Privacy Policy
How we collect, use, store and protect your personal information — and the rights you have over it.
Compass Visuals (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). By using our website or engaging our services, you agree to the handling of your information as described below.
1. What personal information we collect
We may collect the following kinds of personal information:
- Contact details — your name, email address, phone number and postal or session location.
- Booking and enquiry details — the session type you’re interested in, preferred dates, and any information you include in your message.
- Payment information — processed securely by our payment provider (Stripe). We do not see or store your full card number; we receive only confirmation of payment and limited details such as the card brand and last four digits.
- Photographs and images — images we capture of you, your family, guests or event during a session. Images of identifiable individuals are personal information (and may be sensitive information).
- Website usage data — limited technical information such as your IP address, browser type and pages visited, collected automatically when you use our site.
2. How we collect your information
We collect personal information directly from you wherever possible — for example when you complete our contact, meeting or booking forms, email or call us, or attend a session. Some information (such as basic usage data) is collected automatically through cookies and similar technologies. We may also receive information from third parties you authorise, such as our payment provider.
3. Why we collect, hold and use your information
We collect and use your personal information to:
- respond to your enquiries and arrange meetings or consultations;
- provide our photography services and manage your booking;
- process payments and issue receipts and tax invoices;
- communicate with you about your session, gallery and orders;
- deliver, and where you consent, promote our services (including using selected images in our portfolio, website or social media);
- improve our website and services; and
- meet our legal, tax and record-keeping obligations.
We will only use your information for the purpose it was collected, a directly related purpose you would reasonably expect, or where you have consented or we are otherwise permitted by law.
4. Photographs and your images
Photographs of identifiable people are personal information. We will always discuss with you how your images may be used. We will not use images of you, your children or your event for marketing, our portfolio, our website or social media without your consent. You can withdraw that consent for future use at any time by contacting us, and we will take reasonable steps to stop further use (noting some material may already be in print or circulation).
5. Disclosure to third parties
We do not sell your personal information. We only disclose it where necessary to provide our services, including to trusted service providers who help us operate, such as:
- our payment provider (Stripe) to process payments;
- email, SMS and online gallery providers to communicate with you and deliver your images;
- our website hosting and IT providers; and
- professional advisers, or where required or authorised by law.
We require these providers to handle your information consistently with this policy and the law.
6. Direct marketing
We may send you marketing about our services where you would reasonably expect it or where you have consented. Every marketing message includes a way to opt out, consistent with the Spam Act 2003 (Cth). You can ask us to stop sending marketing at any time and we will action your request promptly.
7. Overseas disclosure
Some of our service providers (for example, payment, email or hosting providers) may store or process data on servers located outside Australia, including in the United States and the European Union. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps under APP 8 to ensure your information is handled in a way consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles.
8. How we store and protect your information
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. This includes secure storage, restricted access and the use of reputable service providers. We retain personal information only for as long as needed for the purposes described or as required by law (for example, tax records), after which we take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it.
9. Accessing and correcting your information
Under APP 12 and APP 13, you have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, and to ask us to correct it if it is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete. To make a request, contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable period. There is generally no charge to access your information, though we may recover reasonable costs in some cases.
10. Cookies and analytics
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to help it function and to understand how it is used. You can set your browser to refuse cookies, though some parts of the site may not work as intended.
11. Complaints
If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles or mishandled your information, please contact us first using the details below so we can investigate and respond. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au or by calling 1300 363 992.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The current version will always be available on this page, with the “last updated” date shown above.
13. Contact us
For any privacy questions, requests or complaints, contact us:
Compass Visuals — ABN 12 345 678 901
Email: hello@compassvisuals.com.au
Phone: 0400 000 000
Post: 12 Example Street, Suburbia NSW 2000
Read alongside our Terms of Service.