Photography in Church

[jmcrae]

I was reading the thread on applause at Mass, and I wanted to respond to this, but I felt that I should make a new thread, since I’m changing the subject.

it’s [applause at Mass] wrong on so many levels.

1. You are not at a show.
2. the priest is not performing.
   and the list can go on and on.

These are the same reasons I believe that photography is totally inappropriate in Church.

I really hate to see all the cameras come out when kids are being baptized or receiving First Holy Communion. One person even wanted to videotape his child’s First Confession, if you can believe it.

(The Catechist put a sudden stop to that idea when she asked him whether he would mind very much if she videotaped his next Confession. He was horrified, of course, so she said, “Well, why should you want to videotape your child’s First Confession, then?” “oh.” )

I keep wanting to say to these people who are snapping away with the cameras, “Your child is not meeting Mickey Mouse; he is meeting Jesus Christ. This is not a photo-op; this is a Sacrament.”

 

[Ace86]

You make some good points. After my Confirmation, I got to go outside in the Courtyard to meet the Bishop and take a picture then.

 

[acadian]

Our pastor thought that it was important for us to have a photographic record of First Holy Communion. With my first, the parents had numbers, so that we could be in the same order as the kids to snap a picture of our child receiving the Eucharist for the first time. With my second, we had a photographer take the pictures for a small fee. It was probably more dignified than the parents lining up and resulted in a higher quality photograph.

It is an important event in our children’s lives - way more important than other things that rate being photographed.

After Mass, Father posed for pictures outside with the kids. The carwash in the background just was not very pleasing to the eye, however.

We also have pictures of Baptism and wedding pictures. There were pictures taken at the last Ordination. It’s important. We photograph important things.

 

[Brenda_V]

Our pastor thought that it was important for us to have a photographic record of First Holy Communion. With my first, the parents had numbers, so that we could be in the same order as the kids to snap a picture of our child receiving the Eucharist for the first time. With my second, we had a photographer take the pictures for a small fee. It was probably more dignified than the parents lining up and resulted in a higher quality photograph.

It is an important event in our children’s lives - way more important than other things that rate being photographed.

After Mass, Father posed for pictures outside with the kids. The carwash in the background just was not very pleasing to the eye, however.

We also have pictures of Baptism and wedding pictures. There were pictures taken at the last Ordination. It’s important. We photograph important things.

I agree with this assessment. We are by nature visual people, having a visual memory of such an important event is good for us and will be even more important to the next generation - although I do agree that taking pictures of a First Confession is a bit ridiculous.

At my Mother Parish we have one person taking pictures of all the children as they recieve Jesus for the first time and parents can purchase one or a whole set of pictures. The photographer is also there before and after the Masses to take posed pictures of the children individually.

Brenda V.

 

[Rolltide]

I was reading the thread on applause at Mass, and I wanted to respond to this, but I felt that I should make a new thread, since I’m changing the subject.

These are the same reasons I believe that photography is totally inappropriate in Church.

I really hate to see all the cameras come out when kids are being baptized or receiving First Holy Communion. One person even wanted to videotape his child’s First Confession, if you can believe it.

(The Catechist put a sudden stop to that idea when she asked him whether he would mind very much if she videotaped his next Confession. He was horrified, of course, so she said, “Well, why should you want to videotape your child’s First Confession, then?” “oh.” )

I keep wanting to say to these people who are snapping away with the cameras, “Your child is not meeting Mickey Mouse; he is meeting Jesus Christ. This is not a photo-op; this is a Sacrament.”

Yes, but there ARE ways to do this reverentially. Many wedding photographers have learned tricks over the years to be very unintrusive, although to be fair, many have not. I agree there are problems with too many members of the family taking pictures and becoming a distraction.

I don’t see what the problem would be with videotaping the service. If you get permission, set up the camera on a tripod and start it before the Mass, it can run itself. Likewise, one or two NON-FLASH pictures taken discreetly from the pews shouldn’t be that intrusive. This should, of course, be reserved for only FOUR occasions - Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony. Some weddings and baptisms don’t even take place during a Mass, so in those cases, is it really even an issue? It’s not disturbing the sanctity of the Mass. Further, having those photos or videos can provide someone with an incredibly meaningful reminder of what are indeed among the most important occasions of their lives. I know I watch my wedding video all the time, which was discreetly videotaped from a tripod in the balcony and another tripod closer to the front of church (all with permission of course). I suppose if you were REALLY desperate and wanted to be discreet, you could ask to borrow the EWTN chapel!

 

[jmcrae]

Isn’t what’s going on in these Sacraments by nature unphotographable, anyway? The important event that is occuring is not the child eating something, or having water poured on him, (although these are tangible signs of the event) but rather, Christ coming to the child. But having flash bulbs popped in his face at that very moment has to be very distracting, I should think.

At our parish, we don’t permit cameras in the Church during the reception of any Sacrament, but we do permit photographs afterwards, to commemorate the event.

Father is very willing to stand next to the baptismal font and pose for photos while holding a baby that was just baptized, after the baptism is over, but he has no patience for people who try to photograph the Sacrament as it is occurring - he has even been known to turn and stand directly in the way of the shot, if he perceives that someone is trying to sneak a photograph during Baptism.

I happen to agree with his attitude. When I was growing up, it would have been considered unthinkable bad taste to bring a camera to Church, no matter what was going on, since when we’re at Church, we’re meant to be “worshippers” - not “tourists.”

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I was reading the thread on applause at Mass, and I wanted to respond to this, but I felt that I should make a new thread, since I’m changing the subject.

These are the same reasons I believe that photography is totally inappropriate in Church.

I really hate to see all the cameras come out when kids are being baptized or receiving First Holy Communion. One person even wanted to videotape his child’s First Confession, if you can believe it.

(The Catechist put a sudden stop to that idea when she asked him whether he would mind very much if she videotaped his next Confession. He was horrified, of course, so she said, “Well, why should you want to videotape your child’s First Confession, then?” “oh.” )

I keep wanting to say to these people who are snapping away with the cameras, “Your child is not meeting Mickey Mouse; he is meeting Jesus Christ. This is not a photo-op; this is a Sacrament.”

I’m not opposed to one or two people taking a picture or three of a Baptism, Marriage. First Communion and Confirmation could be simply videotaped with one camera in a location that would allow it to “see” those receiving the Sacrament, without getting in the way. Still pictures could then be captured from this tape. I do not like when 10 -30 cameras with flash come out.

 

[thechrismyster]

in my opinion, getting upset over people taking pictures is much ado about nothing.

 

[mystified]

Taking pictures in the church does not have to be intrusive. A good professional can make good, high quality photos without drawing attention to himself. It is the doting relatives that push their way in and distract with excessive equipment and flash.
Some members of the clergy are lienient to a degree, while other are not.
I was once ordered out of a church for simply having a camera in my possession, while at a now-former cathedral a monsenior requested a group of nuns move to allow me and my camera a more advantageous location.
I really do not understand why discreet photography is discouraged inside a church (i.e. the new cathedral in L.A.) when no services are under way.
Retired pro photog

 

[baltobetsy]

I really do not understand why discreet photography is discouraged inside a church (i.e. the new cathedral in L.A.) when no services are under way.

Maybe the people at the new cathedral in L.A. don’t want any more people to know how ugly it is!

Betsy

 

[ble]

I don’t think photography should be prohibited in church. I still have a picture of me receiving First Communion many years ago that I cherished and safely put away. Without that picture, I would have almost no recollection of that wonderful event in my life. That said, I think think photography should be restricted to one main person.

I’m a volunteer photographers for two different churches. Both have different rules. One allows photography inside the church building while the other one does not. It depends on the pastor. For the church that does not allow photography, I usually take pictures outside the building prior to the First Communion event. For the church that allows it, the reason why I came to be the photographer for them is because a few years ago during First Communion and confirmation events, it seems the entire congregation got up, migrate to the altar and start snapping away. The priest was very unhappy so the head catechist asked me to help. Now only only the main photographer is allowed up there and makes for a much nicer service.

Warmest regards,
Ben

 

[chicago]

I’m not opposed to one or two people taking a picture or three of a Baptism, Marriage. First Communion and Confirmation could be simply videotaped with one camera in a location that would allow it to “see” those receiving the Sacrament, without getting in the way.

This has basically been the accomodateable solution at my parish for many years now. The parish hires a videographer for First Communion (and maybe Confirmation, also) who then makes tapes for families that wish to order them. They focus the camera in a particular way on those who are receiving the Sacrament.

Now, that said, I personally don’t see why someone HAS to have a picture of the Sacrament itself taking place. Should there be pictures taken on these special days? Certainly. But what is it that you need to see, that the host is heading in his mouth? I think we can go a little overboard with it all, then. Have a video of the service, take a couple of pictures with the priest or bishop or class afterward. That ought to suffice.

 

[thechrismyster]

I think we can go a little overboard with it all, then. Have a video of the service, take a couple of pictures with the priest or bishop or class afterward. That ought to suffice.

makes me think of the old George Carlin bit:

“all these folks running around now with the digital cameras and film cameras and cameraphones and video cameras taping everything they see and hear…
can any of you think back to the good old days when people used to just ‘remember’ things?”

 

[chicago]

can any of you think back to the good old days when people used to just ‘remember’ things?"

Recently I heard/read somewhere a comment about people touring the Louve. Snapping awaym snapping away. They were “creating a memory” rather than “having an experience” one observer noted. Maybe we should concentrate more on the substance of the event, which will ultimately be more meaningful and last longer than a mere remembrance of an event which may have not mattered very much to you at the time other than it being a special social steppingstone, more for the parents than the kid.

 

[thechrismyster]

Recently I heard/read somewhere a comment about people touring the Louve. Snapping awaym snapping away. They were “creating a memory” rather than “having an experience” one observer noted. Maybe we should concentrate more on the substance of the event, which will ultimately be more meaningful and last longer than a mere remembrance of an event which may have not mattered very much to you at the time other than it being a special social steppingstone, more for the parents than the kid.

The last time i was at the louve the thing i remember most is the taste of the pastries i bought near the opera house and snuck into the louve in my pocket… eating fresh french pastries from your pocket, with the smell of the museum in your nose… looking at the paintings and touching the cold oak bench… cameras wouldn’t capture most of that.

cameras can’t capture the feeling of having to walk back in the rain to your hotel on rue tholoze in montmarte at 2 in the morning on a tuesday, with chinese food in a bag, all the way from near Notre Dame and after walking for 2 hours and ending back where you started because the roads all seem to go in circles and feeling happier than you ever had in your life because you were experiencing something so far outside your known world that you feel like a shell around you had been forever burst by the needle of exploration…mmmemmmoriesssss (my first time in Paris…)
cameras would be completely useless in that situation as well.

 

[ACatholicWife]

I see nothing wrong with photos being taken in the sanctuary as long as the people taking the photos are unobtrusive. Unfortunately, most people who aren’t professional photographers get in the way and take the focus off of the sacrament (and it is most bothersome when they use the flash). Our parish has ***one ***person (a non-professional photographer) who is allowed to take non-flash photos ***during ***the various sacraments Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and then they distribute images for free. Maybe if more parishes offered this service (most parishes have a parishioner who is either a professional or a very good amateur), this would help solve the problem.

I think that photos are a great way to relive a special day/event and to share it with others. Having recently received one of the sacraments (Matrimony), I can say that I would be very if I didn’t have those photos from our wedding ceremony. To have a visual reminder of my father-in-law giving the nuptial blessing is more special to my husband and me than anything else.

I hope than when we are blessed with children, we are able to have photos of their Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, as well as their weddings.

 

[Nekic]

The Parish Sacramental Co-ordinator has a little speech before each first-sacrament mass, including the following paraphrase:
“Please refrain from taking photos or videos during the Mass. One cannot focus on the holiness of what is going on while looking down the lens of a camera.”

This is true, for those in the pews.
If you are hired to take unobtrusive photos, I see no problemo.

 

[jmcrae]

I’m not sure why it would be any less memorable to have the photos taken after the event, instead of right in the middle of it.

All of my photos were taken after the particular events (the Protestant church where I was baptized and got married did not permit photography at all indoors, so all of our wedding photos were taken in the gardens outside - I don’t think I even have a baptism photo, although I still have the little white ribbon that was in my hair, and I have the baptismal certificate) and my memory of them isn’t any less (well, I don’t actually remember being baptized, but the little white ribbon and the certificate tell me just as much as any picture of myself getting water poured on me would tell).

When I received First Confession, Confirmation and First Holy Communion in the Catholic Church, it didn’t even occur to me to bring a camera, so I have one photo that was taken of me and my sponsor at the welcome event afterwards. I kept the name tag, the missal that I was using, and the bulletin that had my name in it, though, and actually they tell the story of what happened a lot better than pictures would.