Cozy corner with wooden chair, small round table holding apples and greenery, large window with potted plant, and framed chalkboard on wall in a bright room with wooden floor.

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 7, 2026

Your privacy matters to me. This policy explains what information I collect, how I use it, and your rights regarding your personal data. I've written this in plain English because legal jargon shouldn't be a barrier to understanding how your information is handled.

1. Who We Are

Meg Russell Photography is a fine art photography business operated by Meg Stone, an S Corporation based in Novato, California. When I say "I," "me," or "my" in this policy, I'm referring to Meg Russell Photography and its owner.

Contact Information:

Email: meg@meg-stone.com

Website: meg-stone.com

2. Information I Collect

Information You Provide Directly

When you purchase a print or sign up for my email list, I collect:

Contact Information: Your name, email address, phone number
Shipping Information: Your mailing address
Payment Information: Payment details are processed securely through Squarespace and Stripe. I never see or store your full credit card numbers
Order Information: Details about the prints you purchase, order history, and preferences
Communication: Any messages you send me through email, contact forms, or social media

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit my website, I may automatically collect:

Device Information: Your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system
Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, referring website (if you came from another site)
Cookies and Similar Technologies: Small data files stored on your device (see the Cookies section below)

Information from Third Parties

I may receive information about you from:

Social Media: If you interact with me on Instagram or other platforms
Analytics Services: Aggregated data from Google Analytics (if enabled)

3. How I Use Your Information

I use your information to:

Fulfill Your Orders

Process payments and prevent fraud
Ship your prints to the correct address
Send order confirmations and shipping updates
Handle returns, exchanges, or customer service inquiries

Communicate With You

Send newsletters and updates about new work (only if you've opted in)
Respond to your questions and requests
Notify you about promotions or special offers (you can opt out anytime)

Improve My Business

Understand which prints and content resonate with visitors
Improve website functionality and user experience
Analyze trends and customer preferences
Develop new products and services

Legal Compliance

Comply with applicable laws and regulations
Respond to legal requests or prevent fraud
Protect my rights and the rights of others

4. How I Share Your Information

I respect your privacy and will never sell your personal information. I only share your information with trusted partners who help me run my business:

Service Providers

Squarespace: Website hosting and e-commerce platform
Stripe: Payment processing (they handle all credit card transactions securely)
Flodesk: Email marketing platform (only if you've subscribed to my emails)
Shipping Carriers: USPS, FedEx, or UPS to deliver your orders
Google Analytics: Website analytics (when enabled, and data is anonymized)

Legal Requirements

I may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect my legal rights.

Business Transfers

If I sell or transfer my business, your information may be transferred to the new owner as part of that transaction. You'll be notified if this happens.

5. Cookies and Tracking

My website uses cookies—small text files stored on your device that help the site function properly and remember your preferences.

Types of Cookies I Use

Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function (shopping cart, checkout process). These cannot be disabled.
Analytics Cookies: Help me understand how visitors use my site (Google Analytics, if enabled). These are optional.
Marketing Cookies: May be used for retargeting ads on social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook). These are optional.

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling essential cookies may prevent certain features from working properly. Most browsers allow you to:

View and delete cookies
Block third-party cookies
Block cookies from specific sites
Block all cookies (may affect website functionality)

6. Your Privacy Rights

You have rights regarding your personal information:

Access and Portability

You can request a copy of the personal information I have about you.

Correction

You can ask me to correct any inaccurate information.

Deletion

You can request that I delete your personal information (subject to legal obligations like tax records).

Opt-Out

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email or by contacting me directly.

Do Not Track

Some browsers have "Do Not Track" features. While I respect your privacy preferences, my website doesn't currently respond to Do Not Track signals.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact me at:

meg@meg-stone.com

I'll respond within 30 days.

7. Data Security

I take reasonable measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse:

Secure Hosting: Squarespace uses industry-standard security measures
Encrypted Payments: All payment processing is encrypted via SSL/TLS
Limited Access: Only I have access to customer information, and I never share login credentials
Regular Updates: I keep software and security measures up to date

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While I strive to protect your information, I cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Data Retention

I retain your information for as long as necessary to:

Fulfill orders and provide customer service
Comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax records for 7 years)
Resolve disputes or enforce agreements
Send marketing communications (if you've opted in)

If you request deletion of your data, I'll remove it from active systems but may retain certain information as required by law.

9. Children's Privacy

My website and services are not directed to children under 13. I do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If I learn that I've inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, I'll delete it promptly.

10. International Users

My business is based in the United States. If you're accessing my website from outside the US, please note that your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from your country.

European Users (GDPR)

If you're in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under GDPR:

Right to object to processing
Right to restrict processing
Right to data portability
Right to withdraw consent
Right to lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority

California Users (CCPA)

If you're a California resident, you have additional rights under CCPA:

Right to know what personal information is collected
Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (I don't sell your data)
Right to deletion
Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

11. Third-Party Links

My website may contain links to third-party websites or services (like my Instagram profile). I'm not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. I encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

12. Changes to This Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in my practices or legal requirements. When I make changes, I'll update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. For significant changes, I may notify you via email or a prominent notice on my website.

Your continued use of my website after any changes means you accept the updated policy.

13. Contact Me

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how I handle your personal information, please reach out:

Scrunchy Mom