This privacy policy explains how Bella Vita Photography collects, uses and protects your personal information when you visit bellavitaphotography.co.uk or book a session with me. I take your privacy, and your family’s, very seriously.

1. Who I am

Bella Vita Photography is run by Joanne Wiggins, who is the data controller for the personal information described in this policy. If you have any questions about this policy or your information, please email jo@bellavitaphotography.co.uk.

This policy is written in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. The information I collect

I only collect personal information that you choose to give me, or that is needed to provide my services. This may include:

  • Enquiry details: your name, email address, phone number, your baby’s due date or date of birth, and anything you include in your message through my contact form, by email, phone or social media
  • Booking details: your home address (so I can travel to your session), your chosen collection and records of payments made by bank transfer
  • Photographs: the images taken during your session, which may include you, your baby and other family members
  • Website usage information: details such as the pages you visit, how long you stay and the type of device you use, collected through cookies and analytics tools (see section 7)

3. How I use your information

I use your information to:

  • reply to your enquiry and check my availability
  • arrange, carry out and deliver your session, gallery and any prints
  • keep a record of payments and keep business and tax records
  • understand how visitors use my website, so I can improve it
  • share selected images on my website and social media, as set out in my Terms and Conditions. You can ask me not to use your images in this way at any time

I will never sell your personal information, and I will only send you marketing messages if you have agreed to receive them.

4. My lawful reasons for using your information

Under UK GDPR, I must have a lawful reason to use your information. I rely on:

  • Contract: to provide the services you have booked, or to take steps you have asked for before booking
  • Legal obligation: to keep financial records for tax purposes
  • Legitimate interests: to run and improve my business and website, and to show examples of my work, where this doesn’t override your rights
  • Consent: for non-essential cookies and any marketing messages. You can withdraw your consent at any time

5. Who I share your information with

I only share your information with trusted service providers who help me run my business, and only as much as they need. These include my website host and security services, email provider, online gallery provider, print lab (for collections that include prints), accounting software and Google Analytics. Each is required to keep your information secure and use it only for the service they provide to me.

I may also share information if I am required to by law.

6. Where your information is stored

Your information is stored securely in the UK. Some of my service providers may store data outside the UK, for example in the United States. Where this happens, I make sure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as the UK’s approved data transfer agreements.

7. Cookies and analytics

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. My website uses:

  • Essential cookies that keep the website working and secure
  • Analytics cookies from Google Analytics, which help me understand how visitors use the site. This information is grouped together and does not identify you personally

Some pages may also show content from other websites, such as Instagram, which may set their own cookies. You can block or delete cookies at any time through your browser settings, although some parts of the website may not work as well.

8. How long I keep your information

  • Enquiries that don’t lead to a booking are deleted within 12 months
  • Your session images are kept for 12 months after your session, as set out in my Terms and Conditions
  • Booking and payment records are kept for as long as required for tax and accounting purposes (usually six years)

9. Your rights

You have the right to:

  • ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you
  • ask me to correct anything that is wrong or incomplete
  • ask me to delete your information
  • object to, or ask me to limit, how I use your information
  • ask for your information in a format you can transfer elsewhere
  • withdraw your consent at any time, where I rely on it

To use any of these rights, please email jo@bellavitaphotography.co.uk. There is no charge, and I will reply within one month.

10. Keeping your information safe

I take sensible steps to protect your information, including secure, password-protected systems and private online galleries. However, no method of sending information over the internet is completely secure.

11. Links to other websites

My website may link to other websites, such as social media. They have their own privacy policies, and I am not responsible for how they handle your information.

12. Making a complaint

If you have any concerns about how I handle your information, please contact me first and I will do my best to put things right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

13. Changes to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be available on this page.

Last updated: October 2026