Terms of Use
Last updated: January 12, 2026

These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the website elenaruzgis.com and any related online galleries and services (collectively, the “Site”) operated by photographer Elena Ruzgis, doing business as “Elena Ruzgis Photography” (“we”, “us”, “our”).

By accessing or using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Site.

These Terms apply to your use of the Site and any online galleries. Specific photography services (such as weddings, elopements, family or branding sessions, etc) may be governed by separate agreements or model releases that will prevail in case of conflict.

1. Who we are

The Site and related photography services are provided by:

Photographer: Elena Ruzgis
Business name: “Elena Ruzgis Photography”
Website: elenaruzgis.com
Email: photoruzgis@gmail.com

Location (USA): California, USA

Mexican mailing address for notices related to personal data:
Montes Urales SMZ 310 MZ 75, Cumbres, 77 500, Cancun, Q. Roo, México

This Mexican address is used only as a mailing address for contact and notices related to the processing of personal data by Elena Ruzgis, as described in our Privacy Policy.

If you have questions about these Terms or the Site, please contact us at photoruzgis@gmail.com.

2. Eligibility and children

1. You may use the Site only if you are able to enter into a binding agreement with us under the laws of your place of residence (generally, at least 18 years old or the age of majority in your jurisdiction).
2. Our Site and services are not directed to children under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate parental or guardian consent, as further explained in our Privacy Policy.
3. By using the Site, you confirm that you meet the applicable age requirements, or that you are using the Site under the supervision and consent of a parent or legal guardian where required by law.

3. Use of the Site

1. We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Site for personal and non-commercial purposes, in accordance with these Terms and applicable law.
2. You agree not to:
• use the Site for any unlawful, harmful, fraudulent or abusive purpose;
• upload or share any content that is illegal, defamatory, offensive, hateful, harassing or otherwise inappropriate;
• infringe the rights of others, including privacy, publicity or intellectual property rights;
• attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site, its servers or related systems;
• interfere with or disrupt the normal operation of the Site (for example, by introducing malware, launching denial-of-service attacks, scraping or sending excessive automated requests);
• reverse-engineer, decompile or attempt to obtain the source code of the Site, except where permitted by applicable law.
3. We may suspend or restrict access to the Site, in whole or in part, if we reasonably believe that your use is not compliant with these Terms or applicable law, or if we need to protect the Site or other users.

4. Bookings, services and separate agreements

1. The Site allows you to contact us, request quotes, provide details about your session and, where applicable, access online galleries or purchase prints and products.
2. The specific terms of any photography session, including pricing, deliverables, timing, cancellations, rescheduling, usage of images, portfolio permissions and model releases, are usually set out in a separate written agreement or contract between you and us. In case of any inconsistency between that agreement and these Terms, the separate agreement will prevail for the relevant session.
3. You are responsible for ensuring that all information you provide when contacting us or booking a session (including dates, locations and contact details) is accurate and kept up to date.

5. User content and online galleries

1. If you submit content through the Site (for example, messages, text in forms, or comments where enabled), you remain responsible for that content and for ensuring that it is lawful, accurate and does not infringe any third-party rights.
2. Where we provide you with access to an online gallery, download link or similar tool, you may use it solely for the personal viewing, selection and downloading of images from your session, in accordance with:
• these Terms; and
• any applicable photography agreement or license between you and us.
3. You must keep gallery links, passwords and download codes secure and not share them publicly. If you suspect that a gallery has been accessed without authorization, please notify us as soon as possible at photoruzgis@gmail.com.

6. Intellectual property and use of images

1. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, we (or our licensors) own the intellectual property rights in the Site (including its design, layout, text and graphics) and in the photographs and other content that we create.
2. Your rights to use any photographs or other deliverables from a session (including printing, sharing, commercial use, and portfolio use) will be governed by the specific photography agreement and model release you sign with us. Please review those documents carefully.
3. As described in our Privacy Policy, we will not use identifiable images of you or your event in our portfolio, on the Site, or on social media for marketing purposes without your consent (for example, via a model release or a clause in your agreement), unless otherwise permitted by law.
4. You must not remove any copyright notices or watermarks from images, nor claim authorship of photographs taken by us.

7. Payments and third-party providers

1. When you pay for our services, we may use third-party payment providers such as Stripe, PayPal or Zelle. Your payments are processed in accordance with their terms and privacy policies.
2. We do not collect or store full payment card numbers or security codes on our systems. We typically receive only limited billing details and confirmation of payment status, as described in our Privacy Policy.
3. Any applicable payment terms, deposit requirements, cancellation fees and refund policies for photography services will be set out in your specific photography agreement or invoice.

8. Privacy and cookies

1. Our Privacy Policy explains in detail how we collect, use and protect personal information when you visit the Site, contact us or use our services, including:
• what information we collect;
• how we use it;
• how long we keep it;
• with whom we share it;
• how cookies and similar technologies are used; and
• what rights you may have depending on your location.
2. By using the Site or providing personal information, you acknowledge that our Privacy Policy applies to such processing. If there is any conflict between these Terms and the Privacy Policy regarding the handling of personal data, the Privacy Policy will govern.
3. Depending on where you live, you may have specific privacy rights (for example, under Mexican law, EEA/UK data protection law or other local laws). These rights and how to exercise them are described in the Privacy Policy.

9. Your privacy rights (including Mexico — ARCO)

1. Your rights regarding personal information depend on your location and the laws that apply. We aim to respect and facilitate such rights in a consistent way, as described in section 10 of our Privacy Policy.
2. If you are located in Mexico, you may have ARCO rights (Access, Rectification, Cancellation and Opposition) and the right to withdraw your consent. To exercise these rights, please contact us at:
• Email: photoruzgis@gmail.com
• Subject line: “Data Rights Request — Mexico”

We may ask you to verify your identity, or your authority if you act on behalf of someone else. Where required by Mexican law, you may also send written requests to our Mexican mailing address indicated in section 1 above and in our Privacy Policy.

1. If you are located in the EEA/UK or other regions, you may have additional rights under applicable data protection laws. You can exercise these rights by contacting us at photoruzgis@gmail.com, as explained in our Privacy Policy.

10. Third-party websites and services

The Site may include links to, or integrations with, third-party websites and services such as Instagram, Facebook, Stripe, PayPal, Zelle, Wfolio or online gallery providers.

We do not control and are not responsible for:

• the content, terms or privacy practices of these third parties; or
• any loss or damage arising from your use of their services.

We encourage you to review the terms and privacy policies of any third-party services before using them.

11. Disclaimers

1. The Site is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we make no warranties or representations of any kind, whether express, implied or statutory, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
2. We do not guarantee that the Site will always be available, uninterrupted or error-free, or that it will be free from security vulnerabilities or malware.
3. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any warranty or liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

12. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:

1. We will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive or exemplary damages, including loss of profits, data, goodwill or other intangible losses, arising out of or in connection with your use of the Site or these Terms.
2. Our total aggregate liability arising out of or relating to the Site or these Terms will be limited to USD 100 (or equivalent in local currency), or, if you have entered into a paid contract with us for photography services, the total amount you paid to us under that contract in the 12 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim, whichever is greater.
3. The above limitations do not affect any rights you may have as a consumer under mandatory laws that cannot be excluded or limited.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Elena Ruzgis (doing business as “Elena Ruzgis Photography”), and any assistants or contractors working with us, from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:

• your use of the Site;
• your breach of these Terms; or
• your violation of any rights of a third party,

to the extent permitted by applicable law.

14. Governing law and jurisdiction

1. These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or the Site are governed by the laws of the State of California, USA, and, where applicable, the federal laws of the United States, without regard to conflict-of-law rules.
2. Subject to any mandatory consumer protection rules that give you the right to bring claims in your place of residence, you and we agree that the state and federal courts located in California, USA will have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes relating to these Terms or the Site.
3. If you are a consumer residing in a country whose laws provide you with mandatory protections that cannot be waived by contract (for example, in Mexico or in the European Economic Area), those protections remain in force and are not limited by these Terms.

15. Changes to the Site and these Terms

1. We may update the Site and these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, technologies or legal requirements.
2. When we make material changes to these Terms, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, provide additional notice (for example, by posting a notice on the Site).
3. Your continued use of the Site after any changes have been posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you must stop using the Site.

16. Contact

If you have any questions, concerns or requests regarding these Terms, please contact:

Elena Ruzgis
Email: photoruzgis@gmail.com
Website: elenaruzgis.com