Do you need a child's photo?
Not always. Some books work from a name and selected character features; others use a photo to guide illustrations. If a photo is requested, check what happens to it after the book is made and whether you can remove it. Think about the child's comfort too: would they enjoy seeing a recognisable likeness, or prefer an imagined character?
For now, our waitlist asks for no photos and no children's names. If we offer photo-based personalisation later, we'll explain the process before asking for anything.
Give the details a job in the story.
A list of names is not the same as a shared adventure. If Grandpa appears, perhaps he knows the way; if the dog appears, perhaps their excellent nose spots a clue. In our fictional Melbourne preview, the child, Mum and Biscuit follow a tiny star home together. The point is the bond, not the number of fields on a form.