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  • 1.  Photography in Gardens

    Posted 12-18-2019 01:17 PM

    Our historic house has extensive gardens that are popular with photographers.  At present, we have a policy of charging people to take photos on our campus but it is difficult to enforce because we don't always see the photographers on grounds.  Does anyone have a similar challenge? How do your sites handle this sort of situation?  What are your photo policies in general?  We don't have a gatehouse so guests check in after they've parked and seen the gardens.    

     

     

    Lori Beth Finkelstein, Ph.D.

    Philip Franklin Wagley Director & Curator

    Evergreen Museum & Library

    Johns Hopkins University Museums

    4545 North Charles Street

    Baltimore, MD 21210

    (410) 516-0341 x.106 (museum) | (201) 213-9287 (mobile)

    university-museums.logo.small

     

     

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 2.  RE: Photography in Gardens

    Posted 12-19-2019 07:38 AM
    At our Arboretum, professional photographers are required to purchase a membership. This is well advertised and has been the rule for years. Our security team drives around the grounds regularly monitoring the property and assisting guests.  They will ask a photographer for their membership ID, if it's a professional shoot and the photographer is unfamiliar to them.  If they do not have one, Security asks them to purchase a membership on the spot or up in our Visitors Center after the shoot is over.
    If the photographer wants to keep your garden as a shooting site for their clients, they should oblige.

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    Leslie Wagner
    Historian
    Dawes Arboretum
    Newark OH
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    Original Message
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  • 3.  RE: Photography in Gardens

    Posted 12-19-2019 08:58 AM
    Hi Lori--

    Here's the policy for the Baltimore Museum of Industry.  Like you, we have a tough time enforcing outdoor photography since we often don't see the shoots until they're underway. Our policy is more focused on distinguishing personal from professional work.  We have a fee schedule on our website for anyone wanting to shoot photos to to be used for anything other than personal use.  The exception is event rentals where couples hire a professional photographer.  Feel free to get in touch with any questions.

    Photography for personal use is allowed in the museum using hand-held cameras. Tripods are not allowed. Personal use is defined as non-professional and not to be published or used for profit.  The museum interior and exterior exhibits are considered the museum's intellectual property and therefore photography other than personal use is not allowed without permission and is subject to our Fee Schedule, available at www.thebmi.org.  

    Claire Mullins
    Director of Marketing & Events 
    Baltimore Museum of Industry
    cmullins@thebmi.org 



    ------------------------------
    Anita Kassof
    Executive Director
    Baltimore Museum of Industry
    Baltimore MD
    ------------------------------

    Original Message
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  • 4.  RE: Photography in Gardens

    Posted 12-19-2019 09:47 AM
    I'm speaking just as a visitor- close to where I work there is the Kauffman Memorial Garden; they have signs posted that say the following (from the news article about it):


    "Effective July 1, 2015, portrait photography will be prohibited in the Kauffman Memorial Garden. This applies to individuals, groups and professional photographers visiting the garden for the sole purpose of organized photo sessions. These sessions have damaged property and disrupted the peace and tranquility that we want to provide for our guests.

    "You are welcome to take snapshots of the stunning beauty of the garden during your visit."

    I've seen them staff volunteers and have seen them ask a session to quit (and then, when they didn't, they were asked to leave.)  It is a very small garden that's free of charge.

    ------------------------------
    Elizabeth Davis
    ------------------------------

    Original Message
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  • 5.  RE: Photography in Gardens

    Posted 12-19-2019 10:27 AM

    Hi Lori,

     

    Great question!

     

    Here at the New York Botanical Garden, we have a strict photo policy. Anyone who enters the grounds is free to take photos with a phone or camera, but any professional photography, fashion photo shoots, and special occasion portraits require a permit.

     

    We have security staff that are trained and taught to approach patrons that appear to be staging a photography shoot (versus a visitor taking a selfie with the collections). We have a marketing representative who is the main point of contact for visitors who are wishing to have a proper photoshoot. They are encouraged to reach out 4-6 weeks prior to their scheduled visit.

     

    Staff normally looks out for visitors seen changing outfits, using tripods, or large groups of individuals dressed similarly as signs of professional photography shoots.

     

    Trying to stop visitors with iphones is definitely challenging, if not impossible. Do you charge visitors entry to the grounds? That's why we are lenient with iphone photography. If the revenue you generate from charging photographers is not significant, perhaps you can instead charge a general entry fee with the understanding that this is a private collection and anyone granted access will be taking photos?

     

    Thanks,

    Billy

    ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑ 
    William
    		Unotti
    Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator
    The New York Botanical Garden
    2900 Southern Boulevard
    Bronx, NY 10458
    O: 718.817.8135
    wunotti@nybg.org
    nybg.org
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    Original Message
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  • 6.  RE: Photography in Gardens

    Posted 12-19-2019 02:46 PM
    We have exactly the same issue but have not solved the problem, nor do we think we can. We've basically committed to an honor system. When someone tells us, "You know, I could just show up there and take my photos", we explain that that may be true, but for the fee, we make sure they are not double booked with anyone, and we give them all sorts of recommendations with regard to staging the photos, (best time of day, locations in the garden, what's in bloom at what time, et al). We also explain that we're a non profit so their fee goes to a good cause.  Anyone else have a good answer?

    ------------------------------
    Dawn Salerno
    Executive Director
    Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum
    New Bedford MA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message
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  • 7.  RE: Photography in Gardens

    Posted 12-19-2019 04:21 PM
    Edited by William Unotti 12-19-2019 04:23 PM
    I am sending this thread over to other members of the team to see if they wish to chime in.

    Thanks,
    Billy

    William
    		Unotti
    Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator
    The New York Botanical Garden
    2900 Southern Boulevard
    Bronx, NY 10458
    O:  718.817. 8135
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 8.  RE: Photography in Gardens

    Posted 12-20-2019 01:54 PM
    Very, very interesting discussion.

    Thanks all.

    James Bryant
    SOJOURN Science - Nature - Education
    Santa Fe, NM
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bryant-0598a940/


    Original Message
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 9.  RE: Photography in Gardens

    Posted 12-26-2019 11:18 AM
    Hi Lori, 

    The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria has been a very popular spot for photography for years. We've almost perfected our photography policy and guidelines.

    We require that patrons pay a fee of $100/hr either online in advance or at the Visitors' Center for any professional shoots. We define Professional Photography as: 1) receiving compensation for taking pictures (money or barter), 2) taking images for promotional purposes, 3) portrait or posed photos, 4) professional photography equipment present such as tripods, lights, reflector shields, etc. 

    Our full policy is here: https://thecontemporaryaustin.org/static/media/2019/06/LagunaGloria_Photography_Procedures_Guidelines_2019-1.pdf

    When photographers arrive, they are instructed to pick up their photographer credentials at the Visitors' Center (a lanyard ID). Our security guards are to look out for these lanyards when they see sessions happening. If they photographer does not have one, they are instructed kindly to head to the Visitors' Center to pay the fee. 

    I hope this helps!

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    Margie Rine
    Development Director
    The Contemporary Austin
    Austin TX
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    Original Message
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