Privacy Statement

1. Introduction

This Privacy Statement (“Policy”) explains how AaronBelkar photogpraphy, a photographer from israel, (“we,” “us,” “our,” or “Company”) collects, uses, stores, and protects personal data when you interact with our website and photography services. This policy is governed by the Protection of Privacy Law, 5741-1981 (Israel) and Amendment 13, which came into effect on August 14, 2025.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website and when using our services.

2. Responsible Party (Data Controller)

Business name: AaronBelkar Photography
Contact name: Aaron Belkar
Email: aaron@aaronbelkar.com
phone: +972545858486
Business location: Jerusalem
Jurisdiction: Israel

For privacy inquiries, please contact us using the information above.

3. Types of Personal Data We Collect

We collect personal data only when you voluntarily provide it or when it is necessary to deliver our photography services. The types of personal data we collect include:

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

Name – Required to identify you as a client
Email Address – Used for service communication, project updates, and newsletter distribution (if you opt in)
Phone Number – Used for scheduling, communication, and service delivery
Project Details – Information about the photography session (date, location, type of photography, preferences)

3.2 Information Related to Our Services

Photographs and Images – Photos taken during your session are stored for project delivery and portfolio purposes
Payment Information – We do NOT collect or store payment card details. Payment processing is handled by third-party payment providers (Hyp, Bit) who manage this data independently

3.3 Website Analytics Data

Google Analytics – We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website, including IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on the site

3.4 Data We Do NOT Collect

Health information or medical data
Biometric data (other than photographs for artistic purposes)
Sensitive personal data
Project preferences or detailed personal characteristics (unless voluntarily shared for the photography session)

4. Legal Basis for Data Collection

We collect and process your personal data on the following legal bases:

Consent – For newsletter subscriptions and portfolio use of your photographs
Contractual Necessity – To perform photography services and deliver your images
Legal Obligation – For tax and business record-keeping purposes
Legitimate Interest – To operate and improve our website and services

5. Purposes of Data Collection and Use

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

Service Delivery – To schedule appointments, communicate about your photography session, deliver final photographs, and provide customer support
Newsletter – To send photography tips, portfolio updates, and promotional content (only if you have opted in)
Website Analytics – To analyze visitor behavior, improve website performance, and understand user experience
Legal and Financial Compliance – To maintain business records, comply with tax laws, and fulfill legal obligations
Portfolio Management – To display your photographs on our website and in marketing materials (with your consent)
Communication – To respond to inquiries, provide service updates, and maintain client relationships

6.1 Client Photographs

When you book a photography session with us, we require your written consent (Model Release) before:

Publishing your photographs on our website
Using your photos in our portfolio
Sharing images on social media or marketing materials
Using photos for promotional purposes

Your Rights:

You may request removal of your photos from our portfolio at any time, even after giving initial consent
We will remove the photos within 30 days of your written request
Photos stored in our archive will not be deleted but will not be publicly displayed

6.2 Property and Interior Photography

For interior or property photography, we obtain written consent from the property owner before:

Publishing property photos
Using images in our portfolio or marketing
Sharing photos publicly in any form

7. Data Retention and Storage

7.1 Duration of Data Retention

Client Personal Data (name, email, phone) – Retained for a minimum of 2 years after the last service transaction for business and accounting purposes
Project Files and Photos – Retained for a minimum of 2 years; older projects are archived on external hard drives
Newsletter Subscriber Data – Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
Google Analytics Data – Retained by Google according to their data retention policies
Payment Records – Retained per Israeli tax law requirements (7 years for business records)

7.2 Data Storage Location

Project files and client photos – Stored on a local desktop computer and external hard drives for backup and archival purposes
Website files and data – Hosted on Hostinger shared hosting servers
Newsletter subscriber information – Stored securely on our email management system
Payment data – NOT stored on our systems; processed by third-party payment providers

8. Data Security

We take the security of your personal data seriously and implement the following security measures:

Local Storage Protection – Project files are stored on secure, password-protected computers
Backup Systems – External hard drives are used for archival and backup of important data
Hosting Security – Our website is hosted on Hostinger, which provides standard security measures including SSL encryption, firewalls, and regular backups
Limited Access – Only authorized personnel (the business owner) have access to stored data
No Encryption Requirement – Given our small business size, we rely on the security features provided by our hosting provider rather than additional encryption tools
Physical Security – We meet clients in public spaces or at their locations; we do not maintain a physical office

Note: While we implement reasonable security measures, no method of data transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We encourage you to protect your personal information and use strong passwords for accounts.

9.1 Payment Service Providers

We share payment information with third-party payment processors (Hyp and Bit) to process transactions. These providers may collect, use, and process your payment data according to their own privacy policies. We do not control or store your payment card details.

9.2 Website Analytics

Google Analytics – We use Google Analytics to track website visitor behavior. Google may collect data including IP addresses, browser information, and browsing patterns. Google’s use of this data is governed by their privacy policy and terms of service. This is a third-party service, and we do not have direct control over their data practices.

9.3 Social Media Widgets

Facebook tags – We use Facebook tags to display social media content on our website and monitor traffic. Facebook may collect data about your interactions with our website if you have a Facebook account.

9.4 Other Third Parties

We do not intentionally share your personal data with other third parties except:

Payment processors (as noted above)
Legal authorities, when required by law or court order
Professional advisors (accountants, lawyers) when necessary for business compliance

10. Data Subject Rights

According to the Protection of Privacy Law (Amendment 13), you have the following rights:

10.1 Right of Access

You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you. To exercise this right, contact us with a written request.

10.2 Right to Rectification (Correction)

You may request correction or update of inaccurate, incomplete, unclear, or outdated personal data. We will correct the data and respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

10.3 Right to Erasure (Deletion)

You may request deletion of your personal data if:

The data is no longer needed for the purposes collected
You withdraw your consent and there is no other legal basis
Your data is incorrect and you request deletion instead of correction
The data is being used for direct marketing

Exceptions: We may retain data as required by law (e.g., for tax or accounting purposes).

10.4 Right to Restrict Processing

You may request that we limit how we use your personal data in certain circumstances.

10.5 Right to Withdraw Consent

If we have collected data based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. This includes:

Opting out of the newsletter
Revoking consent for portfolio use of your photographs
Withdrawing consent for any specific data processing

To withdraw consent, email us or reply to any newsletter with “Unsubscribe” or “Remove.”

10.6 Right to Object

You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes.

10.7 Right to Lodge a Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with the Israeli Privacy Protection Authority (PPA):

Privacy Protection Authority (PPA)

Address: 125 Begin Road, Tel Aviv
Website: www.gov.il/he/Departments/the_privacy_protection_authority
Phone: *3103

11. Cookies and Similar Technologies

11.1 Cookie Policy

Our website does not use cookies to collect personal data. However, Google Analytics may place cookies on your browser to track website usage.

11.2 Google Analytics Tracking

While we do not use cookies, Google Analytics (used for website analytics) may use cookies and similar technologies to collect data about your visit. This is governed by Google’s privacy policy.

Your Options:

You can disable cookies in your browser settings
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by using Google’s opt-out browser extension
Disabling cookies may affect some website functionality

12.1 Newsletter Subscription

Our website allows you to voluntarily subscribe to our newsletter. To comply with Israeli marketing regulations:

Explicit Consent Required – You must actively opt in to receive marketing emails. Pre-checked boxes or assumed consent is not valid.
What You’re Consenting To – You agree to receive photography tips, portfolio updates, and promotional information about our services
Separate Consent – Email marketing consent is separate from your agreement to photography services
Your Information – We collect only your name and email address for the newsletter

12.2 Unsubscribe

You may unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time by:

Clicking the “Unsubscribe” link in any newsletter email
Contacting us directly to request removal from the mailing list
Replying with “Unsubscribe” or “Remove”

Unsubscribing is free and will be processed within 48 hours.

12.3 Opt-Out of Marketing

According to Israeli law, you have the right to object to direct marketing at any time. To opt out:

Send an email to [Your Email] requesting to be removed from all marketing communications
Include “No Marketing” or “Opt Out” in the subject line

13. Children’s Privacy

Our photography services and website are designed for adults. We do not intentionally collect personal information from children under 18 years of age without parental or guardian consent.

If a child participates in a photography session, we require parental or legal guardian consent before:

Taking photographs of the child
Using the child’s image in any way
Storing the child’s personal information

14. International Data Transfer

All personal data collected and processed by us is stored within Israel or on Israeli-compliant servers. We do not transfer data to countries outside Israel except:

Through Google Analytics (data transferred to Google’s US servers)
Through payment processors (may transfer data internationally per their privacy policies)

15. Changes to This Privacy Statement

We may update this Privacy Statement periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of significant changes by:

Posting the updated policy on our website with a revised “Last Updated” date
Sending an email notification to newsletter subscribers
Prominently displaying the change notification on our website

Your continued use of our services after changes constitute your acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this policy regularly.

16. Compliance with Amendment 13

This Privacy Statement has been prepared to ensure compliance with the Protection of Privacy Law Amendment 13 (effective August 14, 2025), which updated Israeli privacy requirements to include:

Explicit, Informed Consent – We prioritize clear, opt-in consent mechanisms
Transparency – We disclose how and why we collect data
Data Subject Rights – We respect all rights granted under the amended law
No DPO Required – As a one-person photography business with limited data processing operations, we do not maintain a dedicated Data Protection Officer; however, we ensure compliance through personal oversight

17. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Statement or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: aaron@aaronbelkar.com
Phone: +972545858486
address: Available meeting places in Jerusalem
response time: We will respond to privacy inquiries within 14 days.

18. Data Protection Officer

As a small one-person photography business, we do not maintain a formal Data Protection Officer. However, the business owner Aaron Belkar is responsible for ensuring compliance with all privacy laws and data protection obligations.

19. Definitions

Personal Data – Any information relating to an identified or identifiable person
Processing – Any action performed on personal data (collection, storage, use, sharing, deletion)
Consent – Voluntary, informed agreement to collect and process personal data
Controller – The entity (our business) that determines how and why personal data is processed
Data Subject – The individual (you) to whom the personal data relates
Third Party – Any entity other than the data subject or data controller

Acknowledgment

By using our website and booking photography services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Statement and consent to our collection and use of personal data as described herein.