Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to The Photographer and Model Network ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services.

By using our platform, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

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

• Create an account and profile
• Update your profile information
• Contact us for support or inquiries
• Opt in to receive marketing communications

This information may include:

• Identity Information: Name, display name, username
• Contact Information: Email address, phone number, location/city
• Profile Information: Professional category, bio, website URL, social media links (Instagram, Facebook)
• Visual Content: Profile photos and portfolio images
• Marketing Preferences: Email and SMS consent choices

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you access our platform, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns
• Cookies and Tracking: Session cookies, authentication tokens, analytics data

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: To create and manage your account, display your profile in our directory, and facilitate connections between creative professionals
• Communication: To send you service-related notifications, respond to inquiries, and provide customer support
• Marketing: To send promotional emails and SMS messages (only if you have opted in)
• Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, improve our services, and develop new features
• Security: To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security issues, and technical problems
• Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and protect our rights

4. How We Share Your Information

4.1 Public Profile Information

When you create a profile on our platform, certain information becomes publicly visible to other users and visitors, including your display name, professional category, location, bio, profile photo, and social media links. This is necessary for the core functionality of our directory service.

4.2 Service Providers

We may share your information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as:

• Cloud hosting and storage providers
• Email and SMS communication services
• Analytics and performance monitoring tools
• Customer support platforms

4.3 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., court orders, subpoenas, or government agencies).

4.4 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

5. 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.

When you delete your profile, we offer two options:

• Soft Delete: Your profile is removed from public view, but your information is retained in our database for marketing purposes (if you consented)
• Complete Removal: Your profile and all associated data are permanently deleted from our database

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Objection: Object to our processing of your personal information
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing your personal information
• Portability: Request transfer of your information to another service
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time

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

7. Marketing Communications

We will only send you marketing emails and SMS messages if you have explicitly opted in to receive them. You can opt out at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email
• Replying "STOP" to any marketing SMS message
• Updating your marketing preferences in your profile settings

Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, we will still send you essential service-related notifications (e.g., account verification, password resets, profile approval status).

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication and access controls
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Limited access to personal information by authorized personnel only

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

9. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites and services (such as social media profiles you provide). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will delete such information from our systems.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12. Contact Us

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