When it comes to taking photos or video recordings of people, in most cases you’ll need verbal or written consent for these photos or videos to be posted online.
You’ll need to let people know that the photos or videos may be shared with the public, by uploading them to social media and other websites.
If you are looking to obtain written consent, the templates below may be useful:
GDPR and Photos
In terms of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and using photos or videos of people, valid consent must be freely given, with genuine choice and control. A consent form must be specific and easy to understand, and there has to be a clear way of the individual stating that they agree, such as a place to sign that they give their consent.
It’s also important to note that there are no specific timescales for expiry of consent in GDPR – consent can be withdrawn at any time. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a clear record of consent, including who, when, what and how.
For more information, you can visit the Information Commissioner’s Office website.
Do You Need Written Consent?
The Church of England states that best practise is to obtain written consent for photography/filming for everyone, which means parental/carer consent for under 17s and vulnerable adults. Find advice here.
For close-up shots, where someone is clearly identifiable, consent must always be obtained, including for staff and volunteers. However, it is slightly different when it comes to taking wide angle lens shots of activities in churches with lots of people in the photo. The national church’s Safer Environment and
Activities guidance particularly addresses the issue of photographing children:
Consent is not needed if children appear in a wide-angle group photograph in a public space (for instance, a photograph of the church fete). A church is not a public place in this sense but there may still be occasions when it would not be reasonable, practical or proportionate to secure consent for every individual child who appears in the photograph. In these circumstances, organisers should make clear to all participants and parents that these kinds of images will be taken, and for what purposes. For instance , if the event is a church service, nativity play or similar, then a verbal notice can be given out at the beginning for the leader of the service or event, asking that any parent who objects to images being made of their child should either remove their child from view of the camera or approach the leader afterwards to ensure that any image they object to is not used. Consent can also be implied; if an activity leader invites people to be part of a group photograph, then those who gather for the photograph have given their consent by virtue of having done so.
Best practice advice for taking photos at an event includes:
- Tell the community you are taking photos in advance
- Include it as a notice in church newsletters/notice sheets beforehand
- On the day put signs up in the building saying photos are being taken and who to contact if they don’t want to be in them
- On the day give a notice at the start of the service saying photography is being taken and point out the photographer so people know who he/she is
- Say to people that if they do not want to appear in photos they need to speak to the photographer
- Give out colourful lanyards (or something similar) for people not wanting to be in photos
- Create a designated zone for people not wanting to be in photos to sit in
- Avoid all filming and photography during things like communion, when people may move from the designated areas
- Bear in mind that we don’t know everyone’s circumstances, and there could be people in your congregation who cannot be identified for legal/safeguarding reasons
Filming in Your Church
If you have been approached about filming inside your church, the below template can be used to confirm various details: