Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Vera Petkova is a fine art photography studio operated by Vera Petkova. Our website beta.verapetkova.com allows you to browse, purchase, and commission original artwork. We are committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about how we handle it.

2. What Data We Collect

We only collect the information necessary to provide our services:

• Contact information — name, email address, phone number, and shipping address when you place an order or contact us.
• Order details — artwork purchased, payment confirmation, and delivery tracking information.
• Communication records — emails, WhatsApp messages, or contact form submissions related to commissions or inquiries.
• Technical data — IP address, browser type, and device information collected automatically when you visit our site (via server logs).

3. How We Use Your Data

We use your information to:

• Process and fulfill your orders, including shipping and delivery.
• Communicate with you about your purchase, commission, or inquiry.
• Send order confirmations, shipping updates, and tracking information.
• Respond to customer service requests and support needs.
• Improve our website and services based on usage patterns.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Cookies & Tracking

Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and understand how visitors use our site.

By using our site, you consent to our use of cookies as described in our cookie banner. You can disable cookies in your browser settings at any time, though this may affect some features of the website.

We do not currently use third-party analytics or advertising trackers.

5. Payment Processing

All payments on our website are processed securely through Stripe, a PCI-DSS compliant payment processor. We do not store your credit card details on our servers. Stripe handles all payment data in accordance with their own privacy and security policies.

For more information, visit Stripe's Privacy Policy.

6. Data Sharing & Third Parties

We only share your data with trusted service providers when necessary:

• Stripe — for secure payment processing.
• Shipping carriers — to deliver your artwork (name, address, phone number, and email for tracking).
• Legal authorities — if required by law or to protect our rights.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Order and payment records are kept for 7 years for tax and accounting purposes.
• Customer communication is retained for 2 years to support any follow-up inquiries.
• You may request deletion of your data at any time (see Section 9).

8. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our website uses HTTPS encryption for all data transmission. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access — Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction — Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion — Request that we delete your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements).
• Objection — Object to the processing of your data for certain purposes.
• Portability — Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at vera@verapetkova.com.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a child, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The latest version will always be posted on this page with the updated date.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your data, please contact us: