Uk Law Taking images inside a church at a wedding?!

[Pollyanna]

Hi All, having shot many Weddings and Christenings in church's, I was most surprised at the weekend to be repremanded by a reverend of a methodists church, after having taken a few random shots of bridesmaids, while the bride and groom where off signing the registers. :o

She said not so politely, that I had broken the Child Protections Laws of the UK by taking images INSIDE the church??! (outside on the grounds is apparently ok). She advised me that she would have had to request permission from each and every parent at least 7 days prior to the wedding to allow me to do so, and that I should have known this as a professional wedding photographer!

I am confussed? I have never had an issue before from vicar, reverend, minister or alike, having shot many Weddings and Christenings.

The images are posted on my site, and passcoded, for the bride and Groom and guests to view.

Am I missing a bit of vital information? Just very curious so I can cover my own back in future if this is the Law.

Yours Inquisitively - Anna:confused:

[RobKirkwood]

News to me - never come across this - I'm not aware of any UK child protection laws that specifically refer to weddings. As I understand it there's a general acceptance that anyone who attends a wedding is going to have their photo taken - an implied consent.

I suspect she's getting confused by their own internal procedures for photographing their own events at the church which may well require parental consent and signed releases.

We've shot commercial stuff with large numbers of children for organisations (YMCA and the like) where parental consent and signed releases have been required, but never encountered this issue in a church at a wedding ...but we do try to talk with pastor/vicar/whoever in advance of a wedding just to check any issues they might have.

Rob

[Bursar]

She's getting worked up over nothing from what I can tell.

Taken from here: http://www.sirimo.co.uk/ukpr.php/2004/11/19/uk_photographers_rights_guide#c53

In general terms the laws relating to privacy and to data protection apply to children exactly as they apply to adults. The exceptions, children involved in court proceedings and indecent photographs. Thus, taking a photograph of a child in a public place, where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, is no different from taking a photograph of an adult in the same circumstances.

Ofcourse IANAL, but I'd imagine she'd be hard pressed to make any kind of case if you were there either as the paid photographer or a guest.

[_Ash_]

Sounds to me like she's covering HER own back. Not once has any vicar/reverend said that to me. I can understand them possibly not wanting you to shoot the register and, or so I was told during the vows as not to put the bride and groom off !!!

Maybe, after some of the things that churches have been up to of late, she wants to appear squeaky clean...

[Nanscombe]

Hi Anna,

It could be a Church child protection policy such as http://www.watton.org/abuse/policy/ , based on UK Government guidelines, ie yet another way to protect kids.

Regards
Nigel

[forcebender]

Sounds like someone playing lawyer when they shouldn't be.

Also sounds like a generally stupid law - at a certain point, it will be against the law to take a picture of any kid other than your own, regardless of the shooter or situation. My god - a pedo might actually look at a picture of my child and have no idea who they are, the world is coming to an end!!!

[Faolan]

The only enforceable law is this:

http://www.iwf.org.uk/police/page.22.36.htm

The Church is private property (in most cases) but you may have to confirm this with a solicitor.

http://www.sirimo.co.uk/ukpr.php

It maybe worthwhile getting one of these (or the equivilant)

http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/

[Gary_Evans]

Your vicar is wrong. Full stop.

[Pollyanna]

Thank you for your comments which were all very helpful. I shall look into Faolan's links, and shall worry about it no further. - Kind Regards