Effective Date: 2nd August 2025
Jurisdiction: India
This Privacy Policy ("Policy") sets forth the manner in which Photonests ("we", "us", or "our"), a venture of Dream Designerz, a partnership firm registered in Panchkula, Haryana, collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects the personal and sensitive information of users (“you” or “your”) who access or engage with our website Photonests.com("Website"). This Policy applies to all users including buyers, artists, contest participants, and gallery viewers.
By accessing or using this Website, or by submitting your information, you, the user, is conditioned upon your acceptance of all terms, conditions, polices and notices stated herein this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, disclosure, and processing of your personal information in accordance with this Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following categories of personal information:
a. Personal Identifiable Information (PII):
We collect:-
· Basic contact details including your name, phone number, e-mail, shipping address, transaction records, contest, submissions, and digital usage data (IP, browser type, cookies).
· Order information including your name, billing address, shipping address, payment confirmation, email address, phone number.
· Account information including your username, password, security questions.
· Shopping information including the items you view, put in your cart or add to your wishlist.
· Customer support information including the information you choose to include in your message to us.
· Social media handles (if submitted voluntarily for contests or gallery features)
b. Financial and Transactional Information:
- Payment details (processed securely through third-party gateways; we do not store card or UPI data)
- Purchase and order history
- Returns and Refunds history
- Cancellation of order or payment history
c. Technical and Usage Information:
- IP address
- Browser type and device information
- Date and time of access
- Cookies and similar technologies (see Section 6)
d. Contest and Gallery Submission Information:
- Uploaded photographs and metadata
- Image titles, descriptions, and credits
- Artist statements or biographical information
- Consent and declarations related to intellectual property rights
2. Purpose of Collection and Use of Data
Your personal information is used for the following purposes:
- Process your orders
- Process your payments
- Communicate updates including sending notifications to you related to your account, purchases, returns, exchanges/ other transactions, and provide customer support.
- To create, maintain and otherwise manage your account, arrange shipping, facilitate any returns, and exchanges.
- To manage artist accounts and gallery and contest submissions
- To conduct photography contests, judge entries, announce results, and display winning works
- To manage promotions and newsletters (with user consent)
- To ensure security, integrity, and comply with legal requirements
- Improve user experience: to enable to post reviews
3. Sharing and Disclosure of Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your data only:
- With trusted third-party service providers (e.g., couriers, payment processors) strictly for order fulfilment or contest management
- With legal or regulatory authorities, where required under applicable law
- With public audiences, only for gallery or contest-related displays, and only with your explicit consent
- Payment processors and shipping partners.
4. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary:
- To fulfil the purpose for which it was collected
- To comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations
- To resolve disputes or enforce our agreements
Photographs submitted for contests or galleries may be retained in public archives unless the artist requests withdrawal in writing.
5. Security Practices
We implement reasonable security measures in compliance with Rule 8 of the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, including:
- SSL encryption
- Access controls
- Secure third-party storage
- Routine system audits
However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute data security.
6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and other technologies to:
- Enhance site performance
- Store user preferences
- Analyze traffic trends
- Enable features like login, cart, and content personalization
You may disable cookies via browser settings, but this may affect certain functionalities of the Website.
7. Your Rights and Choices
You have the right to:
- Access, update, or delete your personal data
- Request correction, update, or deletion
- Withdraw consent (subject to legal and contractual limitations)
- Opt out of promotional communications
- Opt out of newsletters or promotional content.
- Withdraw consent for public display (with a reasonable notice).
To exercise these rights, contact us at info@photonests.com.
8. Photography Contests and Public Displays
By submitting entries to photography contests or gallery calls:
- They are the original creators of the work and hold all relevant rights
- You grant Photonests a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publicly display, promote, and archive your image on the Website and related promotional material, with due credit
- You understand that selected images may be publicly accessible as part of our online exhibitions and archives
- We are not responsible for unauthorized copying, downloading, or reuse of images by third-party users or visitors, despite reasonable protections in place
Artists may request removal of their work from the site by writing to info@photonests.com, but Photonests reserves the right to retain archived or legally transacted materials.
9. Third-Party Links
Our Website may contain links to external websites or third-party resources for convenience. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such third-party sites. We encourage users to review the privacy policies of those websites independently.
This Website may contain links to external websites. We do not:
- Endorse any such websites or their content.
- Accept responsibility for their availability, accuracy, or data practices
Access to third-party websites is at your own risk.
10. Policy Updates
We may revise this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any material changes will be communicated via email or posted prominently on our Website. Continued use of our services after such updates shall constitute acceptance of the revised Policy.
11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Indian laws of India. In case of any dispute between the parties to this agreement, any competent court at Panchkula in the State of Haryana, India, shall have the jurisdiction to try and entertain any case arising out of the dispute between the parties to this agreement.
12. Contact Information
For any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact:
Email:info@photonests.com