoletti Studio;

• business or professional address;

• VAT or tax identification details;

• applicable business or professional registration information; and

• other legally required contact or identification details.

Such information may be updated where the legal or organisational structure of Paoletti Studio changes.