Thank you for using The Photographer’s Notepad (the “App”). Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices regarding your information. By using the App, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Please read this policy carefully. If you do not agree with its terms, please do not use the App.

1. Information We Collect

a. Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your email address and a password. Passwords are managed securely through Google Firebase Authentication and are never stored in plain text. We do not offer social login or third-party OAuth sign-in; authentication is by email and password only.

b. Photography Session (Shoot) Data

The core purpose of the App is to record information about your photography sessions. For each shoot you log, the App may collect and store:

GPS coordinates (automatically populated from your device)
Date and time of the shoot
Location name (entered by you)
Type of shoot (e.g., landscape, wildlife, portrait, street)
Camera body, lens, and filter information
Accessory usage (tripod, remote shutter, teleconverter, star tracker, etc.)
Camera settings: ISO, aperture, and shutter speed
Free-form notes
Up to three photos per session (see Photo Uploads below)

c. Photo Uploads and EXIF Data

You may upload up to three photos per shoot session. When you upload a photo, the App reads the photo file and may extract EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) metadata embedded in the image. EXIF data can include:

Camera make, model, and serial number
Lens information
Camera settings at the time the photo was taken (ISO, aperture, shutter speed)
Date and time the photo was taken
GPS coordinates embedded in the photo (if location was enabled on your camera or device at capture time)

EXIF data is used solely to auto-populate shoot fields within the App for your convenience. The App does not transmit EXIF data to any advertising network or third-party analytics service. The photo files themselves are stored as part of your shoot record in your account.

d. Location Information

The App automatically captures GPS coordinates from your device when you create a new shoot record. This location data is stored as part of your shoot log and is used to help you identify and search your shooting locations. The App does not track your location in the background or when the App is not in use.

You can disable location access at any time in your device settings. If you do so, you can still enter location information manually.

e. Automatically Collected Technical Information

The App itself does not include analytics, crash reporting, or performance monitoring tools. We do not use Firebase Analytics, Firebase Crashlytics, or Firebase Performance Monitoring.

However, as an inherent part of operating Firebase Authentication and Cloud Firestore, Google may automatically collect limited technical data on our behalf, including:

IP address (captured during sign-in and data sync requests)
Basic request metadata (timestamps, device platform) as part of Firebase’s standard service logs

This technical data is processed by Google in accordance with their Privacy Policy and is used solely for the operation and security of Firebase services. We do not have direct access to or control over these server-side logs.

2. How Your Data Is Stored

a. Local Storage

All shoot data is stored locally on your device first. This means your data remains accessible even without an internet connection. Local storage allows you to create, view, and search your shoot records at any time.

b. Cloud Storage via Google Firebase

When an internet connection is available, your data is automatically replicated to Google Firebase, a cloud platform operated by Google LLC. We use the following Firebase services:

Firebase Authentication — manages your email/password account credentials
Cloud Firestore — stores and syncs your shoot records and app data
Firebase Storage — stores your uploaded photos and generated PDF exports

We do not use Firebase Analytics, Firebase Crashlytics, or Firebase Performance Monitoring. No behavioral analytics or crash telemetry data is collected by the App.

Your data is stored under a unique user identifier specific to your account, and strict Firebase security rules ensure no other user can access your data. By using the App, you acknowledge that your data will be stored and processed on Google’s Firebase infrastructure, which may be located in the United States or other countries where Google operates data centers. Please refer to Google’s Privacy Policy (policies.google.com/privacy) for more information.

c. Data Isolation

Each user’s data is stored under a unique path (users/{userId}/) with enforced Firebase security rules. No user can access another user’s shoot records, photos, or settings. Data access is limited strictly to the authenticated account owner.

d. Data in Transit

All data transmitted between the App and Firebase is encrypted using TLS (Transport Layer Security). Your email and password credentials are handled exclusively by Firebase Authentication and are never transmitted to or stored on any server we operate directly.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Authenticate your identity and provide secure access to your account
Store, sync, and retrieve your photography shoot records across devices
Auto-populate shoot fields from device GPS and photo EXIF data for your convenience
Enable search and retrieval of your shoot history
Generate printable or shareable one-page PDF summaries of your shoot records
Comply with applicable legal obligations

We do not use your data for advertising, analytics, profiling, or any purpose beyond operating and improving the App.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

a. Google Firebase (Service Provider)

Your data is stored and processed using three Google Firebase services: Firebase Authentication (account credentials), Cloud Firestore (shoot data), and Firebase Storage (photos and PDFs). Google processes this data on our behalf as a data processor under Google’s Terms of Service. For more information, visit firebase.google.com/support/privacy.

b. Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

c. Business Transfers

If [YOUR COMPANY NAME] is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email or a prominent notice in the App before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

d. No Advertising or Analytics Networks

We do not share your data with advertising networks, data brokers, or third-party analytics providers. Your shoot data, photos, and EXIF information are never shared with or sold to any third party for marketing or advertising purposes.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information and shoot records for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will delete your data from Firebase within [30/60/90] days, except where retention is required by law. Data stored locally on your device will remain until you uninstall the App or manually delete it.

You may delete individual shoot records at any time from within the App.

6. Data Security

We take the following measures to protect your information:

All data in transit is encrypted via TLS/SSL
Authentication is handled by Google Firebase Authentication, which applies industry-standard credential security
Firebase security rules enforce strict per-user data isolation
Your password is never stored in plain text by us or Firebase

While we take these precautions seriously, no method of electronic storage or transmission is completely secure. We encourage you to use a strong, unique password for your account.

7. Children’s Privacy

The App is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has created an account or provided personal information through the App, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

8. Your Choices and Rights

You have the following rights regarding your information:

Access – You can view all your shoot records and account information within the App at any time
Correction – You can edit any shoot record or update your account email from within the App
Deletion – You can delete individual shoot records in the App, or contact us to request full account deletion
Data export – Each shoot record is exportable as a PDF; contact us if you need a full data export
Location permissions – You can disable location access in your device settings at any time
Photo access – You can disable photo library access in your device settings; you can still manually enter shoot details

To exercise any of these rights or to request account deletion, contact us at privacy@exploreconstantly.com.

9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect and how it is used, the right to request deletion of your personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information.

To submit a CCPA request, contact us at privacy@exploreconstantly.com.

10. International Users and Data Transfers

The App is operated from the United States. If you use the App from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States via Google Firebase’s infrastructure. Data protection laws in the United States may differ from those in your home country.

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom, please note that Firebase’s data processing is governed by Google’s Data Processing Terms, which include Standard Contractual Clauses for international transfers. We recommend reviewing Google’s GDPR compliance documentation at privacy.google.com/businesses/compliance.

11. Third-Party Services and Links

The App integrates with Google Firebase for authentication and storage (see Section 4a). Beyond Firebase, the App does not integrate with or link to third-party services. If future versions of the App include third-party integrations, this policy will be updated accordingly.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the “Effective Date” at the top of this policy and notify you via email or a prominent in-app notice. Your continued use of the App after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, or would like to delete your Photographer’s Notepad account entirely, please contact us: Email: support@exploreconstantly.com, Website: https://exploreconstantly.com, Tony Davis Consulting, LLC

The Photographer’s Notepad – Privacy Policy