Advertising Disclosure

Affiliate Program Participation

Urbanshot participates in various affiliate marketing programs. When we recommend photography equipment, books, software, or other products and services, some of these recommendations may include affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Our affiliate partnerships include relationships with camera equipment retailers, online learning platforms, photography software providers, and travel services relevant to street photography education.

Commission-Based Link Explanations

Commission-based links work as follows:

• When you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, the retailer pays us a small percentage of the sale
• Commission rates typically range from 3% to 15% depending on the product category and affiliate program
• You pay the same price whether you use our affiliate link or visit the retailer directly
• Commissions help support our educational content creation and website maintenance

Product Recommendation Policies

Our product recommendations are based on:

• Actual experience and testing by our instructors in real street photography scenarios
• Suitability for different skill levels and photography styles
• Value proposition considering price, durability, and performance
• Student feedback and results achieved with recommended equipment

We do not recommend products solely because they offer higher affiliate commissions. If a non-affiliate product better serves our students' needs, we will recommend it regardless of financial considerations.

Financial Relationship Transparency

Where affiliate relationships exist, we clearly identify them using phrases such as "affiliate link," "we may earn a commission," or similar disclosure language. This transparency allows you to make informed decisions about following our recommendations and understanding potential financial motivations behind product suggestions.

Identification of Paid Content

Occasionally, we may publish sponsored content, including articles, tutorials, or reviews created in partnership with brands, manufacturers, or service providers. All sponsored content is clearly labeled with designations such as "Sponsored," "Paid Partnership," "In Collaboration With," or similar transparent identifiers at the beginning of the content.

Sponsored Post Labeling Policies

Our sponsored content labeling practices include:

• Prominent disclosure at the top of any sponsored article or tutorial
• Clear identification of the sponsoring brand or organization
• Visual indicators distinguishing sponsored from regular editorial content
• Consistent labeling across all platforms and content formats

Brand Partnership Disclosures

When we enter longer-term brand partnerships, we disclose these relationships prominently. Brand partnerships may involve ongoing collaborations where we receive equipment, services, or financial compensation in exchange for content creation, product testing, or educational program development. These partnerships do not compromise our commitment to providing honest assessments and educational value.

Content Authenticity Guarantees

Even when content is sponsored, we maintain editorial independence regarding our opinions, recommendations, and educational approach. Sponsors may provide compensation, products, or services, but they do not dictate our content, conclusions, or teaching methods. If a sponsored product does not meet our standards, we will communicate this honestly to our audience.

Display Advertising Networks

Our website may display advertisements served by third-party advertising networks. These networks include Google AdSense, photography industry ad exchanges, and other reputable advertising platforms. Display advertisements are clearly distinguishable from our original content through visual formatting, borders, or explicit "Advertisement" labels.

Behavioral Targeting Disclosure

Third-party advertising networks may use behavioral targeting to display relevant advertisements based on your browsing history, interests, and online activity. This targeting is conducted by the advertising networks themselves, not by Urbanshot. These networks may use cookies and similar technologies to collect data for advertising purposes.

Cookie Usage for Advertising

Advertising networks use cookies to:

• Track your visits to our website and other sites across the internet
• Build profiles of your interests based on page views and interactions
• Serve personalized advertisements that align with your apparent interests
• Measure advertising effectiveness and optimize ad delivery

For detailed information about cookie usage, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

Ad Personalization Practices

Advertising personalization aims to show you relevant ads rather than generic promotions. However, you have control over ad personalization through your browser settings, advertising network opt-out tools, and cookie preferences. We respect your choices regarding personalized advertising and provide options to manage these preferences.

Ad Preference Management Options

You can manage your advertising preferences through several methods:

• Adjust cookie settings through our Cookie Policy page or cookie banner
• Use browser privacy settings to block third-party cookies
• Visit advertising network opt-out pages to disable personalized advertising
• Install browser extensions designed to block advertising trackers

Opt-Out Procedures

To opt out of personalized advertising:

• Visit the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page to disable tracking by participating advertising networks
• Use Google Ads Settings to control Google's advertising personalization
• Enable "Do Not Track" in your browser settings, though effectiveness varies by advertiser
• Contact us if you need assistance managing advertising preferences specific to our website

Data Collection for Advertising Purposes

Advertising networks may collect information such as IP addresses, browser types, device identifiers, pages visited, time spent on pages, and interaction patterns. This data is used to serve targeted advertisements and measure campaign effectiveness. Data collection practices are governed by the respective advertising networks' privacy policies.

Rights Under Privacy Regulations

Depending on your location, you may have specific rights regarding advertising data collection under regulations such as GDPR or similar privacy laws. These rights may include accessing data collected about you, requesting deletion of advertising profiles, or objecting to certain processing activities. Please refer to our Privacy Policy and contact us for assistance exercising these rights.

Review and Endorsement Policies

When we review photography equipment or services, we disclose whether products were provided for free, purchased independently, or received as part of affiliate or partnership arrangements. Our reviews reflect genuine experiences and opinions, regardless of how products were obtained. We do not guarantee positive reviews in exchange for free products or compensation.

Income Transparency

Revenue generated through affiliate links, sponsored content, and advertising helps support Urbanshot's operations, including website maintenance, content creation, and course development. While we appreciate this support, it does not influence our educational content, teaching methods, or course structure.

Changes to Advertising Relationships

Our advertising relationships may change over time as we explore partnerships that align with our educational mission and community values. Significant changes to our advertising disclosure policy will be communicated through updates to this page with revised dates. We encourage you to review this disclosure periodically.

Contact for Advertising Questions

If you have questions about our advertising relationships, affiliate partnerships, or disclosure practices, please contact us using the information on our Contact page. We are committed to addressing your concerns and maintaining transparency in all advertising-related matters.