Privacy Policy

Introduction

ClearGrove ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website cleargrove.sbs (the "Website") or use our photography services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the Website or use our services. By accessing the Website and/or using our services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Fill out forms on our Website
• Register for an account
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Request information or services
• Participate in contests, promotions, or surveys
• Communicate with us via email, phone, or social media

The personal information we may collect includes:

• Name
• Email address
• Mailing address
• Phone number
• Billing information and payment details
• Photographs and visual images of you (if you commission our photography services)
• Information about the event or occasion for which you're hiring our services

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our Website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing actions, including:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages you view on our Website
• Time and date of your visit
• Time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses
• Other browsing statistics

We collect this information using cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies. For more information about our use of cookies, please see the "Cookies and Tracking Technologies" section below.

How We Use Your Information

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

• Provide, operate, and maintain our Website and services
• Process and fulfill your photography service requests
• Communicate with you regarding your inquiries, orders, or account
• Send you newsletters, updates, and marketing communications (if you've opted in)
• Improve our Website, services, and customer experience
• Develop new products, services, and features
• Monitor and analyze usage patterns, trends, and preferences
• Detect, prevent, and address technical issues, security breaches, or fraudulent activities
• Comply with legal obligations
• Respond to legal requests and prevent harm

Photography and Image Rights

When you commission our photography services, we create images that may include you, your family members, or your guests. By engaging our services, you acknowledge that:

• We retain the copyright to all images we create, even when you purchase prints or digital files
• We may use the images for our portfolio, website, social media, contests, exhibitions, and other promotional purposes unless you specifically request otherwise in writing
• You are responsible for obtaining consent from any identifiable individuals who appear in photos taken at your request (such as wedding guests)

If you wish to restrict our use of your images, please discuss this with us prior to booking our services. Additional fees may apply for exclusive rights or usage restrictions.

How We Share Your Information

We may share your personal information in the following situations:

• Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors and service providers that perform services for us or on our behalf, such as web hosting, data analysis, payment processing, and customer service.
• Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency).
• Protection of Rights: We may disclose your information to protect and defend our rights or property, to protect the safety of our users or the public, or to prevent illegal activity.
• With Your Consent: We may share your information with third parties when you have given us your consent to do so.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our Website and hold certain information. Cookies are small data files placed on your device that help us improve our Website and your experience, see which areas and features of our Website are popular, and count visits.

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the Website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.
• Performance and Analytics Cookies: These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our Website.
• Functionality Cookies: These cookies enable the Website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization.
• Targeting and Advertising Cookies: These cookies may be set through our Website by our advertising partners to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other websites.

You can control cookies through your browser settings and other tools. However, if you block certain cookies, you may not be able to use some features of the Website.

Third-Party Websites

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites and applications. After you leave our Website, we have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of every website you visit.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the security of your personal information. However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.

We limit access to your personal information to those employees, agents, contractors, and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal information on our instructions and are subject to a duty of confidentiality.

Data Retention

We will retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which we collected it, including to satisfy any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

For clients who commission our photography services, we typically retain:

• Original image files for a minimum of 1 year after delivery of final images
• Edited images for a minimum of 5 years
• Contract and billing information for 7 years to comply with tax and legal requirements

For Website users who have not purchased services, we typically retain contact information for 3 years from your last interaction with us, unless you request deletion earlier.

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

• The right to access the personal information we hold about you
• The right to request correction of inaccurate personal information
• The right to request deletion of your personal information
• The right to withdraw consent where we rely on consent as the legal basis for processing
• The right to object to processing of your personal information
• The right to data portability
• The right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

Marketing Communications

You can opt out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email we send
• Contacting us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below

Please note that you may continue to receive service-related communications even if you opt out of marketing communications.

Children's Privacy

Our Website is not directed to individuals under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and you believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us. If we discover that a child under 16 has provided us with personal information, we will delete such information from our servers.

For photography services involving children, we require consent from a parent or legal guardian before taking and using photographs of minors.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than the country in which you reside. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from the laws of your country.

When we transfer your information to other countries, we will protect that information as described in this Privacy Policy and in accordance with applicable law.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

Contact Us

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