Terms of Service &
Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Shuruwaat ("we", "us", "our") is an online discovery platform that connects photographers and videographers ("Creators") with individuals and businesses seeking photography or videography services ("Clients"). Shuruwaat acts solely as an intermediary — we are not a party to any booking, agreement, or payment between Creators and Clients. Our platform is operated from India and governed by Indian law.

2. Data We Collect From You

• Identity data: Your studio / business name and your full name.
• Contact data: Email address and phone number (WhatsApp preferred).
• Location data: Your studio city and the states / districts you service.
• Professional data: Shoot segments, starting price, Instagram handle, bio.
• Portfolio media: Photos and videos you upload to your profile.
• Account credentials: Email and hashed password used to log in.
• Usage data: Profile view counts, enquiry activity, and login events.

3. How We Use Your Data

• Public profile: Your name, city, segments, price, bio, portfolio, and Instagram are displayed on your public Shuruwaat page so Clients can find and evaluate you.
• Client enquiries: When a Client sends an enquiry, your contact email or phone is used to route the enquiry to you. The Client may see your contact details to follow up.
• Admin review: Our team reviews your profile before approval and may contact you via email or phone for verification.
• Notifications: We may email or WhatsApp you about new enquiries, platform updates, or policy changes.
• Analytics: Aggregated, non-identifying data is used to improve the platform.

4. Legal Basis (DPDP Act 2023)

Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, we process your personal data solely on the basis of your free, specific, informed, and unambiguous consent given at the time of account creation (Section 6, DPDP Act 2023). You may withdraw this consent at any time by deleting your account or writing to us at hello@shuruwaat.in — however, withdrawal will mean your profile is permanently removed from the platform.

5. Data Sharing

• Clients: Contact information is shared only in the context of a genuine booking enquiry.
• Service providers: We use Supabase (data storage, Auth) and Vercel (hosting). Both are bound by data-processing agreements.
• No sale of data: We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties for marketing.
• Legal obligation: We may disclose data if required by law, court order, or a government authority.

6. Data Usage Disclosure (DPDP Act 2023)

• Lawful purpose: We collect only the personal data necessary to operate a photography discovery service. We do not collect sensitive personal data as defined under the DPDP Act 2023, and we do not use automated decision-making or profiling.
• Consent-based processing: All personal data is processed on the basis of your explicit, informed, and unambiguous consent provided at the time of account creation, in accordance with Section 6 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
• Purpose limitation: Your data is collected only for the purposes described in this policy: (a) creating and displaying your public profile, (b) routing client enquiries to you, and (c) platform operation and improvement. We will not use it for any other purpose without fresh consent.
• No monetisation of data: We do not use your personal data for advertising profiling, sale to data brokers, or any purpose beyond operating this platform.
• Cross-border transfers: Your data is stored on servers operated by Supabase (infrastructure in supported regions) and Vercel (hosting). Both providers comply with applicable data protection standards. No data is transferred to jurisdictions restricted under Indian law.
• Children's data: This platform is intended for individuals aged 18 and above. We do not knowingly collect data from minors. If you believe a minor has registered, contact our Grievance Officer immediately.

7. Communication Consent

By creating an account you consent to receiving the following communications from Shuruwaat. You may withdraw communication consent at any time by emailing hello@shuruwaat.in or using the unsubscribe link in emails — this will not affect your profile visibility unless you also delete your account.

• Transactional messages: Account confirmations, password resets, enquiry notifications, and profile status updates sent via email. These are essential and cannot be opted out of while your account is active.
• WhatsApp / SMS: With your consent, we may send booking enquiry alerts and important platform notifications to your registered phone number via WhatsApp or SMS. You may opt out at any time by writing to us.
• Platform updates: Occasional emails about new features, policy changes, or Shuruwaat community updates. Frequency: at most once per month.
• No third-party marketing: We will never share your phone number or email with third parties for marketing purposes.

8. Your Rights

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Update incorrect or incomplete information from your dashboard at any time.
• Erasure: Request deletion of your account and associated personal data.
• Portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format.
• Grievance: Raise a complaint with our Grievance Officer (details in §13).

9. Data Retention

Your profile data is retained for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account we will remove your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law (e.g. financial records).

10. Your Responsibilities as a Creator

• Accuracy: All information you provide must be truthful and up to date.
• Original work: You may only upload portfolio media that you own or have the right to display.
• Client consent: Ensure you have the necessary permissions from subjects who appear in your portfolio photos.
• Responsiveness: Respond to Client enquiries in a professional and timely manner.
• No fake profiles: Creating multiple accounts or impersonating another photographer is prohibited and will result in permanent removal.

11. Platform Rules

• Prohibited content: No adult, violent, discriminatory, or illegal content in your portfolio or communications.
• Off-platform fees: Shuruwaat does not process payments. Any financial agreement is directly between you and the Client.
• Misuse: Using Shuruwaat to spam, harvest contacts, or conduct fraud will result in immediate removal and may be reported to law enforcement.

12. Liability Limitation — Discovery Intermediary Only

IMPORTANT: Please read this section carefully. Shuruwaat operates solely as an online discovery intermediary that connects photographers with potential clients. We are an information platform — not a party to any agreement, booking, or transaction between photographers and clients.

• No service guarantee: Shuruwaat does not guarantee the quality, timeliness, safety, legality, or suitability of any photography services provided by photographers listed on the platform. All interactions between photographers and clients are independent of Shuruwaat.
• No payment processing: Shuruwaat does not facilitate, process, hold, or mediate any payments between photographers and clients. Any financial arrangement is strictly a private matter between the photographer and the client.
• No verification of credentials: While we review profiles before approval, we do not independently verify the professional qualifications, certifications, or licences of any photographer. Clients are advised to conduct their own due diligence before booking.
• Limitation of liability: To the maximum extent permitted under applicable Indian law, Shuruwaat, its founders, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from: (a) use of or inability to use the platform; (b) any interaction, dispute, or transaction between a photographer and a client; (c) loss of data, bookings, or business opportunity; or (d) unauthorised access to your data due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
• Platform is 'as-is': The platform is provided on an 'as-is' and 'as-available' basis during its current MVP stage. We make no warranty that the platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or always available.
• Dispute resolution: Any dispute between a photographer and a client arising from a booking or service is solely the responsibility of those parties. Shuruwaat may, at its sole discretion, assist in mediation but is under no obligation to do so.
• Intermediary status: Shuruwaat is an 'intermediary' as defined under Section 2(w) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and operates under the safe harbour provisions of Section 79 of the same Act.

13. Grievance Officer

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2021, you may contact our Grievance Officer for any concerns about your data or our platform: Email: grievance@shuruwaat.in Response time: Within 48 hours of receipt.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this document periodically. Material changes will be communicated via email or a prominent notice on the platform. Continued use of Shuruwaat after such notice constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

15. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of India. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Mumbai, Maharashtra.