Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 15, 2026
Ahren Steis and Black Crowe Productions respect your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information may be collected through this website, how that information may be used, when it may be shared and the choices available to you.
In this Policy, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Ahren Steis and Black Crowe Productions. “Website” refers to ahrensteis.com and the pages, forms and services made available through it.

1. Information We Collect
Information you provide
We may collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:
- Submit a project inquiry or contact form
- Subscribe to Field Notes or another email list
- Communicate with us by email or through the Website
- Request information about services
- Begin or maintain a business relationship with us

Depending on the form or interaction, this information may include:
- Name
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Company or organization
- Professional role
- Website address
- Business objectives or communication challenges
- Information about a possible project
- Budget or investment range
- How you learned about us
- Newsletter and marketing preferences
- Any other information you choose to include in a message

 

Please do not submit confidential, proprietary, financial, medical or other highly sensitive information through a general website form.

Information collected automatically

 

When you visit the Website, certain information may be collected automatically by Wix and any analytics, security or performance technologies used on the Website. This information may include:
- Internet Protocol address
- Browser and device type
- Operating system
- Approximate geographic location
- Referring and exit pages
- Pages viewed and time spent on the Website
- Date and time of access
- Cookie or similar technology identifiers
- General interactions with links, forms and Website features

 

We use this information to operate the Website, understand how it is used, improve its performance and protect it from misuse.

2. How We Use Information
We may use personal information to:
- Review and respond to inquiries
- Determine whether a conversation or project may be appropriate
- Prepare proposals, estimates or project recommendations
- Communicate about current or potential assignments
- Provide requested services
- Manage client and business relationships
- Send Field Notes or other communications you requested
- Improve the Website, messaging and visitor experience
- Measure Website performance and understand traffic
- Maintain security and prevent misuse
- Comply with legal, accounting or contractual obligations
- Establish, exercise or defend legal rights

 

We will not use personal information for materially different purposes without providing appropriate notice when required.

 

3. Email Communications
If you subscribe to Field Notes or another email list, we may use your name and email address to send the communications you requested.
You can unsubscribe at any time by:
- Using the unsubscribe link included in the email
- Contacting us at privacy@ahrensteis.com

 

Unsubscribing from marketing communications does not prevent us from sending messages related to an active inquiry, contract, project or other business relationship.
Submitting a project inquiry does not automatically subscribe you to marketing email.

 

4. Cookies and Similar Technologies
The Website may use cookies and related technologies to:
- Keep the Website functioning
- Maintain security
- Remember visitor preferences
- Understand Website traffic and performance
- Measure interactions with pages and forms
- Support analytics or advertising features, when enabled

 

Some cookies are necessary for the Website to function. Other cookies, such as analytics or advertising cookies, may be optional depending on your location and the Website’s configuration.

Where a cookie-consent tool is provided, you can use it to manage nonessential cookies. You can also adjust cookie settings through your browser. Blocking certain cookies may affect how the Website functions.

The Website may not respond to traditional “Do Not Track” browser signals. Where applicable law requires recognition of a supported browser-based opt-out preference, we will process that signal as required.

5. Wix and Other Service Providers
The Website is hosted using Wix. Wix may process Website data on our behalf to provide services including:
- Website hosting
- Security and performance
- Contact and newsletter forms
- Submission storage
- Website analytics
- Email notifications
- Consent management
- Other Website functionality

 

Wix may also collect and process certain information under its own privacy policy.
We may use other service providers for email delivery, analytics, file storage, project management, accounting, customer communication or similar business functions. These providers receive only the information reasonably necessary to perform their services and are subject to their own terms and privacy practices.

6. When Information May Be Shared
We may share personal information with:
- Wix and other Website technology providers
- Email and newsletter providers
- Analytics providers, when enabled
- Contractors or collaborators who need information to support an authorized project
- Professional advisers such as accountants, attorneys or insurers
- Government authorities when disclosure is legally required
- A successor organization in connection with a merger, acquisition, restructuring or sale of business assets

 

We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to protect our rights, investigate fraud, enforce an agreement or protect the safety of others.

 

We do not sell personal information for money.

 

If we later use advertising or tracking technologies that constitute “selling” or “sharing” personal information under an applicable privacy law, we will provide any required notices and opt-out choices.

7. Project Collaborators
Black Crowe Productions may assemble producers, cinematographers, audio professionals, editors, designers and other specialists around an assignment.
When necessary for evaluating, planning or completing an authorized project, relevant client or project information may be shared with those collaborators. We limit that sharing to information reasonably required for the assignment.

8. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including:
- Responding to inquiries
- Evaluating potential work
- Maintaining client and project records
- Providing requested communications
- Meeting legal, tax, accounting or contractual requirements
- Resolving disputes
- Protecting our legitimate business interests

 

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the nature of the relationship.

 

You may request deletion of eligible information as described below. Some information may be retained when required by law or reasonably necessary for legitimate recordkeeping.

9. Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical and organizational measures intended to protect personal information.

No website, storage system or method of electronic transmission is completely secure. We therefore cannot guarantee absolute security.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends that businesses understand what personal information enters through websites and service providers and retain only what is reasonably necessary. 

10. Your Privacy Choices and Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to request:
- Confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you
- Access to certain personal information
- Correction of inaccurate information
- Deletion of eligible information
- A copy of information you provided
- Withdrawal of consent
- Restriction of certain processing
- An objection to certain uses
- Opt-out from certain forms of targeted advertising, selling or sharing
- An appeal of a denied privacy request where applicable

 

To make a privacy request, contact:
Email: privacy@ahrensteis.com
Please include enough information for us to understand and verify the request. We may request additional information when reasonably necessary to confirm identity, protect your information and prevent fraudulent requests.

We will not discriminate against you for exercising a privacy right provided by applicable law.

11. California Visitors
California residents may have additional rights under applicable California privacy laws.
We do not sell personal information for money. If our practices change or if we use technologies that qualify as selling or sharing under California law, we will update this Policy and provide required choices.

California law requires qualifying commercial websites that collect personally identifiable information from California consumers to conspicuously post a privacy policy. California residents may submit a privacy request using the contact information below.

12. Visitors Outside the United States
The Website is operated from the United States. If you access it from another country, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or another country where our service providers operate.

Where applicable, we process personal information based on consent, performance of a contract, legitimate business interests or compliance with legal obligations.

Visitors may contact us to request access, correction, deletion or another right available under applicable law.

13. Children’s Privacy
This Website is intended for business and professional audiences. It is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you believe a child has submitted personal information through the Website, contact us so we can review and delete the information where appropriate.

The FTC identifies services directed to children under 13 that collect personal information as subject to additional COPPA obligations.

14. Third-Party Websites
The Website may contain links to client websites, social platforms, publications, streaming services or other third-party websites.

We are not responsible for the privacy, security, content or practices of websites we do not control. Review the privacy policy of any third-party service before providing information to it.

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15. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in the Website, our services, technology or applicable requirements. The revised version will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Material changes may also be communicated through the Website or another reasonable method when required.