TERMS & CONDITIONS
Willing Participation
By registering for or booking an International Photography Workshop (IPW) adventure, you, the guest participant, acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by the terms and conditions set forth herein.
Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability
By registering for or participating in any International Photo Workshop (IPW) organized by Photo International Workshop, you acknowledge and agree to the following:
Assumption of Risk
You understand that travel, outdoor activities, and street photography involve inherent risks, which may include, but are not limited to, personal injury, illness, accidents, death, severe weather or natural forces, theft, loss or damage to camera equipment or other personal property, as well as errors, omissions, delays, or disruptions caused by the intentional or criminal acts of third parties or acts of terrorism that may occur during the workshop. By participating, you voluntarily assume full responsibility for these risks.
Release of Liability
You hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless Photo International Workshop, its organizers, instructors, assistants, partners, and affiliates from any and all liability, claims, demands, or causes of action arising out of or connected with participation in the workshop, including any loss, injury, or damage to person or property, whether caused by negligence or otherwise.
Personal Responsibility
You acknowledge that you are responsible for your own health, safety, and conduct during the workshop. You are also responsible for securing appropriate travel and hotel insurance, medical insurance, and equipment insurance as you deem necessary.
You are also solely responsible to have a valid passport, any required visa, personal ID needed or other travel documents including any proof of vaccination required for entry to the arriving country.
Acknowledgment
By registering for or participating you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to this Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability.
Participant Health & Physical Requirements
Many of our workshop locations involve hiking or other physically demanding activities. Participants must be in good health and physically able to take part while carrying their own photography equipment, without creating risks for themselves, other participants, or staff. It is each participant’s responsibility to understand the workshop’s content, requirements, potential risks, and any strenuous activity involved prior to registration.
Please let us know if you have any medical conditions or physical limitations. If you take any medications, pack them in your carry-on luggage and ensure that labels are attached, in case customs questions what you are bringing. It’s also recommended to have a doctor’s letter stating your prescription and usage details, as some countries have strict regulations regarding medications. Additionally, bring extra medication in case of unexpected delays or if we are stuck at a location longer than planned.
Schedule Flexibility
Our travel workshops are designed with a balance of structure and spontaneity. While the itinerary serves as a guide, unexpected opportunities often arise—whether it’s a special cultural event, unique photographic moment, or simply the rhythm of local life. Think of the schedule as a template rather than a rigid plan, and come prepared to embrace the flow of the moment—just as you would when traveling on your own.
Registration, Deposit & Payment Policies
To secure your reservation, a deposit of $2,000 per participant is required at the time of registration. This deposit will be applied toward the total cost of the workshop.
A second payment of $5,000 is due six months before the depature date for the workshop.
A final payment and remaining balance must be paid in full two months prior to the workshop start date. You can also paid the full amount during the registration process.
Please note: For our domestic workshops a $1000 deposit is required to reserve your place.
Workshop Fees
All workshop prices are listed on our website. We reserve the right to adjust prices, trip itineraries, or the number of participants at any time, whether published on our website, in emails, or in printed material. The cost of each workshop is specified on its individual description page.
If you would like to bring a non-photographer friend or spouse, they are welcome to join; however, they are considered participants and must pay their own fee. When you register with a companion, you will receive a 5% discount.
Workshop Cancellation, Refunds, Credits & Liability
IPW is not responsible for cancellations by the workshop participants due to any reason, act of nature, home emergency, medical situation, employment, or change in the political climate.
Under any condition, workshop fees are not transferable, and we are not liable or will refund any unused or missed classes, daily activity, or an early departure. We must be notified via email, using the date it was sent to us, to decide what refunds, if any, you may be entitled to based on our policy and the expenses already allocated for your participation.
If any, you may be entitled to. Participants must make sure they receive a confirmation of their withdrawal from IPW. Only this will validate that their cancellation request has been received and processed.
If you withdraw 180 days or more prior to departure: We will reimburse 50% of the $2,000 reservation down payment.
If you withdraw 179–120 days prior to departure: The full reservation down payment will be retained.
If you withdraw 119–60 days prior to departure: We will retain the full reservation down payment as well as the second payment. If the second payment has not been paid in full, or if there is a remaining balance, you are fully responsible for the outstanding amount in accordance with this contract.
If you withdraw 59 days or fewer prior to departure: 100% of all payments made will be retained, and you will be responsible for any remaining balance due.
PayPal collects a 3.5% merchant services fee they collect from IPW. This is not be returned to IPW when a refund is processed. For this reason, all credit and/or debit card refunds will be issued less the 3.5% fee when IPW cannot recover from our credit card merchant servicing provider, “PayPal.” Refunds will be processed within 10-15 business days from the refund’s approval date. IPW recommends travel insurance to protect your investment. If a credit is issued for a canceled or postponed International Photo Workshops or IPW, the credit amount must be agreed to in writing, and the guest must apply the credit in full by participating in an International Photo Workshops or IPW, , within 18 months of the issue date.
Photo International Workshop has the right to cancel the trip any time prior to the workshop/trip departure date, due to an act of nature or change in political climate, the safety, health and well being of our guests or for any reason, such as, low enrollment which makes the logistic of the trip economically infeasible to operate. In the event of such a cancellation, a full refund of all funds paid to IPW will be given. However, we are not responsible for any expenses such as, but not limited to, non-refundable air tickets and accommodation deposits.
In the event that a workshop would have to be postponed or canceled, in the event the master instructor becomes ill or unavailable for any reason for the workshop planned, we will immediately inform all the participants of the options of having the workshop taught by another leading photographer, get credit for a future travel workshop or the choice to withdraw for a full refund including the deposit fees.
If you decide not to purchase a full travel insurance protection, you will be liable to cover any related cost and penalties in the event of cancelling your workshop.
Hotel Accomodation
Traveling in developing nations is quite different from visiting Europe or the USA. The standards you might expect in wealthier countries are often less common, and this becomes especially noticeable as you venture into smaller towns and villages, far from the larger, more frequently visited touristic cities.
Travel and Insurance Acknowledgment
Participants are strongly advised to purchase refundable travel tickets and obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance prior to participation. In addiction, participant certifies that they have purchased a full coverage plan. In the event that a participant does not possess adequate travel or medical insurance coverage, the participant expressly acknowledges and agrees to assume full responsibility for any and all costs, expenses, or liabilities incurred at the time.
IPW suggests a full-coverage plan that includes:
Medical and dental emergencies
Medical evacuation and air ambulance from any location
Lost baggage
Missed connections
Hotel reservations
Trip interruption and cancellation
Here are some insurance companies:
https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com
https://www.travelinsure.com/
Photo Consent
By attending any of our workshops or trips, you grant IPW the rights and permission to use images of you, or images created by you during the workshop, strictly for the purposes of advertising, promotion, marketing, or packaging of future IPW workshops and trips. The copyright of your photographic work will remain solely with you.