This page explains what personal information I collect when you use this website, enquire, or book me to film your wedding — and how I look after it. The short version: I collect what I need to reply to you and to make your film, I keep it secure, I never sell it, and you can ask me what I hold or ask me to delete it at any time.
Who I am
I'm James Steer, trading as Steer Media — a wedding videographer based in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, filming across the UK. For data protection purposes I'm the "controller" of the information described here. Anything in this policy, or any request about your data, comes straight to me at hello@steermedia.co.uk.
What I collect, and why
Enquiries. When you contact me through the website form or by email, I receive the details you send — typically your names, email address, wedding date, venue, how you found me, and your message. I use these to reply, check my availability and put together a quote. Legally, this is processing needed to take steps towards a contract with you, and my legitimate interest in responding to people who get in touch.
Bookings. If you book me, I collect what the booking needs: your full names, contact details, wedding date and venue, the signed agreement, and payment records for your retainer and balance. This is processing needed to perform our contract, and to meet my legal obligations to keep business and tax records.
Planning details. Before the wedding I may ask for a schedule of the day, key people, and the moments that matter most to you — through email or a private questionnaire page. I use this only to plan and film your day properly.
Your wedding footage. Filming your wedding means recording video and audio of you and, inevitably, your guests. For you as the couple, this is the service you've booked. For guests, I film on the basis of my legitimate interest in providing the event coverage you've asked for — more on this below.
Website analytics. Like most websites, this site uses Google Analytics to understand how people find and use it — pages visited, device type and general location. This helps me improve the site; it isn't used to identify you personally. If you use the availability checker, the date you enter is used to check my diary so I can tell you whether I'm free.
Filming at your wedding
A wedding film naturally includes guests, suppliers and anyone else who's part of the day. I film in a natural, unobtrusive documentary style — I don't stage people or single anyone out unfairly. I ask couples to let their guests know a videographer will be filming. If any guest would prefer not to feature, they (or you) can tell me on the day or afterwards, and I'll accommodate that in the edit wherever the footage allows. Children appear only as part of natural coverage of the day, and I treat that footage with particular care.
Portfolio and social media
As set out in my booking agreement, I may share films and stills from weddings on my website, social media and in awards or promotion — it's how future couples find me. If you'd prefer your wedding to stay private, tell me in writing before the wedding and I'll respect that completely. Nothing about that choice affects your film or your price.
Who I share information with
I never sell your information, and I don't share it with anyone for their own marketing. I do use a small number of trusted services to run the business, which process data on my behalf: website hosting and enquiry forms (Netlify), email (Zoho), analytics (Google), my online video gallery for delivering films, an e-signature service for contracts, accounting software for invoices, and my bank for payments. Each is bound by its own data processing commitments, and each only receives what it needs to do its job.
Where it's stored
Your footage and films are stored on encrypted drives with multiple backups, and delivered through a reputable online gallery. Some of the services above store data outside the UK; where that happens, transfers are protected by the safeguards UK GDPR requires, such as UK adequacy decisions or the International Data Transfer Agreement.
How long I keep things
Enquiries that don't lead to a booking are deleted within two years. Contracts, invoices and payment records are kept for six years, as HMRC requires. Raw footage is kept for at least twelve months after your films are delivered, then cleared out periodically. Delivered films are archived so I can replace a lost copy, and — where you're happy for them to be — remain part of my portfolio. You can ask me to delete your personal data and your gallery after delivery, as your agreement sets out.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you can ask me for a copy of the information I hold about you, ask me to correct it, delete it, or limit how I use it, and object to processing based on legitimate interests — including portfolio use of your wedding. Just email hello@steermedia.co.uk and I'll respond within a month. If you're unhappy with how I've handled your data, you also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk — though I'd always appreciate the chance to put things right first.
Cookies
This site uses Google Analytics, which sets cookies to distinguish visitors. Embedded video players (such as Vimeo) may set their own cookies when you play a film. You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings at any time; the site will still work.
Changes to this policy
If how I handle data changes, I'll update this page and the date at the top. Questions about any of it — just ask: hello@steermedia.co.uk.