Lichfield Cathedral is stunning and very photogenic.

We do ask that you read the following information before you start filming or photographing inside or outside of the Cathedral. 

These guidelines are relevant to businesses, media and individuals wishing to capture photographs or video footage in and around the Cathedral.

For more information, please do get in touch: 
E: marketing@lichfield-cathedral.org 
T: 01543 306100 

General Rules 

• Please respect other people and their privacy. 
• Do not include any children in your images or video without permission from the adult responsible for their care. 
• Do not take any footage (stills or video) during services (unless permission has been given at least a week in advance). 
• Please don’t take photographs or video of the Cathedral Choir (distinct permission is needed at least a week in advance) 
• Drone photography is not permitted (unless prior permission is given, and the Cathedral has seen your insurance and licence documents). 

If you are unsure, please ask for permission – there is always someone around to help and advise you. 

Outside the Cathedral

The Cathedral Close and exterior of the Cathedral are beautiful places to photograph or video, you are more than welcome to take photography outside to share on social media, with friends and family or add to your amateur portfolio. 

Please note, there is strictly no drone photography permitted (see separate Drone section of these guidelines).  

Inside the Cathedral 

Whilst inside the building you are permitted to use hand-held cameras or camera phones to take footage of the building for personal use only. We do not permit the use of tripods, lighting, models or commercial photography unless permission has been sought beforehand with the Cathedral. If permission is given for commercial photography, we are likely to charge a fee, which varies depending on what is involved

Student Projects 

We simply ask that all students wishing to take footage as part of a project (whether inside or outside the Cathedral) contact events@lichfield-cathedral.org with the following information and gain permission prior to capturing footage: 

• Name of course and school, college or university 
• An outline of the project and where images of the Cathedral would be used 
• A proposed date and time for taking the images 
• An email from teacher/tutor if you are under 18 years old 
• Please note that all requests are considered on an individual basis and are subject to approval by the management team. 

Wedding Photography 

We only allow wedding photography of couples who have had their service in the Cathedral (this includes outside of the Cathedral). In reality, not many couples are eligible to have a wedding at the Cathedral (couples are encouraged to connect with their local parish churches) and we don’t want to create false expectations for hopeful couples.

Commercial Use or Publication 

We ask that any intention to take imagery (whether inside or outside the Cathedral) for commercial purposes is made known to us at least 1 week in advance. We will need the following information: 

• What the footage/pictures will be used for 
• A proposed date and time for the photography 
• What equipment/personnel will be attending
• If the images are likely to provide a publicity benefit to the Cathedral (such as publication in a local magazine) then we may request an exchange of one or two of your images for the Cathedral to use free of charge and/or free editorial or advertising space with a publication. If there is no direct publicity benefit to the Cathedral, a location fee will be charged. Please be aware that you will be responsible for gaining permission of any people who may feature in the images.

We have extensive catalogue of images that can be used in supporting features of the Cathedral. Please see the information below on our Lichfield Cathedral Photographers.

Broadcast 

In order to set up a shoot or recording for broadcast, we would ask that you contact us as early as possible to seek permission and discuss operational plans. We may charge a fee or request a donation, depending on the purpose of the broadcast. 

For more information, please do get in touch: 
E: marketing@lichfield-cathedral.org 
T: 01543 306100 

Drones (unmanned aircraft systems)

A copy of our policy on the use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) can be downloaded here

Lichfield Cathedral does not permit the use of any unmanned aircraft system or drone within its grounds without prior approval. The Cathedral precinct is a privately owned Close that is open to the public and in constant use by visitors, Cathedral staff and volunteers, school children and local residents. Most of the properties, including the Cathedral, are listed and the fabric of these historic buildings are precarious and fragile. For this reason, we rarely give permission for drones to operate on the property. If permission is granted the Cathedral will need to see copies of the relevant certificates and licences needed to operate a small unmanned aircraft. We will also need to be satisfied that the drone operator has an appropriate insurance policy and that a flight plan has been carefully followed.

E: marketing@lichfield-cathedral.org  
T: 01543 306100 

The Lichfield Cathedral Photographers

We are grateful to have a team of photographers in the LCP who capture some fantastic shots in and around the Cathedral. The LCP has its origins in a 13-month collaborative project in 2011/2012 with many members of the Lichfield Camera Club which culminated in the very successful exhibition ‘A Year in the Life of the Cathedral’. Following this, the LCP was formed as a specialist Volunteer group in 2012, with the remit to document all aspects of the life of the Cathedral.

The photographs are for use in the Cathedral’s mission and ministry and can be seen widely across Cathedral publications, social media, website and other Cathedral activities. The LCPs have also contributed to the Cathedral’s inventories of heritage collections which are now online at: https://ehive.com/collections/201690/lichfield-cathedral.

The LCPs photograph many of the Cathedral’s services and have covered some very special events such as the installation of  the new Cathedral Canons and Bishop Michael.

Photographing the fabric of  the building is another important activity. Highlights include recording the repair of the East End Herkenrode windows and the exterior work on the Chapter House roof replacement to make the  Library watertight again.  In October 2015 the LCPs provided many of the images for Jonathan Foyle’s guide book ‘Lichfield Cathedral a Journey of Discovery’. Major projects such as documenting the Cathedral Silver and other treasures are undertaken in collaboration with Michael Diamond the Cathedral Archivist. The LCP’s also work with Robert Kilgour, the Cathedral Architect and Kevin Blockley, the Cathedral Archaeologist.

The Cathedral hosts a very wide range of activities such as major exhibitions, concerts, talks and educational events, many of which are covered by the LCPs.

Current significant projects involve photographing around eighty of the Cathedral’s historic collection of ancient books and manuscripts and recording the details of the many graves in Cathedral Close.

Over the years the Lichfield Cathedral Photographers have built up an extensive collection of photographs and they help to manage this 20,000+ strong catalogue of images. These photographs are available for use by external media and should you wish to make an enquiry about using particular images please contact us at: marketing@lichfield-cathedral.org.

You can easily recognise the Lichfield Cathedral Photographers as they will be wearing Cathedral lanyards. If you or any of your party prefer not to be in any photo, please speak to the photographer directly or any member of staff.

Find out more about the Lichfield Cathedral Photographers by emailing us at marketing@lichfield-cathedral.org

The photography policy regarding use and permissions can be found by clicking this link. Our privacy and safeguarding policies can be viewed here.