Terms & Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Shutter League platform, including the website at shutterleague.com, all associated mobile applications, and all services provided thereunder (collectively, the "Platform").

By creating an account, uploading any content, or making any payment, you confirm that you are at least 18 years of age, have read and understood these Terms, and agree to be bound by them. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

Shutter League reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Platform after any amendment constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

2. Platform Description

Shutter League is a digital photography skill assessment platform. All services provided are digital in nature and include AI-powered image evaluation, feedback, progress tracking, and access to structured photography programmes. No physical goods are sold or shipped.

The Platform uses the Apex DDI Engine to evaluate photographs across five dimensions: how difficult the image was to make, how far it departs from the conventional treatment of its subject, whether the timing was right, whether it made you feel something, and the specific emotion it produces. Evaluations reflect technical execution, compositional achievement, timing, the feeling the image creates in the viewer, and the specific emotion it produces. Evaluations are generated programmatically and are not expressions of personal opinion.

2A. Platform Classification and Nature of Service

For absolute clarity, the following statements define the nature of this platform and its services:

• No monetary awards. Shutter League does not offer cash awards, cash recognition payments, gift vouchers with cash value, or any monetary award of any kind to any user under any programme or circumstance.
• No real-money gaming. Shutter League is not a real-money gaming platform, fantasy sports platform, or skill-based wagering platform of any kind. Users do not pay to win money.
• Subscription is for feedback tools access. All subscription fees — the current subscription rate as listed on the Pricing page — are paid in exchange for access to AI-powered photography evaluation tools, structured feedback, and educational programmes. Subscription provides access to services, not programme participation.
• Programmes are educational assessments. All Shutter League programmes, including the Annual Excellence Award, Body of Work, and Weekly Assignment, are photography skill assessment and development programmes. Outcomes are determined by photographic merit as evaluated by trained assessors. Recognition takes the form of digital certificates, badges, and featured placement on the platform — not cash or monetary awards.
• No games of chance. No element of Shutter League involves random selection, luck, or probability. All evaluations are merit-based.
• Business category: Online Education / Information Technology / EdTech. GST registration category: Information Technology / Online Services.

This declaration is provided for the purpose of regulatory compliance, KYC review, and payment gateway assessment. Shutter League's business model is that of an educational technology platform offering professional skill development tools for photographers.

3. Prohibited Content — Image Upload Policy

The following categories of content are strictly prohibited on the Platform under any circumstances:

• Nudity and sexually explicit material — Any image containing full or partial nudity, sexually suggestive content, or pornographic material of any kind, regardless of claimed artistic intent.
• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — Any image that sexualises, exploits, or endangers a minor in any way. This is an absolute prohibition. Shutter League will report any such content to the Cyber Crime Cell of India, the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and any other applicable law enforcement authority without prior notice to the uploader.
• Child trafficking or exploitation — Any image that depicts, facilitates, promotes, or is associated with the trafficking, abuse, or exploitation of children.
• Derogatory or hate content — Any image that demeans, degrades, or dehumanises individuals or groups on the basis of religion, caste, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
• Content offensive to religious sentiments — Any image that intentionally mocks, desecrates, or is designed to cause offence to the religious beliefs, symbols, or practices of any community. This includes but is not limited to depictions that violate provisions of Sections 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code.
• Violence and graphic content — Any image depicting graphic violence, gore, torture, mutilation, or the aftermath of violent acts.
• Illegal content — Any image that depicts, promotes, or facilitates any activity that is illegal under Indian law or the laws of the jurisdiction from which the image is uploaded.
• Non-consensual intimate imagery — Any image depicting a person in an intimate context without their explicit consent, including images obtained through surveillance, voyeurism, or interception.

Shutter League uses both automated and human moderation. Users may report prohibited content at any time by using the Report function on any image or by writing to support@shutterleague.com. All reports are reviewed within 48 hours.

4. Model Consent and Release — Programme Uploads

By submitting any image containing an identifiable person to any Shutter League programme, you represent and warrant that:

1. You have obtained a valid written model release or consent from every identifiable person depicted in the image, granting permission for the image to be displayed, evaluated, and published on the Platform and in any associated communications.
2. Where the subject is under 18 years of age, written consent has been obtained from a parent or legal guardian.
3. No model depicted in the image has subsequently revoked their consent.
4. The consent obtained covers use of the image for photographic skill assessment, publication on the Shutter League platform, and inclusion in programme-related communications and promotional materials.

Shutter League does not require you to submit model release documents at the time of upload but reserves the right to request proof of model consent for any image at any time, including after publication. Failure to produce such documentation within 7 days of a request will result in removal of the image from all programmes and, where applicable, disqualification from programme standings.

Images uploaded for independent evaluation only (outside of any programme participation) are not subject to mandatory model consent requirements but must still comply with all other provisions of these Terms, including the Prohibited Content policy in Section 3.

5. Platform Liability — User-Generated Content

• Images that are obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit.
• Images that are derogatory toward any individual, community, religion, caste, or group.
• Images that infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party.
• Images that violate any person's right to privacy, dignity, or image.
• Images depicting or facilitating illegal activity of any kind.
• Images that cause offence to religious or cultural sentiments.

The legal responsibility for any uploaded content rests entirely and solely with the user who uploaded it. By uploading any content to the Platform, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Shutter League, its officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with your uploaded content or your violation of these Terms.

Shutter League operates a reactive moderation system and will remove prohibited content upon becoming aware of it, whether through user reports, automated detection, or any other means. However, the existence of this system does not constitute a guarantee that all prohibited content will be identified and removed immediately, and does not impose liability on Shutter League for content that has not been brought to its attention.

Shutter League complies with takedown requests submitted under applicable Indian law, including the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. To submit a takedown request, write to support@shutterleague.com with the subject line "Content Takedown Request".

6. User Content and Licence

You retain full ownership of all photographs you upload to the Platform. By uploading an image, you grant Shutter League a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to display, reproduce, and use the image solely for the purpose of operating the Platform, delivering the evaluation service, and displaying your work in programme contexts (results pages, community galleries, and marketing materials that reference the Platform's programmes).

This licence does not grant Shutter League the right to sell your images, license them to third parties for commercial use, or use them for any purpose unrelated to the operation of the Platform.

You represent and warrant that you are the original creator of every image you upload and that you hold all necessary rights to grant this licence.

7. Subscriptions and Payments

Shutter League offers annual and 6-month subscription plans, and a 100-evaluation pack, providing access to Platform features. All subscription amounts are in Indian Rupees (INR) and are inclusive of applicable taxes. Current plan pricing is listed on the Pricing page.

Subscriptions are processed through our payment partners and renew automatically unless cancelled. You may cancel your subscription at any time from your account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period; no partial refunds are issued for unused days within a billing period.

Pricing changes. Shutter League reserves the right to change subscription pricing at any time. Active subscribers will receive a minimum of 30 days written notice (by email to their registered address) before any price change affects their renewal. Continuing to subscribe after the notice period constitutes acceptance of the new price.

Evaluation methodology. The Apex DDI Engine, evaluation criteria, dimension definitions, dimension weights, calibration standards, and scoring methodology may be updated at any time without prior notice as the platform improves. Past scores are not retroactively changed. Shutter League does not guarantee that evaluation output will remain identical across engine versions.

Service changes. Shutter League reserves the right to add, modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature, programme, or service at any time. Where a paid feature is removed permanently, affected subscribers will be notified with reasonable advance notice.

Refunds are governed by the Refund Policy. All transactions are for digital services only. No physical goods are sold or shipped.

8. Programme Eligibility and Conduct

Participation in Shutter League programmes — including the Annual Excellence Award, BOW, Weekly Assignment, and Juried Programmes — is subject to eligibility requirements published on the relevant programme pages. Shutter League reserves the right to modify programme rules, eligibility criteria, and timelines at any time.

Programme evaluations are conducted by human jury panels for all formal annual programmes. AI evaluation is used for initial assessment and weekly practice uploads. Where jury evaluation applies, it is disclosed explicitly on the programme page.

Shutter League programmes are assessment and learning programmes. They are not games of chance. Outcomes are determined by the quality of photographic work as assessed by trained human jury members or the evaluation engine, not by random selection.

Any attempt to manipulate evaluations, upload images not taken by the entrant, upload altered images contrary to programme rules, or otherwise subvert programme integrity will result in immediate disqualification and account suspension.

9. Privacy

Your use of the Platform is also governed by the Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please read it carefully.

10. Loyalty Points

Shutter League operates a loyalty points system as a recognition and engagement mechanism for registered users. The following terms govern the earning, holding, and redemption of points.

• Not a currency. Points are an internal platform mechanic, not money, a deposit, or a stored monetary balance. Points cannot be purchased for cash, withdrawn as cash, transferred between accounts, gifted, or sold under any circumstances. Points may be redeemed only for platform services (programme access, upload credits, mentor sessions, top-ups, and subscription offsets) at redemption rates Shutter League sets and may change at its discretion, as displayed on the Redeem Points page. Displaying a service's cash price alongside its points price is for comparison only and does not create a cash-equivalent value, a right of withdrawal, or a right of exchange for points.
• Earning points. Points are awarded for evaluated image uploads, peer ratings, weekly shoot participation, referrals, and tier jump milestones. Earning rates may be updated at any time with reasonable notice to active subscribers.
• Annual reset — all accounts. 20% of a user's points balance resets on 1 January each year. This applies to all accounts regardless of activity. The remaining 80% carry forward automatically. Shutter League will send a reminder email in November and again on 15 December so users can redeem or use points before the reset date.
• Tier badges are permanent. Tier badges (Rookie through Legend) are lifetime achievements awarded for evaluation performance. They do not expire and are not affected by points balance or account activity.
• Redemption. Points may be redeemed for programme access, upload credits, mentor sessions, and subscription offsets as listed on the Redeem Points page. Redemptions are non-reversible. Redeemed points are deducted immediately from the balance.
• Subscription required. Most redemptions require an active Mobile or Camera League subscription. Mentor sessions are available to all registered users via cash payment regardless of subscription status.
• Subject to availability. Programme access redemptions (Open, Body of Work, Annual Excellence Award) are only valid during the relevant participation window.
• Rate changes. Shutter League may adjust redemption rates or introduce new redemption options at any time with a minimum of 14 days' notice to active subscribers.
• Payment infrastructure. Certain redemptions are subject to payment infrastructure being operational. Shutter League's obligation is to activate full redemption within 30 days of payment infrastructure going live.
• Disputes. Any dispute regarding points balances or redemptions must be raised within 30 days of the transaction by contacting support@shutterleague.com.

10A. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Shutter League, its officers, employees, and contractors shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with your use of the Platform, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of standing, or loss of anticipated results, whether based on contract, tort, or any other legal theory, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Shutter League's total liability arising out of or relating to these Terms shall not exceed the amount paid by you to Shutter League in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

10B. Prohibited Use

You agree not to use the Platform for any unlawful or fraudulent purpose, including but not limited to: attempting to circumvent payment obligations; submitting fraudulent payment information; using the Platform to launder money or disguise the proceeds of unlawful activity; impersonating another person; or attempting to gain unauthorised access to another user's account or to Shutter League's systems. Shutter League reserves the right to suspend or terminate any account, and to report the matter to the appropriate authorities, where it reasonably suspects fraudulent, unlawful, or abusive use of the Platform or its payment systems.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

For any queries, disputes, or grievances, please contact us at support@shutterleague.com. We aim to respond to all formal grievances within 2 business days.

12. Changes to These Terms

Shutter League may revise these Terms at any time by posting an updated version on this page. The date of last revision is noted at the bottom of this page. Your continued use of the Platform after any revision constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.

Last updated: June 2026