Who we are

Our website address is: https://opencalldirect.com

What personal data we collect and why we collect it

Comments

When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.

An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.

Media

If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.

Contact forms

Cookies

If you leave a comment on our site you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.

If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.

When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.

If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.

Embedded content from other websites

Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.

These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.

Analytics

We use Google analytics to help to see how visitors use the website to help improve the service to you.

How long we retain your data

If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.

For users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.

What rights you have over your data

If you have an account on this site, or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.

Where we send your data

Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.

Contact information

For any quesries relating to your data and how we use it please contact us

Additional information

Open Call Direct Privacy Policy – Your Photos, Your Privacy

Hey there, Open Call Direct community! We’re all about celebrating creativity and photography, and we take your privacy seriously. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and how we use cookies. We want you to feel comfortable sharing your amazing photos with us!

What Information We Collect:

When you enter a contest or sign up for our newsletter, we collect some basic information:

• Your Name: So we know who you are (and who to congratulate when you win!).
• Your Email Address: To keep you updated on contests, winners, and other exciting news.
• Your Photos: The heart of our platform! We need these to showcase your talent and judge the contests.
• Optional Information: You may choose to provide additional information, such as your website URL, telephone number, or other contact details. This is completely optional and helps us get to know you and your work better.

We also collect some technical information automatically, like your IP address and browser type. This helps us keep our site running smoothly and securely.

How We Use Your Information:

• Running Contests: We use your name and email to manage contests, notify winners, and award prizes. Obviously, we use your photos to judge and showcase your work.
• Sharing with Others (Sometimes): Open Call Direct lists photo contests hosted by other organizations. When you choose to participate in a contest hosted by another organization, you will be providing your information (name, email, photo, and any other information they request) directly to them. Open Call Direct is not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party contest holders. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each contest you enter to understand how they will use your information. We will always make it clear who is running the contest before you enter. We don’t sell your information to third parties for marketing.
• Keeping in Touch: If you subscribe to our newsletter, we’ll use your email to send you updates about Open Call Direct and other relevant photography news. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in the emails.
• Improving Open Call Direct: We use the technical information we collect to understand how people use our site and make it even better.
• Using Optional Information: If you provide it, we may use your website URL to learn more about your photography style or contact you through other means you provided (like a phone number) if it’s relevant to a specific contest or prize.

How We Use Cookies:

Like most websites, we use cookies to enhance your experience on Open Call Direct. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device. They help us remember your preferences, understand how you use our site, and personalize your experience. Here are some examples of how we use them:

• Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable you to navigate the site and use its features, such as logging in and entering contests.  
• Analytics Cookies: These cookies help us understand how visitors use our site, such as which pages are most popular. This information helps us improve the site and make it more user-friendly. We may use tools like Google Analytics for this.
• Preference Cookies: These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your language preference) and provide enhanced, more personalized features.  

You have the right to choose whether or not to accept cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. However, please note that if you disable or delete cookies, some parts of our website may not function correctly. You can typically manage your cookie preferences in your browser’s settings.  

How We Protect Your Information:

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. We use secure servers and industry-standard encryption to keep your data safe.  

Your Choices:

• Accessing and Updating: You can access and update your personal information through your account settings.
• Unsubscribing: You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in our emails.
• Deleting Your Photos: You can delete your photos from our site at any time.

Children’s Privacy:

Open Call Direct is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Changes to this Policy:  

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We’ll post any changes on this page, so be sure to check back occasionally.