Taking photographs of children

D e e

I hope I posted this in the right section..

Basically my sister goes to drama school and they had their first show tonight in a theatre so I brought along my camera (DSLR & fancy lenses) to get some good snaps of her.
After 2 songs the host came out to remind everyone about the emergency exits
and to tell us all to put cameras/video recorders away as it is illegal to take pictures of a child without their parents permission....? Obviously my mother approved as she was sitting next to me, video recorder in hand, but we all had to put them away.
Does this law really exist? I could understand if the kids were wearing unappropriate clothing or something but they weren't and the theatre was full of family of the students taking part in the show.
I'm just wondering if such a law actually exists or if they are just saying it so we all have to buy the DVD they are making of the show..

RinkyDinkSlink

I've heard this from other people before. I don't think it's an actual law, just another example of our over-protective society going further into insanity. 'The little ones are too precious to possibly be photographed as every man's a BAD MAN and out to get the kiddies.' Madness :rolleyes:

You're in their theatre, so you must follow their policies regarding photography.


You could always request permission to take photos in advance, as they might let you then, but if they say no photography, then that's about all there is to it, as far as I know.

D e e

Deleted User wrote: »

You're in their theatre, so you must follow their policies regarding photography.


You could always request permission to take photos in advance, as they might let you then, but if they say no photography, then that's about all there is to it, as far as I know.

thanks for the reply, I have been to shows in that theatre before when I was in school and photography was allowed so it's definitely not theatre policy, I wasn't going to question them about it just curious if it's an actual law!

D e e

RinkyDinkSlink wrote: »

I've heard this from other people before. I don't think it's an actual law, just another example of our over-protective society going further into insanity. 'The little ones are too precious to possibly be photographed as every man's a BAD MAN and out to get the kiddies.' Madness :rolleyes:

It's weird.. We weren't allowed take photos or videos but we are allowed buy their DVD of the show.. Every single person in the theatre had the option to buy it. Just didn't make sense and I found it hard to believe it was an actual law! Company policy maybe.

challengemaster

Nope, no law. Just over protectiveness ruining things yet again..

D e e

challengemaster wrote: »

Nope, no law. Just over protectiveness ruining things yet again..

Thanks for the reply.. What a ridiculous policy! I understand people wanting to protect their kids but this seems OTT

mikemac

I've had this before

I worked as a GAA coach at summer camps and yes, I have garda clearance.....and amazing hurling skills :cool:

I've been on the sidelines taking photos. And was approached by outraged parents demanding to know what I was I doing? Did my jersey and shorts not give away that I was here working every day in the summer?

Realy if i worked for the local paper and was writing little Johnny or Mary was a future inter county star I'd doubt I'd have any objections.

I had garda clearance, references from my boss and still I got treated as some low life suspect

Stroll over to the photography forum. There are people who take shots of sports days and take hassle from outraged parents. Outraged over what????

Statistics prove the person most likely to hurt a child is already known to the family.

PopUp

D e e wrote: »

I'm just wondering if such a law actually exists or if they are just saying it so we all have to buy the DVD they are making of the show..

Bingo.

The 'child protection' angle is rubbish, it's a moneymaking thing for them.

looksee

It could also stop endless flashes all through the show, and people standing up to get a good shot!

I agree though, it was mostly to do with selling the cd.

I was at a formal-ish occasion recently - presentation of awards - and one fond mammy had given her small child a flash camera to play with, so he was wandering around taking random photographs of the audience, with the flash on. Also getting in the way of other people trying to photograph their awardees as they came down from the stage. Mammy watched with a fond smile on her face and glanced round looking for approval of her little dear. Silly woman behind her was humouring her so everyone else's glares were wasted.:rolleyes:

PCPhoto

D e e wrote: »

I hope I posted this in the right section..

Basically my sister goes to drama school and they had their first show tonight in a theatre so I brought along my camera (DSLR & fancy lenses) to get some good snaps of her.
After 2 songs the host came out to remind everyone about the emergency exits
and to tell us all to put cameras/video recorders away as it is illegal to take pictures of a child without their parents permission....? Obviously my mother approved as she was sitting next to me, video recorder in hand, but we all had to put them away.
Does this law really exist? I could understand if the kids were wearing unappropriate clothing or something but they weren't and the theatre was full of family of the students taking part in the show.
I'm just wondering if such a law actually exists or if they are just saying it so we all have to buy the DVD they are making of the show..

The law states that its illegal to use an image of any person - if the image was taken on a private residence as there is an expectation of privacy....it is not illegal to take a photograph of a person.... however as KKV said - its probably theatre rules (not a law).

there's nothing that can be done about it now - if you had thought about it at the time you could have brought it to their attention that theres a man video taping the whole thing (probably a man..I dont know) .... if you are not allowed to take photos why is he allowed to video tape your niece, if they say he has permission to be there - ask for proof he has permission (written consent) from EVERY parent.

I work as a photographer and have been photographing schoolboy soccer for over 6yrs .... so have occasionally come across parents asking me what I'm doing - most of the time they want me to send on copies.... claiming its only an email ... I usually respond telling them they would need to contact the newspaper.

D e e

Thanks for the replies everyone. Before the show began we were all told to make sure we didn't use flashes on our cameras during the show so I'm sure that wasn't the issue. They didn't announce that we couldn't use cameras until about 2 songs in so i think maybe one of them seen I had professional equipment and didn't want to lose any business for their DVD, not that they would have because i was planning on giving them copies of all the photographs! Oh well, next time I'm going to an event involving children I'll be sure to get pre-clearance!

Sleepy

Or just bring the camera, turn off the flash, lock your mirror and work away at your leisure

It's one of those things that some parents have very strong opinions on so it wouldn't surprise me to hear that one of the audience "informed" the organisers of this non-existanat "law" in order to get their own way.

Reloc8

PCPhoto wrote: »

The law states that its illegal to use an image of any person

What law ?

Zombrex

this is a good summary

http://www.digitalrights.ie/2006/05/09/photographers-rights/

again take all legal advice with a grain of salt unless you are paying a solicitor to give you it.:pac: