First Choice Studio (“we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what we collect, how we use it, and the rights you hold under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (“NDPA”) and applicable international standards. It applies to our website, booking process, photography sessions, and any deliverable gallery.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information that is necessary to deliver our photography services and respond to your inquiries:
- Identity & Contact: full name, phone number, email address, and Instagram or social handle.
- Booking Details: event date, location, type of session, guest count, and any creative briefs you share.
- Payment Information: bank transfer references and invoice records. We do not store card numbers; payments are processed by your bank directly.
- Photographic Content: images, video, and likenesses captured during your session.
- Website Usage: anonymized analytics such as page views, device type, browser, and approximate location, collected via cookies and similar technologies.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To respond to inquiries and confirm bookings.
- To plan, deliver, and follow up on your photography session.
- To process payments and issue receipts.
- To deliver final galleries via secure online links and to provide customer support.
- To improve our services, website performance, and creative offerings.
- To showcase our work in our portfolio, on social media, and in marketing — subject to the model release terms in our Terms of Service.
- To comply with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations in Nigeria.
3. Image Use & Your Right to Opt Out
By default, images created during your session may be used by the Studio for portfolio, social media, website, editorial, and promotional purposes. We will never sell your images to third parties and we do not tag minors without explicit guardian consent.
If you prefer that your images remain private, you must inform us in writing before your session, and we will sign a Privacy Addendum with you. You may also request removal of your images from our public channels at any time, and we will action the request within a reasonable period, subject to existing print, archived, or third-party syndicated material.
4. Lawful Basis for Processing
We process your personal data on the basis of (a) the contract between you and the Studio when you book a session; (b) your consent for portfolio and marketing use; (c) our legitimate interests in running and promoting a photography business; and (d) compliance with our legal obligations.
5. How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with:
- Trusted service providers (cloud storage, online gallery platforms, payment processors) that support our operations and are bound by confidentiality.
- Second shooters, retouchers, or assistants engaged for your specific booking, under non-disclosure obligations.
- Government authorities where required by law, court order, or to protect our legal rights.
6. Data Retention
Booking records and invoices are retained for seven (7) years to comply with Nigerian tax law. Final image galleries are hosted online for ninety (90) days, with high-resolution backups kept for one (1) year. After these periods, files may be deleted from active systems, though anonymized backups may persist for a limited time as part of routine system archives.
7. Security
We use reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your data, including encrypted backups, access controls, and reputable cloud providers. However, no method of transmission or storage is one hundred percent secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You share information with us at your own risk.
8. Your Rights Under the NDPA
Subject to applicable law, you have the right to:
- Request access to the personal data we hold about you.
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Request deletion of your data, subject to our legal and contractual obligations.
- Withdraw consent for marketing or portfolio use.
- Object to or restrict certain processing.
- Lodge a complaint with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable period and may verify your identity before acting.
9. Cookies & Analytics
Our website uses minimal cookies to remember preferences and to gather anonymized analytics that help us improve user experience. You can disable cookies through your browser settings, though some site features may not function as intended.
10. Children's Privacy
Our website is not directed at children under sixteen (16). We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors without verifiable parental or guardian consent. For sessions involving minors, a parent or guardian must be present and must provide consent for any portfolio or social media use.
11. International Transfers
Some of our service providers (for example, online gallery hosts and cloud storage) may store data outside Nigeria. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure your data is protected to a standard consistent with the NDPA.
12. Updates to this Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of our services after a change constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us:
- 📍 No. 25 Azikiwe Road, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
- 📞 +234 80379 17635
- 📸 @firstchoice_studio
See also our Terms of Service.