Photographing inside churches

vulcan57

I'm just what people think on the matter of taking pictures inside churchs and cathedrals. There are a lot of beautiful interiors in these buildings but I have always been a bit uneasy of going into a church, outside of any mass, to take pictures. Keep thinking there is something not right about waltzing in, setting up a tripod and camera, an taking pictures. should you ask permission first? or is it OK to do it anyway? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Aineoil

I'd seek permission first, as a matter of politeness.

Deadlie

Yeah, churches are rarely open these days without reason.

I remember hearing off a pal who did an impromptu shoot in a church with a band - they got burgers ran in, shot a few pics of them eating in a church and as they were wrapping up, a funeral procession started to make it's way in. I'd be mortified in a situation like that!

MysticalRain

It's a delicate situation alright. I was doing something similar myself in a cathedral the other day. The click-clack of a DSLR can sound really loud in a large building like a church, especially when bracketing for HDR shots.

The approach I tend to take is to wait until the church is as empty as possible, be as discreet as you can setting up your tripod (maybe unfold the legs outside the door in the street if you are really worried about upsetting the decorum), and then just shoot-and-scoot before too many people give you the evil eye. Might be a good idea to use your camera's Quiet Shutter Release mode too if it has it.