Cookie Policy

1) What cookies are

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They allow the website to recognize your browser and remember certain information. Some cookies are required for basic functionality, while others help measure usage or support advertising.

In addition to cookies, websites may use similar technologies such as pixel tags (small pieces of code that can record a page view or conversion event), local storage, or server-side event logging. In this policy, we refer to all of these technologies as “cookies” for simplicity, unless we specify otherwise.

2) Cookie lifespans and types

Cookies can be classified by how long they remain on your device:

• Session cookies expire when you close your browser. They are often used to keep a session active while you navigate between pages.
• Persistent cookies remain on your device until they expire or you delete them. They are often used to remember preferences (such as cookie consent choices) or to measure returning visits.

Cookies can also be classified by who sets them:

• First-party cookies are set by this website (Riko Photography Academy).
• Third-party cookies are set by services we may use (for example, analytics or advertising providers). These cookies can be read by the third-party domain that set them and are governed by that provider’s policies.

3) How we use cookies (three categories)

We group cookies into the categories below. These categories match the options you see in our cookie banner and cookie preferences panel. In the Netherlands and other EEA jurisdictions, analytics and marketing cookies are only activated after you provide consent.

A) Essential cookies (always active)

Essential cookies are required for the website to function reliably and securely. They support basic features such as session continuity and storing your cookie consent choice. Because these cookies are necessary for the service you request when you visit our site, they do not require opt-in consent in the EEA.

Essential cookies also help with security and fraud prevention. For example, we may use technical measures that detect abusive traffic patterns, protect forms from automated submissions, and keep the site stable during heavy traffic.

B) Analytics cookies (consent required)

Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors use the site so we can improve navigation, content clarity, and performance. For example, we may measure which pages are visited most often, the time spent on certain pages, and whether visitors reach important sections such as course information or the contact form.

When enabled, our analytics setup is intended to be privacy-respecting (for example, with IP anonymization where available). We use analytics reports in aggregate and do not attempt to identify individual visitors from analytics data.

C) Marketing cookies (consent required)

Marketing cookies are used to measure the effectiveness of advertising and to support remarketing. For example, these cookies can help attribute a course inquiry to an ad campaign and can enable ad platforms to show relevant ads to people who have previously visited our site (remarketing). Marketing cookies may also support building audiences such as custom audiences and lookalike audiences.

Marketing features are only activated when you opt in. If you choose “Reject Non-Essential,” we will not enable marketing cookies through our consent system. If third-party advertising cookies exist on your device for other reasons (for example, from prior browsing or from scripts you accept later), you can remove them using your browser settings as described below.

4) Cookie table

The table below lists the cookies we may use on this site. Some cookies listed here may only appear when you enable a category (analytics or marketing). Retention periods can vary by provider and configuration, but the values below reflect typical lifetimes.

Note: Some cookies shown above are associated with Google and Meta tooling that may be added after generation as part of advertising measurement. Our site’s cookie consent system is designed so that analytics and marketing tools are only activated after consent is provided.

5) Third-party providers

When analytics or marketing cookies are enabled, data may be processed by the providers listed below. We use these services to measure site performance and advertising results. We do not permit these providers to use site data for their own independent commercial purposes.

• Google LLC (Google Analytics 4, Google Ads, Google Tag Manager)
• Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta Pixel and related conversion measurement tools)
• Cloudflare, Inc. (content delivery network and security services)

If you enable marketing cookies, some providers may process data outside the EEA. Where relevant, transfer mechanisms may include the EU–US Data Privacy Framework and, where needed, Standard Contractual Clauses.

6) Managing your cookie preferences

You can control cookies in three main ways:

• On this website: use the cookie banner or open the cookie preferences panel via “Manage cookie preferences” in the footer.
• In your browser: most browsers let you delete cookies and block future cookies. Blocking essential cookies may prevent parts of the website from working.
• Provider controls: some providers offer opt-out tools for analytics and advertising preferences.

If you want to use provider-level controls, the following links may be helpful:

• Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Google Ads Settings
• Meta Ad Preferences
• Your Online Choices (EU)

If you withdraw consent using our cookie preferences panel, the withdrawal applies going forward. It does not affect processing that already took place while your consent was active.

7) Changes to this Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes to the site, our cookie usage, or legal requirements in the Netherlands and the EEA. If changes are material, we will provide a prominent notice on the website before the updated policy takes effect.

8) Contact

If you have questions about cookies or privacy, contact:

• Riko B.V. (operating as Riko Photography Academy)
• Damstraat 4, 2011 HA Haarlem, Netherlands
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +31 23 205 1128