It is the question we hear most often, and honestly the right one to ask. Making a personalised book starts with uploading a photo of your child, and handing over a child's photo to a website deserves a clear, specific answer rather than vague reassurance. So here is exactly what happens to that photo at Mematime: what it is used for, where it goes, how long we keep it, and how to have it removed.
Your photo is used for one thing only
The photo you upload is used solely to create your child's book. It is what lets the illustrated hero on each page genuinely look like your child instead of a generic character. We do not sell your photos, share them with advertisers, or use them in our marketing. That commitment is written into our privacy policy, not just this blog post.
If you don't order, everything is deleted automatically
Lots of families create a preview just to see how it looks. If you decide not to order, you do not need to do anything: unpaid previews and their photos are automatically deleted after 48 hours. No account lingers, no photo sits in a folder somewhere. The book you previewed simply ceases to exist.
If you want more time to decide, you can ask us to keep your preview available so you can come back and order later, but the default is deletion.
If you do order, here is how long we keep it
For purchased books, your photos and book data are kept for one year. That is not for our benefit. It is what makes reprints possible if your book is damaged in the post or you want another copy for grandparents, without starting from scratch. After a year, the data is deleted.
And you do not have to wait: you can request deletion of your data at any time by emailing [email protected], and we will remove it (subject only to legal retention requirements, such as records of a purchase).
You stay in control at every step
A few smaller things that add up:
- Consent is explicit. When you upload a photo, you confirm you have permission to use it. Only upload photos of your own child, or a child whose parent has asked you to.
- You see everything before you pay. The full book preview is shown before any money changes hands, so nothing is printed or produced without your approval. You can see how a finished book looks here.
- Photos travel securely. Uploads happen over an encrypted connection and are stored on secure cloud infrastructure, not on someone's laptop.
Why we take this seriously
Mematime exists so that children can see themselves as the hero of a story. That only works if parents can hand us a photo without a knot in their stomach. Being cautious about your child's photos is not paranoia. It is good parenting, and our job is to deserve the trust. If anything in our privacy policy is unclear, email us and a human will answer.
If you feel ready, you can try it yourself: our personalised books for children let you upload a photo and preview the whole book for free before deciding anything.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my child's photo if I don't buy the book?
It is deleted automatically, along with the preview, after 48 hours. You do not need to request anything.
How long do you keep photos after I order?
For one year, so we can offer reprints and help with any issues. After that the data is deleted. You can also request earlier deletion at any time.
Do you share or sell the photos?
No. Photos are used solely to create your book. They are never sold, shared with advertisers, or used in our marketing.
How do I ask for my data to be deleted?
Email [email protected] from the address you used for your order, and we will delete your data, subject only to legal retention requirements.
