Barb Gonzalez Photography/Learn Better Photograpy

Terms and Conditions

By browsing, accessing, using, registering for, or purchasing merchandise, services, and or workshops on this Site or otherwise using our Services, you are agreeing to all of the Terms and Conditions and Workshop Terms and Conditions, including any policies referred to herein (collectively, "Terms"). 

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully. We reserve the right to change this Site and these Terms at any time. If you are unwilling to be bound by these Terms, you should not browse, access, use, register for, or purchase merchandise or services from the Site. You represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years old or visiting this Site under the supervision of a parent or guardian.

The headings used in this agreement are included for convenience only and will not limit or otherwise affect these Terms.

Workshops Terms and Conditions

Unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (and with our approval), you must be at least 21 to attend one of our workshops. Signing up for a workshop signifies your full understanding and agreement that you release and hold harmless Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC, its officers, agents, sponsors, associates, and sub-contractors from any and all liability, actions, causes of actions, claims, debts, and demands of every kind whatsoever, known or unknown which may arise in connection with your participation in any activities arranged by them without limitation, all liability, actions, causes of action, claims, debts, and demands related to the negligence of said persons.

You also acknowledge that you understand that travel with a group invariably involves compromise to accommodate the diverse desires, travel goals, personalities, and physical abilities of group members.

Our trips involve a limited number of participants to increase one-on-one instruction time. Because it is a small group, we reserve the right to decline a participant's reservation at our sole discretion. 

Refunds

Life happens, and circumstances can change such that a client must cancel their workshop participation. A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a space for any workshop. (For any payments made with the "Full Amount" option, the deposit amount of the total will be considered the non-refundable deposit portion).

The final balance is due and payable 60 days before the workshop begins. Full payment is due at this time, and there will be no refunds on the full amount paid if you cancel after the final payment.

Please understand that when you have paid a deposit and committed to a workshop, we get busy making arrangements for the number of participants for accommodations, tours, transportation, and such, and these logistics often incur financial costs. When a participant cancels, the spot must be filled in the time remaining before the workshop, which may add further financial costs. 

Because of the costs and commitments it takes to put on a workshop, there will be no exceptions to the non-refundable deposit policy. If a workshop is filled, at our discretion, we may be able to offer that a deposit be transferred to a future workshop. Thereafter, the balance is also non-refundable, with one exception: if we find participants to fill all canceled spaces and the workshop is ultimately full when it begins, then you will receive a refund of the balance within two weeks of the workshop's conclusion. All refunds are subject to a 4% processing fee.

Schedule of Payments

Each workshop will have a schedule of payments and a schedule of refunds dictated by our financial commitments and policies of accommodations, tours, etc., for that particular workshop. 

Payments made for international travel are non-refundable, with the exception of a filled workshop at our discretion. It is strongly recommended that you buy travel insurance to protect your investment and travel costs. 

In all events, No refund will be issued after the final payment is made.

Payment can be made using the sign-up button on the workshop web page using a credit card, Apple Pay, or PayPal. If you would like to pay by another method, use the contact form to ask us about options for sending a personal check or bank transfer.

Itineraries

You understand that while itineraries are carefully planned, they are not a guaranteed schedule of activities, events, or participation but only a guideline and example. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate Workshops as planned, but alterations may still occur after final itineraries are sent. Barb Gonzalez Photography will try to stick to the published itineraries as much as possible. Group participants must allow for flexibility and changes deemed necessary by the workshop leader or professional guides.

However, there may be circumstances outside our control that cause changes or omissions. These include things like inclement weather, geopolitical events, unexpected closures, transportation delays, sickness, physical or governmental restrictions, war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, disease, industrial or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire, and strikes, etc. Understanding this, you further understand that there will be no discounts or refunds for activities curtailed or otherwise affected by such circumstances. If an itinerary change is needed before the trip departs, Barb Gonzalez Photography will communicate this to the trip participants.

In the event circumstances outside of Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC's control cause a significant deviation to the itinerary, Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC reserves the right to make the necessary changes to ensure the most successful tour outcome. No refunds can be given for adverse circumstances outside of Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC's control. Participants should allow flexibility in the itinerary and schedule.

Changes made by Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC

Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC reserves the right to cancel or change a workshop due to insufficient registrations and/or reasons beyond our control that might create unsafe or undesirable travel conditions for the participants.

 In the case of a workshop canceled by Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC, we will provide a refund of deposits or fees paid to Barb Gonzalez Photography toward enrollment in that workshop (except those forfeited due to client cancellation within the schedules outlined above). If the cancellation is due to factors beyond Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC's control, costs already incurred for the organization of the workshop that could not be recovered from suppliers or third parties will be deducted from the refund. In the case of cancellation due to widespread travel disruptions, such as those caused by pandemics, epidemics, war, or natural disasters, Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC reserves the right to provide credit toward future workshops in lieu of refunds. 

Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC is not responsible for, and will not be held liable for, any expenses incurred by the client in relation to planned participation in a canceled Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC workshop, including, without limitation, costs of travel, passports, visas, photographic or computer equipment, software, apparel, luggage, or supplies.

Participation-Participant responsibility

It is the participant's responsibility to cover air transportation and related fees (except as indicated in the itinerary); activities noted as optional in the itinerary; passport, visa, and permit expenses; medical expenses and immunizations; baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; personal expenses, such as laundry, shower tokens, telephone calls, and alcoholic beverages; and any other items not specifically noted as included.

You are responsible for ensuring that you have the proper travel documents for the destination(s) to be visited. Valid passports that expire past 6 months from the day of departure are required for all international travel. You should check with the appropriate consulate(s) or visa agencies to determine whether visas are required and review your public health authority's recommendations for health, immunizations, and safety. Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC will make its best effort to let you know what will be required.

While Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC will make its best effort to inform participants of required visas, vaccination certificates, and any other documents, it is the participant's responsibility to ensure that you obtain the required documents. Failure to obtain documents does not negate the terms and conditions, and any extra costs incurred for rerouting due to travel without the necessary documents will be the participant's responsibility.

You will be responsible for studying all pre-trip information; for bringing all equipment, personal items, and appropriate clothing; for conforming to standards of dress and hygiene; and for acting in a manner considerate of fellow participants, locations and environments, models, and locations. 

For lodging, if you choose double occupancy lodging and we cannot match you with a roommate, we may charge you the single supplement charge for that workshop, which is listed on the workshop information page. 

Participant's Conduct

We reserve the right to cancel any activity and to accept or reject any person as a member of any activity. The workshop, workshop, expedition, excursion, or trip leader's judgment shall provide the ultimate determination of an individual's ability to participate in or continue to participate in, any activity or workshop.

This will likely happen if, in Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC's judgment, the participant is incapable of the required activity and/or continued participation in the tour will endanger the participant or the safety of the group.  

Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC expects that all participants act in a polite and law-abiding manner. Any illegal activity, drunkenness, illegal drug use, poor treatment of other tour participants or staff, and disrespectfulness will not be tolerated. Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC reserves the right to send participants home early at their expense if they cannot comply with these expectations.

Participant Physical Ability

Trips will require different amounts of effort. Where possible, we will try to accommodate those with ADA special needs. Still, many of these trips require various levels of exertion and/or hiking. The physical recommendations will be listed along with the details of each workshop. 

You will be requested to submit certain information in advance of a Barb Gonzalez Photography Workshop, which may include personal details, health information, passport information, insurance information, and other information that is necessary in order to arrange for travel and services. It is your responsibility to provide this information in the timeframe requested. If you do not provide this information when requested, we cannot guarantee that we can provide the full itinerary and services of that workshop for you. 

You will also be required to submit a signed waiver and release of liability and/or acknowledgment of risk form prior to the start date of the workshop. If you do not submit the signed release of liability or acknowledgment of risk prior to the workshop start date, you will not be able to participate in that workshop.

You are personally responsible for being in sufficiently good health and appropriate fitness level to undertake the workshop for which you have registered. By registering for the workshop and paying a deposit, you certify that you do not knowingly have any physical limitations or other considerations of disability that would create a risk for you or other participants. We reserve the right to request a doctor's statement of good health as deemed necessary or required.

Also, you can contact us at any time with specific questions. Please ensure you make your health/fitness evaluation before booking any tour, as Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC cannot make any exceptions to our cancellation policy for medical reasons.

Barb Gonzalez Photography LLC recognizes that we will have people of varying abilities, health, and fitness and will make reasonable attempts to accommodate as best we can if it does not undermine the itinerary and goals of the tour. 

Each participant's responsible for ensuring they are reasonably fit and healthy for the tour they sign-up for. 

Each workshop will be labeled for physical difficulty. This is the criteria used for each level: 

Easy: Short walks to and from vehicles, flat paths and city streets. It may involve optional longer walks, standing, or kneeling. Must carry photo gear short distances.

Easy/Moderate: Long periods of walking, covering several city blocks, up to 1 mile, or long periods of standing. This may include inclines, walking over uneven surfaces, flights of stairs, pulling yourself from vehicles, boats, etc. Must carry own photo gear. 

Moderate Hiking: Medium-length hikes of 2-4 miles. You must carry your own photo gear.

Difficult Hiking: Elevation gain, 2-6 miles, uneven terrain, or wet or snowy conditions. It may include narrow paths and scrambling over boulders. You must carry your own photo gear.

Strenuous: Longer hikes in excess of 4 miles, where you'll be carrying your own photo gear. Possible narrow, steep paths, scrambling over boulders.

Backpacking trips with overnight gear also fall into this category. We may be hiking over steep and exposed terrain, and a good level of physical fitness is required.