This Privacy Policy describes how Visual Independence (operated by Jans Bock-Schroeder, Collection Bock-Schroeder) collects, uses, stores, and protects personal data when you visit visualindependence.com and its affiliated platforms.
We take your privacy seriously. This policy is written in plain language so you always understand exactly what happens to your data. If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact us at any time.
We collect only what is strictly necessary. We never sell your personal data. We do not share it with third parties except as required to operate this website or as compelled by law.
1. Data Controller
The data controller responsible for this website within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is:
Controller Details
Name: Jans Bock-Schroeder
Organisation: Collection Bock-Schroeder / Visual Independence
Website: visualindependence.com
Contact: Contact form or via the details on the Imprint page.
2. Data We Collect
We collect personal data only when you actively provide it or when it is technically generated by your visit. The categories of data we may process are as follows:
2.1 Data You Provide Directly
If you contact us via our contact form or by email, we collect:
- Your name (if provided)
- Your email address
- The content of your message
This data is used solely to respond to your enquiry and is not used for marketing without your explicit consent.
2.2 Data Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, our web server automatically records the following technical data (server log files):
- IP address (anonymised where possible)
- Date and time of the request
- Pages visited and files accessed
- Referrer URL (the page you visited before ours)
- Browser type and operating system
- HTTP status code and data volume transferred
This data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interest in ensuring the technical operation and security of the website (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). It is not linked to individual user profiles and is deleted after 30 days.
2.3 Cookies
We use cookies to ensure the best possible experience on our website. A cookie is a small text file stored on your device. We use the following categories of cookies:
| Type | Purpose | Legal Basis | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Session management, security | Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR — legitimate interest | Session |
| Functional | Remembering your cookie consent preference | Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR — consent | 12 months |
| Analytics | Understanding how visitors use the site (anonymised) | Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR — consent | Up to 26 months |
You may withdraw your cookie consent at any time by clearing your browser cookies or adjusting your browser settings. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
3. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data only where we have a valid legal basis under the GDPR:
Consent (Art. 6(1)(a))
Where you have given clear consent — for example, by accepting optional cookies. You may withdraw consent at any time.
Contract (Art. 6(1)(b))
Where processing is necessary to fulfil a contractual obligation or to take pre-contractual steps at your request.
Legal Obligation (Art. 6(1)(c))
Where processing is required to comply with a legal obligation to which we are subject under EU or Member State law.
Legitimate Interest (Art. 6(1)(f))
Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests — such as website security — provided those interests are not overridden by your rights.
4. How We Use Your Data
We use the personal data we collect for the following purposes:
- To operate and maintain this website and its technical infrastructure
- To respond to your enquiries and requests
- To analyse and improve the user experience through anonymised analytics
- To ensure the security of our systems and prevent fraudulent or harmful activity
- To comply with legal obligations applicable to us
We do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling as defined under Art. 22 GDPR.
5. Third-Party Services & Data Transfers
We may use the following third-party services, each of which may process limited technical data in accordance with their own privacy policies:
5.1 Google Fonts
This website loads typefaces from Google Fonts. When you visit our site, your browser makes a request to Google's servers to load the font files. Google may process your IP address in this context. We have configured our implementation to minimise data transfer where possible. For more information, see Google's Privacy Policy.
5.2 Font Awesome (Cloudflare CDN)
We load icon fonts from the Cloudflare CDN (cdnjs.cloudflare.com). This may result in your IP address being transmitted to Cloudflare's servers. See the Cloudflare Privacy Policy.
5.3 Social Media Share Buttons
Our pages contain share links for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and WhatsApp. These are implemented as plain hyperlinks only — no tracking scripts or social plugins are loaded without your interaction. Clicking a share button will take you to the respective platform, where that platform's own privacy policy applies.
5.4 External Links
This website contains links to affiliated platforms such as photography-collectors.com, bock-schroeder.com and soviet-union.com. These sites operate independently and have their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing those policies before submitting personal data to those platforms.
International Data Transfers
Some third-party providers may be located outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Where this is the case, data transfers are governed by appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) as approved by the European Commission under Art. 46 GDPR.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law:
- Server log files: Deleted after 30 days
- Contact enquiries: Deleted within 12 months of the last correspondence, unless a longer retention period is required by law
- Cookie consent records: Retained for 12 months from the date of consent
- Analytics data: Anonymised and retained for up to 26 months
Where data must be retained for legal or regulatory reasons (e.g. commercial or tax law obligations), it will be stored securely and access will be restricted for that purpose only.
7. Your Rights
Under the GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data. You may exercise any of these rights by contacting us using the details on our Imprint page or via our Contact form.
8. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure or access. These measures are reviewed and updated regularly in line with current best practices.
Transmission of data via the internet is carried out over encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS). However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Children's Privacy
This website is not directed at children under the age of 16 and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe that a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will take steps to delete that information.
10. Changes to This Policy
We reserve the right to update or amend this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our data processing practices, applicable law, or the services we offer. The most current version is always available at visualindependence.com/privacy.
We encourage you to review this page periodically. Where changes are material, we will make reasonable efforts to inform you — for example, by means of a notice on our website.
Visual Independence is committed to the values of transparency, independence and integrity — in our curation and in how we handle your data.
On This Page
Privacy at a Glance
- Framework: GDPR (EU) 2016/679
- Data sold: Never
- Cookies: Strictly necessary + optional
- Analytics: Anonymised only
- Log retention: 30 days
- Contact retention: 12 months
- Your rights: Access, rectification, erasure, portability, objection
- Last updated: April 16, 2026
Legal Pages
Founded Visual Independence in 2012. Managing director of Collection Bock-Schroeder since 2001. 20+ years of expertise in the fine art and vintage photography market.
About This Page
This Privacy Policy applies to the Visual Independence platform operated by Jans Bock-Schroeder, curator and managing director of Collection Bock-Schroeder. It covers data processed via visualindependence.com. For enquiries relating to affiliated platforms, please refer to their respective privacy policies: photography-collectors.com and soviet-union.com.
Published: April 2026 | Last Updated: April 16, 2026