This Privacy Policy explains how Mihai Gonguta - Photo Studio (“we”, “us”, “our”) collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you visit our website at mihaigonguta.com or book a photography session with us.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following personal information when you contact us, book a session, or use our website:
- Name and contact details (email address, phone number)
- Booking and session information
- Payment information (processed securely through our payment provider)
- Photographs taken during your session
- Website usage data collected via cookies and analytics tools
Gallery visits. When you open your online gallery we record the date and time, the type of device and browser, and your IP address, which we use to show the approximate town. This helps us know your gallery has reached you and to protect it from misuse. The town is looked up through ipinfo.io. IP addresses are deleted after 90 days; the date, device and town are kept with your gallery.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information to:
- Manage and fulfil your photography session booking
- Communicate with you about your session, gallery, and orders
- Process payments securely
- Send follow-up emails related to your session (e.g. gallery delivery reminders)
- Improve our website and services
3. Photography and Image Rights
Photographs taken during your session remain the property of Mihai Gonguta - Photo Studio. We may use selected images for portfolio, website, and social media purposes unless you have explicitly requested otherwise in writing prior to your session. We will never share images of minors without explicit written consent from a parent or guardian.
4. Data Sharing
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share data with trusted service providers who assist us in operating our website and conducting our business (such as email providers and payment processors), provided they agree to keep your information confidential.
Advertising on Facebook and Instagram. If you have been a client of the studio, we may give Meta (the company behind Facebook and Instagram) your email address and phone number in an encrypted form, called hashing, which Meta can match to its own accounts but cannot read. We use this to show our seasonal sessions to past clients who have not booked yet, and to leave the people who already know us out of our other adverts. Meta deletes the encrypted details once the matching is done and uses the result only for our adverts. If you have unsubscribed from our emails, we use your details only to leave you out. To stop this at any time, email photo@mihaigonguta.com. You can also change the adverts you see in your Facebook or Instagram settings.
5. Cookies
Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and analyse website traffic. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect some functionality of the website. We also use the Meta Pixel, which tells Facebook and Instagram when someone who saw one of our adverts visits our website or books a session, so that we can measure our adverts and show them to the right people.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. Session photographs are stored securely for a period of up to 3 years after delivery of your gallery.
7. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your data
- Object to or restrict processing of your data
- Withdraw consent at any time
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at photo@mihaigonguta.com.
8. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
Mihai Gonguta - Photo Studio
160 Coppice Drive, Northampton NN3 6NG, UK
Email: photo@mihaigonguta.com
Website: mihaigonguta.com
Last updated: October 2026
