Privacy Policy for Photospec

Last Updated: September 30, 2026

Effective Date: April 17, 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to Photospec ("we," "our," or "us"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application (the "App") or website. The website services are described separately below.

Developer Information:

Developer: Martin Garnett
Location: Kendal, United Kingdom
Contact Email: martin@photospec.app

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using Photospec, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use the App.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

Profile Information (Stored Locally Only)

When you use Photospec, you may choose to provide the following information, which is stored locally on your device only:

Your name
Your location
Equipment (cameras, lenses, etc.)
Copyright text preferences
Template and style preferences

Purpose: This information is used to customize your experience and personalize the images you generate. For example, your name may be used in copyright notices or other template elements, your location and equipment list may be displayed in your generated images.

Your profile is stored on your device. Information you include in an exported image becomes part of that image. Online location searches and diagnostics are described below; local profile storage does not mean that every feature works without sending data to a service.

2.2 Your Photos, Videos, and Permissions

You select photos or videos to edit in Photospec. Editing, rendering, and creating the finished image or video happen on your device. The App does not upload your source media or finished creations to our servers for editing. Selecting media is an import into the App, not an upload to Photospec.

The App reads available photo metadata, such as camera settings, capture dates, and GPS coordinates, to help fill in your frame. When automatic location lookup is available and runs, photo coordinates are sent to Google to suggest a place name. This can happen after selecting a photo, without typing a search. The photo itself is not sent with that lookup. App versions with the Automatic photo location setting let you turn these automatic lookups off in App settings. The setting starts enabled; turning it off does not remove location text already added to an edit or prevent manual location searches. See the Google Maps section below.

Selecting media: A system picker can grant access to the items you choose without granting access to your whole library. Depending on your App version and device, Photospec may also request photo-library access during onboarding or when using library features.
Saving creations: Photospec writes new images or videos to your chosen destination. iOS offers permission to add to Photos; accessing or creating a named album can require broader library access. Modern Android can save new app-created media without broad library access, although some App versions still request it. A custom folder uses the access you grant through the device's folder picker.
Photo location: Access to a photo does not always include access to its GPS metadata. Depending on your App version, Android may request photo-library and photo-location access during onboarding or when using photo features, so Photospec can read the original photo's saved location. Android may withhold it depending on permissions, picker support, and your sharing choices. Reading location saved in a photo is different from locating your phone now.
Current device location: Where available and permitted, the map's current-location feature uses your device location to show your position. The App does not use background location tracking. Photo-library permission does not grant device-location access.

Permission screens and available choices vary by App version, operating system, and photo provider. You can review permissions in device settings and, where offered, in the picker. Refusing access can limit importing, saving, album features, or automatic location; some versions also restrict entry to the editors. Missing GPS can mean the photo has no location, or that its provider withheld it.

Photospec creates temporary local copies and previews while editing and exporting. Cached files can remain until the App or operating system cleans them up. Saved outputs remain in Photos, your gallery, or your selected folder until you delete them. Your device's backup or cloud-photo service may sync them under its own settings.

Review the location, name, copyright text, and other details visible in your creation before sharing it. Those details are part of the image or video and can be seen by its recipients. If you separately send us media for support or promotional use, we receive what you choose to send.

2.3 Email Communications

Contact and Support

If you contact us via email (martin@photospec.app) for support, questions, or to exercise your privacy rights (such as subject access requests or opt-out requests), we will collect:

Your email address
Your name (if provided)
The content of your communication
Any additional information you choose to provide

Purpose: This information is used to respond to your inquiry, provide customer support, and fulfill your privacy rights requests.

Retention: We retain this correspondence for as long as necessary to address your inquiry and for our legitimate business interests (such as maintaining records of privacy requests for compliance purposes).

Newsletter (Optional)

In the future, we may offer an optional newsletter to keep you informed about:

App updates and new features
Tips for using Photospec
Important announcements

If you choose to subscribe to our newsletter, we will collect:

Your email address
Your name (optional)

Consent: Subscribing to the newsletter is entirely optional. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any newsletter email or by contacting us at martin@photospec.app.

Important: Your email address will never be sold, rented, or shared with third parties for their marketing purposes.

2.4 Information Collected by Third-Party Services

RevenueCat (Subscription Management)

We use RevenueCat to manage in-app subscriptions for Photospec Pro. RevenueCat collects the following information:

Purchase History: Information about subscription purchases, including product ID, purchase date, subscription status, and renewal information
Anonymous App User ID: A randomly generated identifier used to track subscription status across devices signed into the same Apple ID or Google account
Device Information: Basic device information necessary for subscription validation

Purpose of Collection:

App Functionality: To verify subscription status and enable Pro features
Analytics: To provide us with aggregated subscription metrics (e.g., conversion rates, churn rates)
Fraud Prevention: To validate receipts and prevent unauthorized access to Pro features

Data Linking: We do not send your Photospec profile name or email address to RevenueCat. Its generated user ID and transaction records can still associate purchases with an installation or store account; a generated identifier does not make this data anonymous.

For more information about RevenueCat's data practices, please visit: https://www.revenuecat.com/privacy

Sentry (Diagnostics and Crash Reporting)

We use Sentry to automatically detect and diagnose crashes, errors, and performance issues in the App so we can fix bugs and improve stability. Diagnostics are enabled by default in production unless you turn them off in Settings. Depending on App version and configuration, reports can contain the following information:

Crash and error reports: Exception type, message, and stack trace
Device information: Device model, OS version, App version, device language, timezone, free memory and storage, screen resolution, and device orientation
Event context: Breadcrumbs (a trail of in-app events leading up to an error, such as screens visited or buttons tapped — no photo content), timestamp, and release or build identifier
Installation ID: A SDK-generated identifier used to associate diagnostic events. It is not linked to your name or email
Basic performance and session data: Screen-load performance and whether a session ended in a crash; the measurements collected vary by App version

The App does not attach your photo or video files to diagnostic reports. We disable the SDK option for sending default personally identifiable information, but this does not remove every detail from logs. Diagnostic breadcrumbs and error context may include search text, place names, coordinates, or file information recorded by the App. Diagnostics should not be treated as anonymous.

Purpose: Debugging, crash resolution, and stability and performance improvement.

Legal basis (UK/EEA users): Our legitimate interest (UK GDPR Art. 6(1)(f)) in keeping the App secure, stable, and free from defects. Given the limited, largely technical nature of the data and Sentry's role as a processor under contract, we consider that this does not override your rights and freedoms. You can opt out at any time via the diagnostics or crash-reporting control in Settings in the App.

Processor and location: Sentry is provided by Functional Software, Inc. (d/b/a Sentry). Our current project uses Sentry's European region; its service providers may process data in other countries. Sentry acts as our data processor under a Data Processing Agreement.

Retention: Event data is retained according to our Sentry account settings and its retention policy. Contact us for the applicable retention period or a deletion request.

For more information about Sentry's data practices, please visit: https://sentry.io/privacy/

Google Maps Platform (Maps and Location Lookup)

The App uses Google Maps to display maps and Google Places to search for locations, retrieve place details, and suggest places near photo coordinates or a pin you select. Requests may run automatically from photo GPS when the relevant location feature is available. Google receives information needed for these features, including:

Search terms (the location text you type)
IP address
Latitude and longitude coordinates
Device information

Purpose: To provide location search, map display, and nearby-place suggestions within the App. Google may also use this data to provide and improve Google products and services under the Google Privacy Policy.

Through the normal functioning of these Google Maps services, information is provided directly to Google, which acts as an independent controller of that data (not as our processor). Google's use of this data is governed by the Google Maps/Google Earth Additional Terms of Service and the Google Privacy Policy.

GBIF (Species Lookup)

The App uses the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) API so you can search for and attach species information (e.g. scientific name, common name) to your generated images. When you perform a species lookup, GBIF may collect:

The species query text you enter
Your IP address
Standard request metadata (browser/user-agent equivalent, date and time of request, referring request)

No user account is required: species lookups are made as anonymous read-only API requests. We do not send your name, email, or Photospec profile to GBIF.

Purpose: To return matching species records for your query.

Controller: GBIF is an international organisation based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Data is processed in the European Union and, per GBIF's own notice, standard visitor data is typically erased after around 30 days.

For more information about GBIF's data practices, please visit: https://www.gbif.org/terms/privacy-policy

Website Services

Visiting the website is separate from editing media in the App. Our website uses Vercel hosting and Web Analytics, Google Fonts, and a tawk.to support-chat widget on the production site. App requests for website content, such as release notes or camera-name updates, also reach our hosting provider and can generate technical request logs.

Vercel: Hosting processes technical requests, including IP addresses. Web Analytics measures visits using page, referrer, browser, device, and approximate-location information. Vercel describes its Web Analytics as cookie-free. See Vercel Web Analytics privacy information.
tawk.to: The chat widget loads on the production website and can receive technical visitor data, including IP addresses, and use cookies or similar storage. If you message us, it processes the message and contact details or files you provide so we can respond. See tawk.to's Privacy Policy.
Google Fonts: Your browser contacts Google to load the site's fonts, sending your IP address and request information. See Google Fonts privacy information.

The App's diagnostics setting does not control website services. Browser controls can block cookies or third-party requests, although this may affect chat or other website features. You can contact us by email instead of using the chat widget.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected through third-party services for the following purposes:

Subscription Management: To verify your subscription status and provide access to Pro features
App Improvement: To understand usage patterns and improve the App experience through aggregated analytics
Fraud Prevention: To protect against unauthorized access to paid features
Customer Support: To assist you with any subscription or technical issues
Diagnostics and Stability: To detect, diagnose, and fix crashes, errors, and performance issues via Sentry
Location and Species Search: To resolve the location and species queries you enter, via Google Maps Platform and GBIF respectively

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Local Storage

Profile information, preferences, saved recent locations, and editing caches are held in App storage on your device. Finished exports are saved to your chosen destination. Online lookups and diagnostics send the information described above to their providers. Device backup and photo-sync services may also copy local data according to your device settings.

4.2 Third-Party Storage

Subscription data collected by RevenueCat is stored securely on their servers located in the United States. RevenueCat uses industry-standard security measures including encryption in transit (TLS) and at rest. Our current Sentry project uses its European region. Processing locations can also depend on the provider and its subprocessors; see the linked provider policies for details.

4.3 Security Measures

We are committed to protecting your information. While no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, we implement reasonable security measures appropriate to the nature of the information we handle.

6. Data Retention

6.1 Local Data

Profile information, preferences, and recent selections remain in App storage until cleared or removed. Temporary editing files may be cleaned up sooner. Deleting the App does not delete original photos, saved exports, or copies in device backups or cloud-photo services.

6.2 Subscription Data

RevenueCat retains subscription data for as long as necessary to:

Maintain your subscription status
Comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax records)
Resolve disputes and enforce our terms

Typically, purchase history is retained for the duration of your subscription plus a reasonable period thereafter for legal and accounting purposes.

6.3 Diagnostics Data

Crash, error, and performance events sent to Sentry are retained by Sentry according to our Sentry account settings and its retention policy. Contact us for the applicable retention period or a deletion request.

7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Access and Control

Local Data: You can view, modify, or delete your profile information and preferences at any time through the App's settings
Photos: You have complete control over which media you select for editing. The App makes local working copies; saving a finished creation to your library or folder happens when you export
Subscription Data: You can view your subscription status within the App
Diagnostics and Crash Reporting: You can turn Sentry on or off at any time via the diagnostics or crash-reporting control in Settings in the App. Disabling diagnostics stops new collection; reports already queued or sent may still be delivered or retained by the provider

7.2 Deletion Rights

Local Data: Deleting the App removes its local App data, but does not remove original media, exported creations, or copies retained by backup or cloud services
Subscription Data: To request deletion of subscription data held by RevenueCat, please contact us at martin@photospec.app

7.3 Subscription Management

You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time through:

iOS:Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions
Android:Google Play Store > Account > Subscriptions

8. Children's Privacy

Photospec is a general audience app suitable for all ages. The App does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13.

Local photo processing does not mean that no personal data is processed: online services and support communications are described in this policy.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at martin@photospec.app, and we will take steps to delete such information.

9. International Data Transfers

Photospec is operated from the United Kingdom. If you are accessing the App or website from outside the UK, information sent to our service providers may be processed in other countries. Our current Sentry project uses its European region; RevenueCat and other providers may process information in the United States and other locations described in their policies.

Queries made through Google Maps Platform are also processed by Google, which acts as an independent controller and may process the data in the United States and other countries in which Google operates.

10. Third-Party Links

The App may contain links to third-party websites or services (such as social media platforms when sharing content). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

11. Data Collection by App Stores

When you download and use Photospec, the Apple App Store and Google Play Store may collect certain information for their own purposes:

Apple: May collect usage statistics, crash reports, and other diagnostic information as described in Apple's Privacy Policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/
Google: May collect similar information as described in Google's Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

We do not have access to or control over the information collected by Apple or Google through their respective app stores.

12. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have certain rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to Know: You have the right to request information about the personal information we collect, use, and disclose
Right to Delete: You have the right to request deletion of your personal information
Right to Opt-Out: You have the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
Non-Discrimination: You have the right not to be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, please contact us at martin@photospec.app.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will:

Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
Notify you of material changes through the App or via email (if we have your contact information)
For significant changes, we may require you to accept the updated policy before continuing to use the App

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

15. Contact Us

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

Email: martin@photospec.app

Mailing Address:

Martin Garnett
167 Valley Drive, Kendal, United Kingdom, LA9 7SF

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days.