General Terms and Conditions of Sale
Last updated: 24/09/2026
This English translation is provided for convenience. In the event of any discrepancy or dispute regarding interpretation, the French-language version (Conditions Générales de Vente) shall prevail, as this site and its services are governed by French law.
Article 1 — Provider and scope
These Terms and Conditions of Sale ("Terms") apply to all photography, video and content-creation services provided by:
Legal name: Gaël Duclos EI
Trading name: Gaël Duclos Studio
SIRET: 10978985900013
Email: contact@gaelduclos.com
Phone: +33 6 74 23 05 53
They apply to every order placed by an individual client (B2C) or a business client (B2B), unless the quote or a separate contract expressly says otherwise.
Confirming a quote means accepting these Terms in full. Any specific conditions stated in the quote add to these Terms and take precedence over them if there's a conflict, provided both parties have expressly agreed to them.
Article 2 — Services for Individual clients (B2C)
How it works: services for individuals are agreed through a quote, drawn up based on the nature of the project, its duration, location, deliverables and intended use.
Private use: unless the quote says otherwise, services for individuals are carried out for strictly private, personal and family use.
Private-use rights: for private-use services, the price includes the right to reproduce and share the delivered images within your private and family circle, and on your own personal social media accounts.
Later commercial or professional use: any commercial, advertising, professional or promotional use of the images — or use by a third party — requires Gaël Duclos Studio's prior written consent and, where applicable, an additional rights transfer billed separately.
Article 3 — Services for Professional clients (B2B)
Quote required upfront: any service for a professional, a company, an association, a public body, an agency, a media outlet or a professional athlete is quoted in advance, tailored to the project.
Scope of the service: depending on the project, the quote sets out the work involved, the deliverables, any deadlines, how everything will be delivered, and the terms for using the resulting photos, videos or other content.
Transfer of usage rights: any usage rights granted to the Client are strictly limited to the media, uses, duration, territory and purpose expressly stated on the quote or invoice.
Any use beyond that initial scope requires Gaël Duclos Studio's prior agreement and may involve an additional rights transfer.
When rights take effect: unless the quote expressly states otherwise, the usage rights granted to the Client only take effect once the amounts owed for the service and the corresponding rights have been paid in full.
Article 4 — Quotes, acceptance, orders and payment
Preparing the quote: where a service is quoted, the quote covers the nature of the work, the planned deliverables, the rates, any additional costs, the payment terms, and any specific conditions that apply.
Accepting the quote: the Client's signature on the quote — preceded by the words "Bon pour accord" (French for "agreed and approved") — counts as acceptance of both the quote and these Terms, in the version given to the Client when the contract was formed.
By signing, the Client confirms having had the chance to read these Terms before the contract was formed, and accepts them without reservation. Where the signing process allows it, this can take the form of a dedicated checkbox confirming acceptance of the Terms, followed by an electronic signature on the quote.
Ordering and booking: signing the quote formalises the agreement between both parties. That said, the date isn't actually reserved, and work doesn't start, until the payment set out in the quote has actually been received.
Services of €500 or less: full payment of the amount on the quote is due when you place the order, unless the quote specifically says otherwise.
Services over €500: a deposit of between 30% and 50% of the total is due when you order. The exact deposit amount, and how the remaining balance is paid, are set out in the quote.
For larger, recurring or financially significant projects, specific payment terms or a payment schedule can be agreed between both parties and stated in the quote.
Until that payment is actually received, the Provider reserves the right not to permanently hold the requested date, and may offer it to another client instead.
Article 5 — Rates, extra costs and payment terms
Prices: all prices are in euros (€).
VAT: under article 293 B of the French General Tax Code, VAT doesn't apply to services covered by the VAT exemption scheme (franchise en base).
Travel costs: travel is included in the price for services within 50 km of Nantes.
Beyond that, extra kilometres are billed round-trip at €0.60/km, unless the quote states a different rate. The travel cost is shown on the quote and must be accepted by the Client before work begins.
For longer trips, the quote may also include travel time, accommodation, meals or any other cost directly tied to carrying out the service.
Other costs: accommodation, meals, parking, tolls, site access fees or specific permits not covered in the original quote may be billed separately — the Client will be told about these in advance, and asked to agree to them where possible.
Payment terms: how and when payment is due is set out in the quote and/or the relevant invoices.
Late payment — Business clients: if a business Client pays late, late-payment penalties apply as set out in article L. 441-10 of the French Commercial Code. The rate is stated on the invoice and can never be below the legal minimum.
A flat €40 collection fee is also due for any late payment by a business Client, as required by law. If the actual collection costs exceed that amount, additional compensation can be claimed with supporting evidence.
Non-payment: if payment isn't made, Gaël Duclos Studio may suspend the service, hold back delivery of the images, or withdraw permission to use the content, within the limits the law allows.
Article 6 — Right of withdrawal for Individual clients
Contracts covered: where the contract is made remotely or off-premises and the legal right of withdrawal applies, an individual Client has 14 days from the date the contract is formed to withdraw — no reason needed, and no cost beyond what the law allows.
This right doesn't apply in the situations excluded under article L. 221-28 of the French Consumer Code, in particular where the service falls under a legal exception.
Starting work before the withdrawal period ends: if the Client specifically asks for work to begin before the legal withdrawal period is over, Gaël Duclos Studio will record that request as required by law.
If work starts early at the Client's request, they may still owe payment for the portion of the service actually delivered up to the point they withdraw, as set out in article L. 221-25 of the French Consumer Code.
If the service is fully delivered before the withdrawal period ends, at the Client's express request and with their acknowledgment that they're giving up their right to withdraw as the law requires, that right can no longer be used — in line with article L. 221-28 of the French Consumer Code.
Using this right: where it applies, the Client can withdraw by sending a clear, unambiguous statement to contact@gaelduclos.com.
The Client can use the standard withdrawal form set out in the French Consumer Code, or any other clear statement of their decision to withdraw.
Article 7 — Performance, cancellation and rescheduling
7.1 — Weather and outdoor conditions
For outdoor services, everyday weather isn't grounds for automatic cancellation.
If weather makes the service impossible or unsafe — an official weather warning, a severe storm, or conditions that clearly put people or equipment at risk — both parties will first look at rescheduling, where that's possible.
If rescheduling isn't possible or isn't agreed to, the financial consequences of cancelling follow the quote, these Terms and the applicable law — taking into account, in particular, any costs already incurred that can't be recovered.
7.2 — Cancellation by the Client
Outside of the legal right of withdrawal, any cancellation request must be sent to Gaël Duclos Studio in writing.
Unless the quote says otherwise, the following applies:
• More than 15 days before the scheduled date: any amounts already paid may be kept, up to the costs and commitments Gaël Duclos Studio has actually incurred and can't recover;
• Between 14 and 3 days before the scheduled date: 50% of the total price is due;
• Less than 72 hours before the scheduled date: 100% of the total price is due.
This is all subject to any mandatory rights the Client may have, and to any specific terms in the quote.
7.3 — Rescheduling requested by the Client
If the Client asks to reschedule, Gaël Duclos Studio will offer a new date, subject to availability.
Rescheduling is free when the request comes early enough and doesn't create extra cost or disruption for Gaël Duclos Studio. For late requests, or ones that require significant rearranging, a fee or specific conditions may apply — the Client will be told what these are.
7.4 — Force majeure and incapacity
If force majeure, an accident, illness or any other unforeseeable external event stops Gaël Duclos Studio from delivering the service, a new date will be offered wherever reasonably possible.
If the service genuinely can't be delivered and no alternative is agreed with the Client, any amount paid for the undelivered work will be refunded.
Article 8 — Intellectual property and copyright
8.1 — General legal framework
Under articles L. 111-1 et seq. of the French Intellectual Property Code, the photographs, videos and other original work produced by Gaël Duclos Studio are protected by copyright.
Gaël Duclos remains the author of everything created as part of these services.
8.2 — Moral rights
Moral rights over the work stay with the author.
Unless it's technically impossible or the quote says otherwise, the Client agrees to keep the author credit on the images whenever they're published or shared publicly.
On social media, the Client is asked to tag Gaël Duclos Studio's official account, or whichever account is noted on the delivered files.
Without the author's prior written consent, none of the following are allowed: substantially altering the work, distorting its content, or any use that could damage the work's integrity or the author's moral rights.
8.3 — Economic rights and use
Individual clients: unless stated otherwise, the private-use rights described in Article 2 are included in the price.
Business clients: usage rights are set out in the quote based on what's authorised — the media used, duration, territory and purpose of the content.
Using the content beyond what's defined in the quote or invoice requires prior authorisation and may involve an extra charge.
The Client can't resell, transfer or sub-license the rights granted to a third party without Gaël Duclos Studio's prior written agreement.
8.4 — Raw files
Raw capture files — RAW or LOG files, for instance — are working files, and aren't part of standard delivery.
They're only handed over if the quote specifically says so, and may be billed separately.
Article 9 — Image rights and promotion
Unless the quote or a written confidentiality agreement expressly says otherwise, the Client allows Gaël Duclos Studio to showcase the work produced for the service to promote its own business — on its portfolio, website, social media, marketing materials, or at exhibitions.
This covers presenting the work in a professional way that respects the nature of the service delivered.
Where recognisable individuals are involved, or specific image-rights restrictions might apply, the relevant terms can be set out in the quote or agreed separately.
Article 10 — Delivery, retention and archiving
Delivery: finished photos, videos and other content are made available the way the quote specifies — usually through an online gallery or a secure download link.
Delivery timing is stated in the quote. Without a specific deadline, standard photography services are typically delivered within about 7 to 10 working days.
That timeline can shift for projects with a large volume of editing, video production, interim approvals, or other special requirements.
Backups: where possible, Gaël Duclos Studio keeps a backup copy of delivered files on secure storage for 12 months after delivery.
After that, files are no longer guaranteed to be kept. The Client should keep their own copies of everything delivered.
Article 11 — Liability
Gaël Duclos Studio will carry out each service with the professional care appropriate to the project and the terms agreed in the quote.
Gaël Duclos Studio can't be held responsible for anything beyond its control that prevents or disrupts the service — dangerous weather, an administrative ban, restricted site access, a third party's actions, a refusal to allow filming, or an unforeseeable technical failure despite reasonable precautions.
If a technical failure stops the service from being fully or partly delivered, Gaël Duclos Studio will do what's reasonably possible to limit the impact and, where feasible, offer a suitable solution.
Article 12 — Personal data protection (GDPR)
Personal data collected through the business relationship is processed in line with the GDPR and French data protection law.
It's used to respond to enquiries, prepare quotes, manage orders, follow projects through, issue invoices, and meet legal and accounting obligations.
For the full picture on how data is handled and what rights the Client has, see the privacy policy.
Article 13 — Governing law and dispute resolution
Governing law: these Terms are governed by French law.
Raising an issue first: if a problem or dispute comes up, the Client is asked to first send a written complaint to Gaël Duclos Studio at contact@gaelduclos.com, so an amicable solution can be found.
Consumer mediation — Individual clients: in accordance with the French Consumer Code's provisions on the "consumer dispute mediation process", if you've already contacted us and haven't received a satisfactory response, you're entitled to refer the matter, free of charge, to a consumer mediation service at:
CM2C
49 rue de Ponthieu
75008 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 89 47 00 14
Website: www.cm2c.net/declarer-un-litige.php
Email: litiges@cm2c.net
Referring a case to the mediator follows the process and rules set by the applicable regulations and by CM2C's own mediation rules.
Disputes between businesses: if a dispute arises with a business Client, both parties will first try to find an amicable solution.
Failing that, the dispute goes to the competent courts under standard territorial-jurisdiction rules, unless a specific legal or contractual provision says otherwise.