Privacy Policy

At ShutterScape Studios, located in the heart of Asheville, North Carolina, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information. This policy applies to information we collect when you use our website, engage our services, or otherwise interact with us. By using our services, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

Information Collection

We collect several types of information from and about users of our services, including:

• Personal Information: This includes information that can be used to identify you, such as your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and payment information. We collect this information when you request a quote, book a session, subscribe to our newsletter, or contact us directly.
• Usage Data: This includes information about how you use our website and services, such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, and the dates/times of your visits. We collect this information using cookies and other tracking technologies.
• Project-Related Information: This includes information related to photography and videography projects we undertake for you, such as event dates, locations, participant names, and specific requests or preferences.

Data Usage

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

• Providing and Improving Services: We use your information to fulfill your requests, provide you with high-quality photography and videography services, and improve our offerings based on your feedback and usage patterns.
• Communication: We use your information to communicate with you about your projects, send you updates, respond to your inquiries, and provide customer support.
• Marketing: With your consent, we may use your information to send you promotional emails about our services, special offers, and industry news. You can opt-out of receiving these emails at any time.
• Analytics: We use usage data to analyze trends, track user activity, and gather demographic information to improve our website and services.
• Legal Compliance: We may use your information to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.

Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures include:

• Encryption: We use encryption to protect sensitive information during transmission and storage.
• Access Controls: We restrict access to personal information to authorized personnel only.
• Regular Security Audits: We conduct regular security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
• Data Minimization: We only collect and retain personal information that is necessary for the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy.

Cookies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activity on our website. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device and allow us to recognize you and remember your preferences. We use cookies for various purposes, including:

• Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the operation of our website and enable you to access certain features, such as secure areas.
• Performance Cookies: These cookies collect information about how you use our website, such as which pages you visit and how long you spend on each page. We use this information to improve the performance and usability of our website.
• Functionality Cookies: These cookies allow us to remember your preferences and personalize your experience on our website.
• Advertising Cookies: These cookies are used to deliver targeted advertisements based on your browsing activity and interests.

You can control cookies through your browser settings and opt-out of certain types of cookies. However, please note that disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of our website.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your personal information with third parties in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share your information with trusted service providers who assist us in providing our services, such as payment processors, email marketing platforms, and analytics providers. These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal request, such as a subpoena or court order.
• Business Transfers: In the event that ShutterScape Studios is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of the transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our website of any change in ownership or uses of your personal information, as well as any choices you may have regarding your personal information.

Your Privacy Rights

You have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

• Access: You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information we hold about you.
• Deletion: You have the right to request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Objection: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information for certain purposes, such as direct marketing.
• Restriction: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
• Data Portability: You have the right to request that we provide you with a copy of your personal information in a structured, machine-readable format.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. We may also retain your information to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete the information as soon as possible.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post any changes on our website and update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

ShutterScape Studios

Attn: Privacy Officer

123 River Arts Place, Suite 400

Asheville, NC 28801

Phone: (828) 555-0123

Email: [email protected]

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Compliance

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights regarding your personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). These rights include:

• Right to Know: You have the right to request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, the sources of the information, the purposes for collecting it, and the categories of third parties with whom we share it.
• Right to Delete: You have the right to request that we delete the personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.
• Right to Opt-Out of Sale: ShutterScape Studios does not sell your personal information. However, if we were to engage in such activities in the future, you would have the right to opt-out.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.

To exercise your CCPA rights, please contact us using the contact information provided above. We will verify your identity before processing your request.

Designated Contact Information for CCPA Requests:

Eliza Hawthorne, Data Protection Officer

[email protected]

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you have certain rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

• Lawful Basis for Processing: We process your personal data based on one or more lawful bases, including your consent, the necessity to perform a contract, compliance with a legal obligation, or our legitimate interests.
• Data Transfers: If we transfer your personal data outside of the EEA, we will implement appropriate safeguards to protect your information, such as the use of Standard Contractual Clauses.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority in your country of residence if you believe that we have violated your GDPR rights.

Data Controller Information:

ShutterScape Studios

123 River Arts Place, Suite 400

Asheville, NC 28801

You can reach our data protection officer, Eliza Hawthorne, at [email protected] for GDPR-related inquiries.