Elizabeth Halford Photography {the blog} » pho•to•gra•phy {in real.plain.english}

I’m a photographer and a teacher and I didn’t take offense.  Your work – and your advice – is always wonderful!

Totally knew where you were coming from and your intentions.  No apology required. (From a photog and teacher)

I just appreciate that there are extraordinarily talented photographers out there like you who are WILLING to teach newbies like me!  I tried to learn the traditional way (sitting in a classroom), but I’m too visual and kinetic of a learner…I need to “see” how to do it or go through the motions…you are truly blessed with the ability to explain things in a way I can comprehend.  I think it was obvious (to me at least) that you do not disdain teachers, but rather you recognize that there is a society of knowledgeable people out there who are not good at sharing unless they’re being paid. 

I completely understood what you meant in your original post.  I do understand both sides of this story, though, and I admire how you have handled the issue.  As an educator, I wasn’t offended, but I am so grateful that you have offered another perspective for others who feel that way.  By the way, I think you are fantastic teacher helping so many of us and I loved that particular post about “who gets to call themselves a professional, anyway?”  It was inspirational and just what I needed to read at the time.  Many thanks!   

I love your blog!  I really wish I could meet you in person.  All of this discussion on who can call themselves “professional” is really starting to get old to me.  I don’t call myself a “pro” but others do.  By some standards I am and some I am not. I find you and others like you more professional than the ones who set up a site to bash people who want to follow a dream.  Instead of make fun of them why don’t they help?  Because it is easier to sit at a computer and make fun than it would be to say all those nasty comments outright.  As for me, I look back and see where I have been.  What I am most interested in is the path on where I am going.  

Well said! 

Great post!  And very valid points. I think you should forward this on to the headmistress.

Love this article!!  I think it is a wake up call to those of us in the US who are gradually letting small freedoms be taken from us and we are not even kicking and screaming.  We forget that our friends across the pond are already enduring what we don’t think is possible here….. 

Well written Elizabeth. I agree with you.  I lived in the UK for 11 years and moved back to NZ in 1997.  so much has changed there that it saddens me to see PC’s gone mad in the place I called home for so long.  We only had our youngest daughters primary prizegiving last night (her last time at primary).  I actually took a photo of all the parents arms up in the air holiding little cameras, big camera’s, and camcorders.  Their pics of the kids with teatowels tied on their heads will mostly have the backs of other parents heads in their shots, but they want that image of their wee one up on stage singing Silent night.  Good on you for taking the photo anyway.  To capture that joy on your sons face at his baptism is something you will never get again.

im i the US and a friend was practically accosted by the faculty at her son’s school when she dared to photograph him in his school play “district policy” they claimed. Um, no. I dont think so.

Here in Florida they are trying to take away our right to photograph private property from a public right of way. So if you see that AMAZING sunset and you just want to capture it? It could potentially be a felony b/c it happens to be setting over a private farm.

Ive already determined that in some ways, i will be perfectly content to be a criminal.

I’m so glad you posted this.  I think that the rules that are forced upon us as parents with cameras (with our without our photographer hats on) are becoming ridiculous.  We took my older boys to their first hockey game a while back and I took my little SLR (we’re talking the smallest Canon makes, it wasn’t my “big-un”) as I wanted to have photos of them at their first game. They were so happy and I wanted to record those memories for them.  The arena police came over and told me that I had to give them my camera. This wasn’t even NHL, this was a small, local team and we were sitting in the family section behind a huge net.  She told me that unless I had a press pass I couldn’t have a camera with a removable lens in there. Doesn’t matter that I don’t own a point and shoot, I was going to have to hand over my camera bag until the game was over. I know this is a different situation than what you are posting, but it was a case of “how dare you tell me I can’t record memories for my children?”. In your case, it would be much more important to record photos of your son’s baptism, and if I were you, I would have kept shooting anyway as well.  Good for you!  :)

I get all this. But I actually think we take WAY more pictures of our kids now than my mom EVER did of me!! Maybe that’s part of the issue? I mean, hardly anyone had a camera to take to school functions (short of a polaroid) when I was growing up. Or if you did, it was all 35mm film and you had to hope it was decent lighting.

thank you for posting this.  i had no idea that this was really happening.  i’ve heard locally that there are building in town (Pittsburgh) that you aren’t allowed to photograph and i think even that’s a little crazy. 

Excellent, excellent article! Well said, Elizabeth (and congratulations on the awesome occasion of your sons baptism.  I hope that when my kiddos make that choice, we get some fab photos, too)

It is crazy how we let a paranoid thought life rule.  I admire you for “taking it anyway.”  On another note I do cringe when I see mommies mindlessly posting “cute” pics of the six year old headbanging in his underwear.  I’m not so much worried about pedophiles (which could be a concern) as I am about that child when he’s an adult and has to deal with photos all over the world in his undies.

Just wanted to chime in for those of you who are upset about not being about to photograph at plays.  I am totally with the writer here re: taking pics in public places – we should absolutely be able to preserve our children’s memories – but many of you are frustrated with not being able to take pictures of plays…  this isn’t just a school policy, it’s a copyright issue for the author of the play and for the publishing company.  It seems like it’s just a memory for you, but it’s distracting to the actors and illegal for copyright reasons.  I’ve been a director in the public school system and had to deal with parents who covertly take pictures of their kids in plays – along with videos – it’s completely illegal and distracting. 

What CRAP you’re talking!