This Privacy Policy explains how Margo Ustymenko Photography collects, uses, discloses and protects personal information in connection with ustymenko.com, booking requests, Instagram/Meta lead ads and direct communications.
1Who We Are
This Privacy Policy applies to Margo Ustymenko Photography ("we," "us," or "Photographer") and the website ustymenko.com.
Privacy contact: margo.ustymenko@gmail.com.
2Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information you provide directly, information generated through your use of the website or booking process, and information provided through social platforms or service providers.
- Contact and identity information, such as your name, email address, phone number, Instagram username or other contact details.
- Booking information, such as requested session type, preferred date or timing, number of participants, location preferences, participants' names or ages when voluntarily provided, and notes you submit about the session.
- Communications, including emails, direct messages, text messages, form responses and customer-service communications.
- Lead-ad information that you choose to submit through Meta or Instagram, including answers to lead-qualification questions.
- Transaction and payment-related information associated with invoices, retainers and payments. Payment information may be processed by third-party payment providers used at the time of payment; their handling of payment data is governed by their own terms and privacy notices.
- Technical information that may be generated when you visit the website, such as IP address, browser/device information, referring pages, approximate location derived from IP, and cookie or similar technology data, to the extent such technologies are enabled on the website.
- Photographs and session-related content created in the course of providing photography services.
3How We Use Information
We use personal information only for legitimate photography-business purposes, including to:
- Respond to inquiries and communicate with prospective and current clients.
- Qualify leads, provide availability, prepare quotes and schedule sessions.
- Create, administer and fulfill bookings, agreements, invoices, retainers and payments.
- Plan and perform photography services and deliver galleries or other agreed products.
- Maintain business records, prevent fraud or abuse, protect safety, and enforce our agreements.
- Improve the website, booking experience, advertising performance and customer service.
- Send marketing or promotional communications when you have requested them or when otherwise permitted by law, with available opt-out methods.
- Use photographs for portfolio, website, social media or advertising only when the applicable booking permission, written authorization or other lawful basis allows that use.
- Comply with legal, tax, accounting, insurance or regulatory obligations.
4Meta and Instagram Lead Ads
If you respond to an advertisement or lead form on Instagram, Facebook or another Meta service, Meta may provide us with the information you choose to submit. We use that information to respond to your inquiry, evaluate your photography needs, discuss availability and, if you choose, complete a booking.
Your use of Meta products is also subject to Meta's own privacy practices. This Privacy Policy describes our handling of information after we receive or otherwise control it.
5Cookies, Analytics and Similar Technologies
The website may use cookies, pixels, analytics tools or similar technologies if they are enabled in the website implementation. These technologies can support site functionality, traffic measurement, security and advertising measurement.
Because website tools can change, the published version of this Policy should accurately identify any analytics, advertising pixels, cookie-consent tools or similar services actually enabled on ustymenko.com. We do not intentionally state that a technology is used unless it is in fact enabled.
- Analytics
- None. No Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager or comparable analytics tool is installed.
- Advertising pixels
- None. No Meta Pixel or other advertising or conversion pixel is installed.
- Cookies
- This website sets no cookies of its own and uses no browser local or session storage. Because no cookies are set, no cookie-consent banner is used.
- Hosting
- Netlify hosts the website. Like any web host, Netlify processes standard server request data, which can include IP address, browser and device information, and the pages requested.
- Fonts
- Typefaces are loaded from Google Fonts, so Google receives the request data described above when a page loads.
- Booking form
- Booking requests are sent to a Google Apps Script running inside Margo Ustymenko’s own Google account, which records the request in Gmail, Google Sheets and Google Calendar. Netlify Forms is configured as a backup delivery route for the same form and applies automated spam filtering.
- Galleries
- Delivered galleries are provided separately after a session. No gallery platform is embedded in this website.
- Payments
- No payment is taken on this website. No payment processor is embedded here. Retainers and balances are invoiced separately, and any processor used at that time handles payment data under its own terms.
- Embeds and maps
- None. Instagram appears only as an outbound link; there is no embedded feed, map or third-party widget.
This list reflects the website as published on the effective date above. If a tool is added later, this section will be updated before or when that tool goes live.
6How We Share Information
We do not sell personal information for money. We may disclose information only as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including to:
- Service providers that support website hosting, booking, email, messaging, gallery delivery, file storage, accounting, payment processing, analytics, advertising or other business operations.
- Professional advisers such as accountants, insurers or attorneys when reasonably necessary.
- Government authorities, courts or other parties when required by law or reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety, property, prevent fraud, or respond to a lawful request.
- A successor or potential successor in connection with a business sale, merger, reorganization or transfer of assets, subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations.
We do not authorize service providers to use Client information for unrelated purposes beyond providing their services, except as permitted by their own lawful independent roles and applicable agreements.
7Photography, Portfolio and Children
Photography sessions may involve children. Our website and lead forms are intended for adults arranging photography services, not for children under 13 to submit personal information directly.
A parent or legal guardian should provide information relating to a minor and make any decision regarding promotional use of the minor's photographs. We do not intentionally collect personal information directly from children under 13 through the website or Meta lead forms.
Identifiable photographs are used for portfolio, social media, website or advertising only when the applicable permission or other lawful basis allows that use. A client may request that photographs remain private as provided in the booking workflow and Photography Agreement.
8Data Retention
We keep personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including to administer inquiries and bookings, deliver services, maintain business and tax records, resolve disputes, enforce agreements and meet legal obligations.
Retention periods vary by data type. Inquiries that do not become bookings may be deleted or anonymized when no longer needed. Booking, payment, tax and contract records may be retained for longer periods when reasonably necessary for legal or business recordkeeping. Delivered photographs and galleries may be retained according to the Photography Agreement and Photographer's current archive practices.
9Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical and organizational measures appropriate to the nature of the information we maintain. No website, email, cloud system or electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure, so we cannot promise absolute security.
We seek to collect only information reasonably needed for the photography relationship and to limit retention when information is no longer required.
10Your Choices and Requests
You may contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information we maintain about you, subject to identity verification, legal obligations, legitimate recordkeeping needs and other applicable exceptions.
You may opt out of promotional emails or messages by using an available unsubscribe method or contacting us. Service-related communications about an active inquiry or booking may still be necessary.
You may also request that we stop future promotional use of your photographs where the Photography Agreement or applicable permission allows withdrawal. A prospective withdrawal generally does not require recall of material already printed, distributed or lawfully published.
11Third-party Links and Services
The website may link to or integrate with third-party services, including Meta/Instagram, payment processors, gallery providers, mapping tools or other platforms. Those services may collect information under their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of independent third parties.
12State and Other Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live and which privacy laws apply to our business, you may have additional privacy rights. We will respond to verified requests as required by applicable law and will not unlawfully discriminate against a person for exercising applicable privacy rights.
13Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when our website, services, technology or legal obligations change. The current version will be posted at ustymenko.com/privacy-policy with an updated "Last Updated" date. Material changes may also be communicated by another reasonable method when appropriate.
14Contact Us
For privacy questions or requests, contact:
Margo Ustymenko Photography Email: margo.ustymenko@gmail.com Website: ustymenko.com