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Privacy Policy — Scout the Shot
Last updated: August 4, 2026
Scout the Shot is operated by Focal Works LLC, doing business as Scout the Shot (“we,” “us,” “our”). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use the Scout the Shot app and website, how we use it, and what choices you have.
By using Scout the Shot, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.
- Search input. The ZIP code, GPS coordinates, and descriptive text (“vibe”) you enter to search for locations.
- Saved locations. Any locations you save, along with notes, reference photos you attach, and any client name, date, or session details you enter into the Planner.
- Account and contact information. If you create an account or contact support, we collect your email address and any information you choose to share with us.
- Payment information. If you purchase Scout Core or subscribe to Search Pro, payment is processed by our payment processor(s) (Stripe, and/or Apple’s or Google’s in-app purchase systems). We do not directly receive or store your full payment card details — these are handled entirely by the payment processor.
- Device and usage data. Basic technical information such as device type, operating system version, and app usage patterns, used to diagnose problems and understand how the app is used.
- Location data. If you grant location permission, we collect your device’s GPS coordinates to power location-based search and to calculate golden hour and blue hour times for your current position. You can deny this permission and use ZIP code entry instead.
- Camera access. If you grant camera permission, it is used solely to let you attach reference photos to a saved location. We do not access your camera or photo library except when you actively choose to attach a photo.
- Notifications. If you grant notification permission, we use it to alert you about upcoming shoots and updates to saved locations. You can deny or later revoke this permission through your device settings.
2. How we use AI, and what that means for your data
Scout the Shot’s AI-powered search feature (including “Deep mode”) sends your search input — ZIP code or coordinates, and any descriptive text you provide — to Anthropic’s Claude API for processing. This is how the app generates location recommendations and match explanations.
- Anthropic processes this data to return search results to the app; we do not control Anthropic’s own data retention practices beyond what’s described in Anthropic’s own privacy policy and terms.
- We do not knowingly send your saved locations, reference photos, account information, or payment information to the AI service — only the search input itself.
- If you use AI-powered search, you are consenting to this data being sent to a third-party AI service for processing.
3. Third-party services we use
To provide location and photo search results, Scout the Shot sends your search location (ZIP code or coordinates) to the following third-party services, which may independently log requests according to their own privacy policies:
- Anthropic (Claude API) — AI-powered search and result generation.
- Flickr — photo search results tied to a location.
- Wikimedia Commons — photo search results tied to a location.
- Mapillary (a Meta product) — street-level imagery near a location.
- iNaturalist — nature and outdoor observation photos near a location.
- Nominatim / OpenStreetMap — geocoding (converting ZIP codes and place names to coordinates, and vice versa).
We do not sell your data to these services or to anyone else. We share only the minimum location and search information necessary for each service to return results.
4. Payment processing
If you purchase Scout Core (one-time purchase) or subscribe to Search Pro (monthly subscription), payment is handled by:
- Stripe, for purchases made directly through our website, and/or
- Apple’s App Store or Google Play’s in-app purchase and billing systems, for purchases made through the mobile app.
These processors have their own privacy policies governing how they handle your payment information. We receive confirmation of your purchase and subscription status, but not your full payment card details.
5. Data storage and retention
- Saved locations, reference photos, and Planner entries are stored locally on your device for offline access, and may also be stored on our servers to sync across your devices if you’re signed in.
- Search history is not retained beyond what’s necessary to return results to you in the moment, except for basic usage analytics described above.
- You can delete saved locations, photos, and Planner entries at any time from within the app. Deleting the app from your device removes locally stored data; contact us at the email below to request deletion of any data also stored on our servers.
6. Children’s privacy
Scout the Shot is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us at the email below and we will delete it.
7. Your rights and choices
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or export your personal information, and to object to or restrict certain processing. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the email below.
- Permissions. You can grant or revoke camera, location, and notification permissions at any time through your device’s system settings.
- Marketing communications. If we ever send marketing emails, you can unsubscribe using the link in those emails.
- Account deletion. You can request deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us.
8. Data security
We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including keeping API keys and credentials server-side rather than in the app itself. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you through the app or by other reasonable means before the changes take effect. The “Last updated” date at the top of this policy reflects the most recent revision.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, contact us at:
[email protected]
Focal Works LLC, doing business as Scout the Shot