Privacy Policy
Last updated: 1 July 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Vantage (“Vantage”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects your personal information when you use the Vantage mobile app and related services (the “Service”). Vantage is a photography location-discovery app: photographers share photos pinned to the places where they were taken, and others discover those spots nearby. We handle personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.
1. Information we collect
We collect the following categories of information:
- Account and profile information — your email address and password (your password is handled and stored in hashed form by our authentication provider; we never see it in plain text), your username, and any display name, profile photo, or bio you choose to add.
- Content you post — the photos and captions you upload, the categories you assign, and the geographic location (latitude and longitude) associated with each photo. Location is central to the Service: the places you attach to your photos are displayed publicly on the map.
- Photo metadata — photos may contain embedded metadata such as the capture location and time. We use this to help place your post on the map; you control the location shown when you create or edit a post.
- Social activity — the accounts you follow, the posts you save, and content you report or users you block for safety purposes.
- Device location — with your permission, we access your device’s location to show you photos and spots near you. You can grant or revoke this permission at any time in your device settings.
- Device and usage information — basic technical and diagnostic data such as device type, operating system, app version, and how you interact with the Service, used to operate and improve the app.
- Communications — if you contact us (for example at support@vantagephoto.app), we keep your messages and contact details to respond and provide support.
2. How we use your information
- To provide and operate the Service, including creating your account, displaying your photos on the map, and building your feed.
- To show you relevant nearby content when you enable device location.
- To authenticate you, secure your account, and send account-related emails such as password resets.
- To keep the community safe — reviewing reports, enforcing our Terms, and acting on abusive content or users.
- To respond to your enquiries and provide customer support.
- To understand usage, fix problems, and improve the Service.
- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our agreements.
3. Location information
Because Vantage is a location-sharing app, the locations you attach to your photos are public — they are shown on the map and to other users. Only share locations you are comfortable making public, and do not post the precise locations of private residences or of sensitive, protected, or restricted sites. Separately, your device location (used to find nearby content) is only accessed with your permission and is not published; you can turn it off at any time in your device settings.
4. How your content is shared
Your photos, captions, attached locations, username, and public profile are visible to other users of the Service and, depending on the feature, to the public. Please keep this in mind when deciding what to post.
5. Who we share information with
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only with service providers that help us run the Service, and where required by law:
- Supabase — our database, authentication, and file storage provider, which hosts your account data and content.
- Mapbox — provides the maps used to display photo locations.
- Resend — sends transactional emails such as password resets on our behalf.
- Apple — distributes the app through the App Store.
- Legal and safety — we may disclose information if required by law, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of our users, the public, or Vantage.
These providers may process data on servers located outside Australia.
6. Data storage and security
Your information is stored with our hosting and infrastructure provider and transmitted over encrypted (HTTPS/TLS) connections. We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, and unauthorised access. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Data retention
We keep your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. When you delete your account, we delete or de-identify your personal information, except where we are required to retain it to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce our agreements. Residual copies may persist in backups for a limited period.
8. Your rights and choices
- Access and correction — you can view and update your profile information in the app, and request access to or correction of the personal information we hold about you.
- Deletion — you can delete your account at any time, which removes your personal information as described above.
- Location permission — you can grant or revoke the app’s access to your device location in your device settings.
- Complaints — if you have a privacy concern, contact us first at support@vantagephoto.app. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.
9. Children’s privacy
Vantage is not directed to children under 13 (or the minimum age of digital consent in your country). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under this age. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.
10. International users
Vantage is operated from Australia. If you access the Service from outside Australia, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in Australia and in other countries where our service providers operate.
11. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will take reasonable steps to notify you, such as through the app or by updating the date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the updated Policy.
12. Contact us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, contact us at support@vantagephoto.app.