Michael Barton Studios ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy of students, families, schools, and customers. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share information when providing school-authorized photography services and when users interact with our website.
Student Image Privacy — At a Glance
Who We Are
Michael Barton Studios is a privately held company rooted in the local communities we serve.
We are not owned by private equity firms, large corporations, or outside investors. Our decisions are made internally by leadership that works directly with schools, families, photographers, and staff every day.
Because we are privately owned, we do not monetize student data, sell access to images, or build business models around advertising, resale, or data licensing. Our focus is providing school-authorized photography services with care, transparency, and long-term accountability.
Information We Collect
School Photography Information
In connection with school-authorized photography services, we may collect:
Website and Ordering Information
When families or schools interact with our website or ordering systems, we may collect:
How We Use Information
We use collected information only to provide photography services authorized by schools and requested by families, including:
We do not use student information for unrelated or secondary purposes.
School-Authorized Use of Student Images
Student images and related information are collected and processed only for school-authorized photography purposes.
Specifically:
Security Practices
We use reasonable, industry-standard safeguards designed to protect student images and personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse.
Access to student images is limited to authorized, trained personnel and approved service providers who require access to perform school-authorized services. Access is restricted based on job role where available.
Our primary gallery and ordering platforms are selected based on security, reliability, and operational standards.
Third-Party Service Providers
We work with trusted third-party service providers to support functions such as image hosting, online proofing, ordering, payment processing, and fulfillment.
These providers are granted access only to the information necessary to perform their services and are contractually required to safeguard student data.
FERPA and Student Data Privacy Commitments
Michael Barton Studios supports schools in complying with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
When student images or related information are maintained in connection with a student's educational record, we act as a service provider to the school. We do not claim ownership of student educational records, and student data is used only for purposes authorized by the school or school district.
Parent and Guardian Requests
Parents or legal guardians may submit privacy-related requests, including deletion requests after ordering windows close, through our designated Privacy Request process.
In some cases, certain records may need to be retained to comply with school directives, contractual obligations, or legal requirements.
Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to improve functionality and understand how visitors use our site. These tools do not provide us with access to student images.
Visitors may control cookies through their browser settings.
Children's Privacy
We comply with applicable laws governing children's data, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), where applicable.
Schools typically manage parental consent for school photography activities. If we become aware that information has been collected in a manner inconsistent with applicable law, we will take appropriate corrective action.
Social Media and Promotional Use
As the copyright holder, Michael Barton Studios may use images to promote our photography services in accordance with applicable laws and school agreements.
Customer Sharing: You may share your purchased photographs on social media platforms. We encourage proper credit by tagging Michael Barton Studios and using relevant hashtags, but this is not a requirement.
Company Use of Photos: When you choose to be photographed, you grant Michael Barton Studios permission to use the images for promotional purposes, including sharing them on our social media pages, website, and marketing materials. We will make efforts to avoid identifying minors without explicit consent.
Opting Out: If you do not wish for your photos to be used for promotional purposes, you may contact us to opt out. We will respect your preference, though previously shared photos may remain visible on public platforms.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or if you would like to exercise your rights regarding your personal data, please contact us via our Contact Us Form.
Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.