privacy policy
Al McTavish Photography
almctavishphotography.com
Last updated: August 2026
Your privacy matters to me. This Privacy Policy explains how Al McTavish Photography collects, uses, stores and protects your personal information when you visit my website, enquire about a session or engage my photography services.
I aim to keep this policy clear and straightforward, so you know what information I collect and what I do with it.
1. Who I am
Al McTavish Photography is an Australian photography business based on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, you can contact me at:
Al McTavish Photography
Email: almctavishphotography@gmail.com
Website: almctavishphotography.com
2. What personal information I collect
Depending on how you interact with me, I may collect:
Your name
Email address
Phone number
Residential or session address
Preferred session date and location
Information about your family, including children's ages and your expected due date for maternity or newborn sessions
Information you choose to provide when making an enquiry
Booking and payment information
Correspondence between you and Al McTavish Photography
Photographs and other images created during your session
Information you provide when participating in promotions, referrals or competitions
Information about how you use my website, such as browser or device information and website activity
I only ask for information that is reasonably necessary for providing my services, communicating with you or operating my business.
3. How I collect your information
I may collect personal information when you:
Submit an enquiry through my website
Contact me by email or another communication method
Book a photography session
Complete a client questionnaire or other form
Make a payment
Sign up to receive communications from me
Participate in a promotion or referral program
Visit or interact with my website or social media pages
Engage with me as a photography client
Where possible, I collect information directly from you.
4. How I use your information
I use your personal information to:
Respond to your enquiries
Communicate with you about your session
Arrange and provide photography services
Plan your session and understand your preferences
Process payments and maintain business records
Deliver your photographs and online gallery
Provide customer support
Send relevant business communications where you have chosen to receive them
Administer promotions and referral programs
Improve my website, services and client experience
Meet legal, accounting and administrative obligations
I will not use your personal information for a purpose that is unrelated to the reason it was collected unless you have consented or I am otherwise permitted or required to do so by law.
5. Photographs and privacy
Photographs are a unique form of personal information, particularly when they include children.
I may ask for your permission to use photographs from your session for my website, portfolio, social media, advertising and other business promotion.
Your photographs will not be used for promotional purposes if you have told me that you do not wish for them to be shared.
If you change your mind about your preferences, please contact me and I will update your records for future use.
Please note that photographs that have already been published online may have been shared or reposted by third parties and I cannot guarantee that every previous copy can be removed.
6. Sharing your personal information
I do not sell or rent your personal information.
I may share relevant information with trusted third-party service providers where this is necessary to operate my business or provide your photography experience.
These may include providers for:
Website hosting and management
Online galleries and image delivery
Payment processing
Email and communication services
Client management and booking systems
Accounting and business administration
Website analytics and advertising
I only provide third parties with information reasonably necessary for them to provide their services.
I may also disclose information where required or authorised by law.
7. Third-party services
My website and business may use third-party platforms and services, including Squarespace, online gallery providers, payment providers, email platforms, analytics services and social media platforms.
These providers may collect or process information in accordance with their own privacy policies.
Some of these providers may store or process information outside Australia.
Where personal information is disclosed to an overseas recipient, I will take reasonable steps to ensure it is handled appropriately and in accordance with applicable privacy obligations.
8. Cookies and website analytics
My website may use cookies and similar technologies to help the website function, understand how visitors use the website and improve the user experience.
Cookies may collect information such as:
Your browser type
Device type
Approximate location
Pages visited
How you arrived at the website
How you interact with the website
This information may be collected through Squarespace and other analytics or marketing services used on my website.
You can adjust your browser settings to refuse or restrict cookies, although some website features may not function as intended.
9. Email communications
If you choose to subscribe to my mailing list, I may use your name and email address to send you photography-related news, session information, offers, seasonal promotions and other communications that may be relevant to you.
You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link included in the email.
I will not sell your email address to another business.
10. How I store and protect your information
I take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Personal information may be stored electronically using secure third-party platforms and cloud-based services used to operate my business.
Because no method of storing or transmitting information online is completely secure, I cannot guarantee absolute security.
11. How long I keep your information
I retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, to provide ongoing services, maintain appropriate business records or meet legal and accounting requirements.
Client photographs may be retained for a period after your session for business, archival and service purposes.
Your online gallery is generally available for three weeks from delivery. You are responsible for downloading and safely backing up your photographs during this period.
12. Accessing or correcting your information
You may contact me to ask:
What personal information I hold about you
For access to that information
For inaccurate or outdated information to be corrected
I will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with any applicable privacy laws.
In some circumstances, I may need to verify your identity before providing access to personal information.
13. Privacy complaints
If you believe I have mishandled your personal information or have concerns about my privacy practices, please contact me first.
I will review your concern and aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe.
Email: almctavishphotography@gmail.com
If you are not satisfied with my response, you may have the right to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). The OAIC provides information about privacy complaints and how to make a complaint on its website.
14. Changes to this Privacy Policy
I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to my business, website, services or privacy practices.
The latest version will always be published on this page, with the date of the most recent update shown at the top.