Cookie Policy
Last Updated: December 22, 2025
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They help websites remember your preferences, improve your browsing experience, and provide analytics to website owners. Cookies may be set by the website you visit ("first-party cookies") or by third-party services integrated into the website.
How We Use Cookies
PhotoHeirloom uses cookies to enhance your experience and provide essential functionality. We categorize our cookies into three types:
Essential Cookies (Required)
These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable core functionality such as security, authentication, and session management. You cannot opt-out of essential cookies.
- __session - Maintains your login session and keeps you authenticated - Session (expires when you close your browser)
- __clerk_* - Authentication tokens from Clerk (our auth provider) to manage your account security - 90 days
- __Host-csrf - Protects against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks - Session
- NEXT_LOCALE - Remembers your language preference (English, French, Hebrew, Spanish, Russian, Greek) - 1 year
Analytics Cookies (Optional)
These cookies help us understand how visitors use PhotoHeirloom. They collect anonymous data about page visits, time spent on pages, and user interactions. This information helps us improve our service.
- _vercel_analytics_* - Vercel Analytics - tracks page views, performance metrics, and user behavior anonymously - 1 year
Marketing Cookies (Optional)
We do not currently use marketing cookies. If we introduce them in the future, you will be able to opt-out via the cookie consent banner.
Third-Party Cookies
Some third-party services we use may set their own cookies. These services are trusted partners that help us provide PhotoHeirloom:
- Clerk (Authentication) - Manages user authentication, login sessions, and account security. Privacy policy: clerk.com/privacy
- Vercel (Hosting & Analytics) - Hosts our website and provides anonymous performance analytics. Privacy policy: vercel.com/legal/privacy-policy
- Google (Maps & Contacts API) - Powers location autocomplete (Google Maps API) and optional contact import (Google Contacts API). Privacy policy: policies.google.com/privacy
How to Manage Cookies
You have several options to manage cookies on PhotoHeirloom:
- Use our Cookie Preferences widget - Click the cookie banner when you first visit, or find the cookie settings in your account preferences
- Configure your browser settings - Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. However, disabling essential cookies may prevent you from using certain features of PhotoHeirloom
- Adjust specific cookie categories - You can enable/disable Analytics and Marketing cookies individually while keeping Essential cookies active
Important: If you disable essential cookies, you may not be able to log in, save preferences, or use core features of PhotoHeirloom.
How to Opt-Out of Cookies
To disable cookies in your browser, follow these instructions for popular browsers:
Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. When we make significant changes, we will notify you via the cookie consent banner. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when it was last revised.
Questions About Cookies?
If you have questions about how PhotoHeirloom uses cookies, please contact us at [email protected]. We're here to help you understand your privacy options.