Here's exactly how we use the photos you share, how we protect them, and what we do to make sure every book is safe and appropriate.
Last updated: March 2026
Your photos are removed from our servers as soon as your order is complete — or after 7 days at the latest, even if you never place an order.
Your photos and story details are never used to train or improve any AI model — by us or any of our technology partners.
You see every illustration before you pay. If anything isn't right, you can ask for a new version as many times as you like.
Every story is written to be kind, gentle, and age-appropriate. There is no way to create dark, scary, or inappropriate content on StoryNest.
When you upload a photo of your child (or a family member, or a pet), it is used for one purpose only: creating a consistent illustrated character that looks like them throughout the book.
We look at each photo to understand your child's key features — hair, eyes, skin tone — so their illustrated character stays recognisable from page to page. Your photo is never embedded in the book itself. The result is a stylised watercolour illustration, like seeing your child as a character in a picture book.
Your photos are stored in a private, access-controlled system. Only you and our illustration system can access them. No other user can ever see your files.
Stories are not written from open-ended prompts. Every book follows one of our carefully designed story themes, all built around positive, age-appropriate ideas. There is simply no option to create anything dark, scary, or inappropriate — those choices don't exist on StoryNest.
These rules apply at every stage: to the story text, to each illustration, and to the AI systems we use. Multiple independent safety checks run on every request — our own guidelines, input filters, and the built-in safety systems of our AI technology partners.
Every illustration is a stylised watercolour painting — not a photograph, not a photorealistic image. Characters have large expressive eyes, soft rounded features, and gentle colour fills, like something you'd find in a classic children's picture book.
We aim to reflect your child's key features — hair colour, eye colour, skin tone — but the result is always a charming illustrated version of them, not a digital reproduction of your photo.
You see every illustration before you pay, and you can ask for a new version as many times as you like.
You see every page of the book before purchasing. Ask for changes as many times as you like.
You can delete your photos, your projects, or your entire account at any time from your account settings.
You can request a copy of everything we hold about you by emailing privacy@storynestbook.com.
We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. We never collect information directly from children — all details are provided by a parent or guardian.
We work with a small number of trusted services to deliver your book. Each one receives only the minimum information needed to do their job. We do not sell your data to anyone.
| Service | What they receive | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AI illustration partner | Photos, child's name and age, story preferences | Generating your illustrations |
| Stripe | Payment details | Secure payment processing |
| Lulu | Book files, shipping address | Printing and delivery |
If you have any questions about how we protect your child's data, or if you'd like to exercise any of your rights, please get in touch.
privacy@storynestbook.com