Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 6th February 2025

1. Introduction

At Photography By Rachel we are committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, book a session, or use our services.

We comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 to ensure your data is handled lawfully, fairly, and transparently.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following personal data:

  • Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and home address (for bookings and invoicing).

  • Photography Session Details: Information about your session, such as date, location, and preferences.

  • Payment Information: When booking a session, payment is made via BACS (Bank Transfer). Payment details will be provided upon booking. No card or banking details are stored or processed by me.

  • Images & Consent: Photographs taken during your session, subject to your consent for promotional use.

  • Website Data: Information such as IP address, browser type, and cookies for website analytics and security.

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal data for the following purposes:

  • To communicate with you regarding inquiries, bookings, and service updates.

  • To deliver our photography services, including editing and sharing images.

  • To process invoices and payments securely.

  • To display images on our website, social media, or marketing materials (with explicit consent).

  • To comply with legal or regulatory requirements.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

We process personal data under the following lawful bases:

  • Contractual Necessity: When processing is required to fulfill our contract with you (e.g., booking and delivering photography services).

  • Legitimate Interest: For business operations, such as improving our services and responding to inquiries.

  • Consent: When obtaining permission to use images for marketing. You may withdraw consent at any time.

  • Legal Obligation: If required by law for tax, accounting, or regulatory compliance.

5. Photo Usage & Client Rights

We respect your privacy regarding the images we capture. We will always seek your written consent before using any images for promotional purposes, including our website, portfolio, or social media.

You have the right to:

  • Request removal of any publicly shared images.

  • Withdraw consent for future use of your photos.

  • Access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at photographybyracheluk@gmail.com

6. Data Security & Retention

We take appropriate security measures to protect your personal data. This includes:

  • Secure storage of client details and images.

  • Password-protected online galleries.

  • Encryption and security measures for online transactions.

We retain your data only for as long as necessary to fulfill our services or comply with legal obligations.

7. Sharing of Data

We respect your privacy and do not sell or share your personal data. However, when processing payments via BACS (Bank Transfer), we may share limited information with the following:

  • Third-Party Services: For payment processing, we may need to share limited data with payment providers to verify and complete the transaction.

  • Legal Authorities: In certain circumstances, we may be required to share payment-related information with legal authorities for fraud prevention or legal compliance.

All third-party providers are required to comply with UK GDPR standards.

8. Cookies & Website Analytics

We use cookies to enhance user experience and analyze website traffic. These include:

  • Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality.

  • Analytics Cookies: Used to track visitor behaviour (Google Analytics).

You can adjust cookie settings in your browser or decline non-essential cookies when visiting our site.

9. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data.

  • Request correction of inaccurate information.

  • Request deletion of your data (unless legally required to retain it).

  • Object to data processing under certain conditions.

  • Request data portability.

To make a request, please contact photographybyracheluk@gmail.com

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Effective Date."

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact:

Email: photographybyracheluk@gmail.com 

If you believe we have not handled your data correctly, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
ICO Website: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/