MONOCO · LEGAL
monoCO Privacy Policy
Effective date: August 21, 2026 Last updated: August 21, 2026
monoCO is a monochrome photography collective operated by Benjamin Hernandez (“monoCO,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). This Privacy Policy explains how monoCO collects, uses, discloses, and protects information when you visit monococollective.com, create or use a monoCO account, subscribe to updates, contact us, or submit work to a monoCO call or feature.
Information We Collect
Information you provide
Depending on how you use monoCO, you may provide:
• Account information, including your email address, password credentials processed by our authentication provider, and basic Google profile information if you choose Google sign-in.
• Photographer information, including your first and last name, display name, location, website, Instagram handle, and biography.
• Submission information, including photographs, titles, categories, locations, statements, and your publication or submission choices.
• Newsletter preferences and other communication choices.
• Messages and information you send through our contact or support channels.
Information collected automatically
Our website and service providers may process technical information needed to deliver and secure the service, such as IP address, browser and device information, request timestamps, referring pages, and diagnostic or security logs.
monoCO uses cookies or similar technologies where needed to maintain authentication and account sessions. Additional analytics or marketing technologies, if introduced, will be described here and used subject to applicable consent requirements.
Google Sign-In
If you sign in with Google, monoCO requests only the basic identity information needed to create and authenticate your account: OpenID identity, email address, and basic profile information. We use this information only for authentication, account setup, account support, and the monoCO services you request. monoCO does not request access to your Google Drive, Gmail, contacts, calendar, or other Google content.
How We Use Information
We use information to:
• Create, authenticate, secure, and support monoCO accounts.
• Receive, review, moderate, and manage photography submissions.
• Display approved work and the associated attribution in public galleries or editorial features.
• Publish selected work through monoCO channels when the applicable submission permission allows it.
• Send account verification, password, submission receipt, approval, rejection, publication, and other service-related messages.
• Send optional newsletters and collective updates when you have opted in.
• Respond to questions, privacy requests, and support messages.
• Detect abuse, protect the service, enforce applicable submission rules, and comply with legal obligations.
• Maintain and improve monoCO’s services.
monoCO does not sell personal information.
When Information Becomes Public
Account profiles and unapproved submission originals are not public. Authorized monoCO administrators may access them to operate and moderate the service.
When a submission is approved or selected, the photograph and the attribution supplied with it may become public through monoCO galleries, editorial features, newsletters, or social channels, consistent with the applicable submission terms. Public attribution may include your display name, Instagram handle, photograph title, location, or statement.
Service Providers
monoCO uses service providers to operate the platform. These currently include:
• Supabase for authentication and database services.
• Cloudflare for application delivery, APIs, security, caching, and image storage.
• Resend for transactional email.
• Kit (formerly ConvertKit) for optional newsletter and marketing email.
• Framer for the public website.
• Meta services when monoCO publishes selected work to Instagram or Facebook.
These providers process information under their own terms and privacy commitments and may process information in countries other than your own.
We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with law, protect rights or safety, investigate abuse, or respond to a valid legal request.
Transactional and Optional Email
Account verification, password, submission, moderation, and publication messages are transactional communications connected to services you request. Newsletter and collective updates are optional and controlled separately. You may unsubscribe from optional email through the unsubscribe link or your account settings without preventing necessary transactional messages.
Retention
We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to operate the service, maintain security and records, honor publication permissions, resolve disputes, and meet legal obligations.
Retention depends on the type and status of the information. Approved public work and attribution may remain in monoCO’s editorial or gallery archive. Unapproved originals, account information, and optional marketing records may be removed or de-identified when no longer needed, subject to legitimate operational or legal requirements. If you request deletion, we will explain any information that must be retained or any public editorial material affected by the request.
Your Choices and Requests
You may:
• Update reusable photographer information in your monoCO account.
• Subscribe to or unsubscribe from optional monoCO updates.
• Ask to access, correct, or delete personal information associated with your account.
• Ask questions about the use or publication of your submitted work.
• Withdraw a prospective publication permission where applicable.
Withdrawal does not automatically erase copies that were lawfully published before the request or copies outside monoCO’s control, but monoCO will evaluate reasonable removal requests for channels it controls. Withdrawal does not transfer ownership of your photograph to monoCO; photographers retain their copyright.
To make a request, email hello@monococollective.com. We may need to verify your identity before completing a request.
Additional rights may apply depending on where you live.
Security
monoCO uses administrative and technical safeguards designed to protect information, including encrypted transmission, restricted administrative access, private storage for unapproved submission originals, and access controls for account data. No online service can guarantee absolute security.
Age Eligibility
monoCO accounts and submission services are intended for people who are at least 18 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information through these services from anyone under 18. If you believe a person under 18 has provided personal information, contact us so we can review and remove it as appropriate.
Third-Party Links
monoCO may link to photographer websites, social platforms, and other third-party services. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as monoCO develops or legal requirements change. We will post the revised policy with a new last-updated date and provide additional notice when appropriate.
Contact
For privacy questions or requests:
monoCO Operated by Benjamin Hernandez Email: hello@monococollective.com Website: https://www.monococollective.com