Studio Hire Agreement & Liability Waiver

1. Responsibility for the studio, equipment & guests

• Sora Studios is a shared creative space. We want every client to walk into the same clean, tidy and ready-to-use studio.
• The person making the booking (“the Client”) is responsible for the studio, its contents and all persons attending during the booking, including photographers, models, makeup artists, stylists, assistants, event suppliers and guests.
• The Client is responsible for any damage, loss, misuse, excessive soiling or breach of this Agreement caused by themselves or anyone attending under their booking.
• The Client must ensure that everyone attending follows these terms and any reasonable safety or studio instructions given by Sora Studios.

2. Shoes & shoe covers

• When you enter the studio, please take your shoes off or put shoe covers on. There is a sign at the front door, and shoe covers are available there for you to wear.
• Important: if you are using the cyclorama wall, shoe covers must be worn. There is a sign and a supply of shoe covers at the cyclorama.

3. Looking after the space

• Please keep the white cyclorama and paper backdrops clean, and keep food, drink and makeup well away from them.
• Keep food and drink away from the sets, soft furnishings and equipment.
• Please check with us before your session if you plan to use anything messy or hard to clean, such as glitter, confetti, paint, powders, liquids, smoke or balloons.
• Handle furniture, props and equipment with care, and lift furniture when moving it; please don't drag it.
• The kitchen and refreshments are for use within reason during your booking. They are there so you have something to eat and drink on a longer shoot; please don't take drinks, sweets or other items away with you.
• Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere in the studio.

4. Equipment use & safety

• Studio equipment, lighting, furniture, props, backdrops and electrical equipment must be used safely, appropriately and only for their intended purpose.
• Clients must not undertake any activity that creates an avoidable fire, electrical, health or safety risk.
• Accidents happen. If something is damaged, broken, spilled, stained or stops working, please tell us immediately. Any fault, overheating, exposed wiring or other safety concern must also be reported straight away. This is especially important with lighting or electrical equipment.
• Damaged or potentially unsafe equipment must never be concealed, taped, altered, repaired or left in use for another client.
• Failure to report damage, particularly where the damage creates a potential health, fire or electrical safety risk, may be treated as a serious breach of this Agreement.
• If you notice any mess, damage or missing items when you arrive, please let us know straight away so that you aren't held responsible for it.

5. Booking time, access & overtime

• The booked time includes all setup, shooting, filming, packing down and studio reset time. Late arrival does not extend the booking.
• Access is permitted only during the booked time unless otherwise agreed by Sora Studios.
• Please allow enough time before the end of your session to return the studio to its original condition and remove your belongings and rubbish. The studio must be fully cleared and reset by the end of the booking.
• A 15-minute departure grace period applies. Continued use of the studio beyond this period may result in an overtime charge. Overtime is charged at £70 for the first hour, then at standard booking rates after that.

6. Before you leave: resetting the studio

The studio must be left clean, safe and ready for the next client. You must:

• Return all furniture, props and equipment to where you found them.
• Return clothes rails and other movable studio items to their original positions.
• Roll paper backdrops back up on the wall system.
• Leave changing rooms and hair/makeup areas clean and tidy.
• Leave the kitchen and preparation areas clean and clear.
• Switch off lights and equipment you have used.
• Remove all personal belongings and shoot materials.
• Clean up any spills or mess created during your booking.
• Take all rubbish away with you.

7. Heaters

• When you are finished, the studio heaters must be turned off using the heater remote control so that no heat is coming out.
• Clients must not unplug the heaters or switch them off at the mains. The heaters are Bluetooth-connected to Sora Studios’ devices and must remain plugged in and switched on at the mains.

8. Rubbish

• Sora Studios does not have communal external bins for client rubbish. Anything you bring into the studio must therefore be taken away with you at the end of your booking.
• Please do not leave food, drinks, full coffee cups, liquids or other wet waste in the studio bins.

9. Cleaning charges

• Normal use of the studio is expected.
• Where the studio is left in a condition that takes longer than 30 minutes to clean and reset, the time beyond the first 30 minutes is charged at £25 per hour. CCTV footage may be used to confirm the time taken.
• Where specialist services are required, such as specialist cleaning, stain removal, repair, replacement or other professional work, the price of those services will be charged. Receipts will be provided.

10. Damage, loss & additional charges

• The Client is responsible for the reasonable cost of repairing or replacing damaged or missing studio property and for other genuine costs arising directly from damage or misuse during their booking.
• Where damage or breakage is reported to us at the time, the Client pays only the cost of repairing or replacing the item. No investigation charge applies.
• Where damage is caused by another person attending the booking, Sora Studios’ agreement remains with the Client who made the booking. It is the Client’s responsibility to recover any amount from the individual, supplier or other person who caused the damage should they wish to do so.

11. Investigation & administrative costs

• Where damage, loss, misuse, a safety incident or breach of this Agreement is not reported by the Client, is concealed, or otherwise requires Sora Studios to carry out additional investigation, the Client may be charged for the reasonable time and costs incurred by Sora Studios in investigating and resolving the matter.
• This may include, but is not limited to, reviewing CCTV footage, establishing the circumstances of an incident, gathering evidence, corresponding with relevant parties, obtaining repair or replacement quotations and arranging repairs or replacements.
• Where an incident is not reported, investigation time is charged at £25 per hour.
• Any investigation or administrative charge will be reasonable and proportionate to the time and work actually required.

12. Personal belongings & liability

• Clients use the studio and its facilities at their own risk and remain responsible for their own belongings and equipment.
• Sora Studios is not responsible for loss, theft or damage to personal belongings left in or around the studio, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.
• Nothing in this Agreement excludes or limits any liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence.

13. Children & supervision

• Children must be appropriately supervised at all times.
• The Client remains responsible for the conduct and safety of children attending under their booking and for any damage they cause.

14. Equipment availability & unforeseen circumstances

• Sora Studios will take reasonable steps to provide the studio, facilities and equipment described for the booking.
• If equipment becomes unexpectedly unavailable or circumstances outside Sora Studios’ reasonable control materially affect a booking, Sora Studios may offer an appropriate alternative, reschedule the booking or provide another reasonable remedy.

15. Conduct, restricted use & termination

• Clients and guests must behave respectfully and must not cause unreasonable disturbance, damage or risk to the studio, neighbouring spaces or other occupants.
• The studio must not be used for unlawful activity or in any way that creates an unreasonable fire, electrical, safety or property risk.
• Sora Studios reserves the right to end a booking where there is unsafe, unlawful, abusive or seriously non-compliant behaviour. No additional studio time or refund will be provided where a booking is terminated as a result of a breach of these terms.

16. CCTV

• CCTV operates within the studio and communal areas for safety, security and the protection of the premises, clients and equipment.
• CCTV footage may be reviewed where there is suspected damage, theft, misuse, a health and safety concern or a potential breach of this Agreement.
• CCTV is not installed in toilets or changing rooms.

17. Cancellations, rescheduling & no-shows

• Full payment is required to secure a booking.
• Cancellation 3 days (72 hours or more) before the booking: full refund.
• Cancellation 2 days (48 hours) before the booking: 50% refund.
• Cancellation within 24 hours of the booking: no refund.
• Same-day cancellation or failure to attend: no refund or credit.
• Late arrival does not create an entitlement to a partial refund.
• Any agreed rescheduling remains subject to availability and the Cancellation Policy.

18. Content, permissions & client responsibility

• The Client is responsible for ensuring they hold any permissions, licences, releases or consents required for photography, filming, music, products, people, branding or other content involved in their booking.
• Sora Studios is not responsible for disputes arising from a Client’s failure to obtain any required permission, licence, release or consent.

19. Payment method authorisation

• By completing a booking, the Client authorises Sora Studios to charge the payment method used for the booking for additional sums properly due under this Agreement.
• This may include damage, loss, repair or replacement costs, overtime, excessive or specialist cleaning, reasonable investigation or administrative costs and other genuine costs arising from a breach of these terms.
• Any additional charge will reflect either the applicable stated studio fee or a reasonable and proportionate cost actually incurred. The Client will be notified of any additional charge.

20. Agreement & acceptance

• By completing a booking and accepting these terms, the Client confirms that they have read, understood and agree to this Studio Hire Agreement & Liability Waiver, including the Cleaning & Studio Policy it contains.
• The Client accepts responsibility for ensuring that everyone attending under their booking complies with these terms.
• Where the booking system states that these terms apply to future bookings, the accepted terms will continue to apply to subsequent bookings until updated by Sora Studios.

Client acceptance

• I confirm that I will return the studio, furniture, props and equipment to the condition and positions in which I found them and comply with Sora Studios’ Cleaning & Studio Policy.
• I understand and agree that my booking payment method may be charged for sums properly due under this Agreement, including damage, loss, cleaning, overtime and reasonable investigation or administrative costs.
• I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to the Sora Studios Studio Hire Agreement & Liability Waiver and Cleaning & Studio Policy.

Important: any damage, breakage, fault or safety issue must be reported immediately. Do not conceal, tape, alter, repair or leave damaged equipment for another client to use.

Questions?

Email us at hello@sorastudios.uk before you book and we'll be happy to help.