Damage Waiver

The $59 damage waiver is an optional add-on that reduces your out-of-pocket liability for covered accidental damage during the rental. It is not insurance. It does not transfer your responsibility for the kit — it just caps it for the kinds of events most likely to happen on a wedding day.

What the waiver does

With the waiver, your maximum liability for a covered event is $250. Whatever the actual repair or replacement cost runs beyond that, the studio absorbs.

Without the waiver, you are liable for the full repair or replacement costof any damaged item, up to the retail value of the kit.

Covered events (with waiver)

• Accidental physical damage during the rental — drops, dings, bumps, cracked lens elements, broken filters.
• Light liquid exposure on weather-resistant gear (a champagne splash on a weather-sealed camera body, a light drizzle).
• Strap or mount failure resulting in a drop.

Excluded events (always your responsibility)

The following are excluded from waiver coverage. If any of these happen, you owe the full cost regardless of whether you bought the waiver.

• Theft of any kind. Police report required for items individually valued over $500.
• Theft from an unattended vehicle. Industry-standard exclusion — don't leave the kit in the car.
• Loss — gear that simply does not come back in the return box.
• Submersion or heavy water damage — dropped in a pool, left in a rainstorm, splashed during an outdoor sparkler exit gone wrong.
• Intentional damage, vandalism, or abuse.
• Damage from misuse — using gear outside its rated environment, ignoring the quick-start guide we send.
• Damage to consumables — SD cards, batteries, lens cloths, USB-C cables, lens caps, straps, etc. These are wear items.
• Cosmetic-only wear on the gear itself is normal and not a chargeable event in the first place — but if it amounts to true damage, the assessment applies.
• Late return fees. Late returns are governed by the Late Returns policy, not the waiver.

Lost accessories & missing items

Items missing from the return box are charged at flat replacement rates rather than going through the damage process. Indicative rates:

• SD card · $40 each
• Battery · $40 each
• Battery charger · $60
• USB-C / HDMI cable · $20
• Lens cap · $15
• Camera strap · $20
• Wireless lavalier transmitter · $90

The waiver does not cover lost accessories. These are flat fees regardless of whether you bought the waiver.

What "$250 deductible" means in practice

Example 1 — covered event:

• You drop the kit's primary lens and crack the front element.
• Repair quote: $1,800.
• With waiver: you pay $250. Studio absorbs $1,550.
• Without waiver: you pay $1,800.

Example 2 — excluded event:

• The kit is stolen from your unattended hotel-room balcony.
• Replacement cost: $4,200.
• With waiver: you pay $4,200 (theft is excluded).
• Without waiver: you pay $4,200.

Example 3 — light cosmetic ding:

• Tiny dent in the cage, functional but visible.
• Assessment: $0 (cosmetic-only wear is normal).
• With or without waiver: you pay $0.

Scope of the waiver

The waiver applies per order, not per item. A single $250 deductible covers any number of covered events in the rental period — you don't get billed $250 per dinged item.

How we determine the cost

We use real-world repair or replacement costs from authorized service centers (e.g., Sony, Canon, RØDE) or new-stock pricing from B&H Photo / Adorama for the same SKU. Each charge email cites the source link so you can verify.

Disputes

You have five business days from the assessment email to dispute a charge, including with your own photos or written explanation. After that window, the charge is applied to your payment method on file under the Authorization to Charge clause of the Reservation Terms.