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So what is GDPR?
Basically GDPR means that we have to take care of the information we hold about you which is standard practise. Copyright law means I own my photos I take of you, there’s a bit of confusion about whether your face is classed as data. I need to make sure I handle the written info I hold about you properly and safely.
Personal data I collect
I collect your name, email address so that I can send your gallery and ensure your photos remain safe. I collect your address so that I can post any prints or packages to you. I collect your phone number so that I can call you and find you on your wedding day/session, if needs be.
I take your photo because that’s what you’ve paid me to do and it’s my job. Any data I collect from you is entirely necessary to do the job you pay me to do.
How I collect and keep your personal data
I get you to use my contact form on my website, which arrives in an email inbox that is password protected and has two level authentication. If you go ahead with booking me as your photographer, I will store your email in my client database, which is only accessible on my computer and my email inbox. If you enquire but don’t book me I will delete your personal details and email.
Blog/Facebook/Instagram
My blog, facebook and instagram are all public. If you leave a comment on there then other people will see it. If you message me on Facebook you’ll get an automatic reply to try to encourage you to head to my website. But if you still want to contact me via Facebook it’s secured with two level verification as well.
Right of confirmation, access, rectification and erasure
If you have any questions about how your data is stored and dealt with, then please do not hesitate to contact me and I’ll answer as honestly and openly as possible. If you’d like me to delete all your personal data, you have the right to request it, but it really will make my job almost impossible – I won’t really be able to find you or send your photos without your details. I definitely need to know stuff about you to work for you. When you’ve got all your photos, I can totally delete you, but it’s best I keep your email for as long as your gallery is live to maximise your security.
Use of your data
I take a lot of care to make sure I protect your privacy. I like to contact you a lot before your wedding to give you the best possible service, so I will use your email for that. If there’s something related to your wedding like a discount option or a bridal magazine or even a blog with a similar style I’ll send that to you via your email. I will never give your email to anyone else, not even a second shooter. I have a contract and questionnaires that asks you for details about your wedding so I can do the best job for you. These are on my password protected studio management system.
After your wedding I might send you a questionnaire or email you about a blog post, you don’t have to reply and what you write in there may be edited into content for a blog. Any info is completely voluntarily given. Sometimes your wedding is so good that independent blogs want to feature it, but if they do, I will get in touch for your permission to share it first.
Use of your face-based data
When it comes to your photographs, there isn’t too much specific information about what that means for us photographers bar that we need to demonstrate reasonable and legitimate use. So let me tell you that I won’t sell your photos to be used in an awful advert. If a third party does approach me asking me to buy one of your photos, I will email you about it.
There’s a couple of things I do to be able to run my business, like show my work to couples/families on good old social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Instragram, Pinterest and my own website. That’s probably how you found me because I don’t do fairs or external advertising. That’s why I do ask couples and families to opt into this in my contract, but you can always decide to keep your photos private. I respect that some people don’t want to be on the Internet. I store your photos on a password encrypted hard drive in my locked house, out of sight. I also keep a copy to share with you in an online gallery provider that is GDPR compliant.
I hope that this has given you reassurance that your privacy is important to me.
Melissa x