Mont Arbor Privacy & AI Policy

Last Updated: August 2026

A note from our family: We are deeply concerned with the changes taking place in the age of Al. Complex issues like the erosion of privacy, the mass removal of human talent from creative pipelines, and the blatant corporate disregard for personal creative control and individual brand ownership is astounding. As a studio of woodworkers and craftsmen, we can't change Silicon Valley, but we can promise our customers and site visitors that we will not sell your data, misrepresent our work, or use your photos and stories (including with AI) without your permission. God help us all.

Artificial intelligence

Our AI & Authentic Content Commitment

In an era of mass-generated digital content, Mont Arbor is committed to absolute transparency, human relationships, and authentic craftsmanship across our studio and digital platforms:

  • 100% Human Customer Service: We never use AI chatbots, automated agents, or synthetic messaging systems to interact with our clients. When you call, email, or message our studio, you are always speaking directly with a real artisan who understands the care required for memorial work. We treat every client with deep respect and ask for kindness and patience in return.

  • Authentic Studio Imagery & No AI Photo Editing: Every sculpture, lathe-turned vessel, ceramic piece, and carved relief shown on our site is an authentic photograph of real physical work crafted in our studio. We do not use AI generation, synthetic renders, or AI-based photo manipulation to alter our product photos or misrepresent our finished craftsmanship.

  • Proprietary Studio Design Tools: During the initial modeling and design phases of your urn, we utilize unique, proprietary software developed for our relief-carving workflows that use your photos to help us visualize the relief we will create for you. All design files, 3D toolpaths, and project parameters remain securely locked within our internal systems. Your photos and stories are safe. They are never shared with third parties, and are not publicly accessible.

  • Human-Written Insights: Our journal entries, guides, and educational articles are written directly by us. Every technique, sizing recommendation, and material comparison comes from our hands-on experience and lessons learned directly at the lathe, workbench, and kiln.

  • What we DO use AI for: We use some AI tools to condense and clarify the written content of this website to make sure it is as accessible and concise as possible. Usually that means reducing the word count, suggesting structure or SEO elements, or changing wood-shop lingo. This practice may change, and is being evaluated against updates to state/federal AI policy. Please contact us if you want to know more, but remember, you are talking to a real person, so please be kind.

Customer photo use

Customer Photographs & Reference Files

We understand the sentimental and deeply personal nature of the reference photos you share with us.

  • Strictly for Sculpting: Reference photos provided during your order or consultation are used exclusively by our artisans to model and carve your custom relief portrait.

  • Deletion Policy: Once your commission is completed and delivered, your reference files are permanently deleted from our working systems unless you have given us permission during checkout to retain them to show on our gallery or website.

  • Website Gallery & Case Studies: We will never post, publish, or display your reference photos or the finished piece as a "before-and-after" comparison on our website or social channels unless you have granted us permission.

Privacy and data

Data Collection & Usage

We collect only the minimum information necessary to process your commissions and operate our online store:

  • Orders & Transactions: We collect standard contact and billing details (such as name, email address, phone number, and shipping address) strictly to fulfill orders, communicate project milestones, and maintain required accounting and legal tax records.

  • Payment Security: Payment details are processed securely through encrypted, industry-standard payment processors. We do not store or retain complete credit card numbers on our servers.

  • Technical & Analytics Data: We collect basic analytical and technical data (such as page views, device type, and browser cookies) solely to maintain site functionality, prevent fraud, and optimize store performance.

We Never Sell Your Data

Your privacy is not a commodity. We do not sell, rent, monetize, or trade your personal information, contact details, or reference photographs to third-party data brokers, marketers, or advertisers under any circumstances. Data is only shared with essential service providers (such as shipping carriers and secure payment gateways) strictly to fulfill your order.

Contact Our Studio

If you have questions about your data, wish to request the removal of your contact information, or need to update your project details, please reach out directly: