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Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University
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Guidelines and Procedures

Personal Photography | Wedding Photography | Advanced Notice | Written Request
Contact | Commercial Use | Credit and Acknowledgements  | Visitor-Related Restrictions
Conservation Restrictions | Electrical Power | Equipment | Copies | Legal Restrictions

These Guidelines and Procedures are only for professional non-wedding photographing and filming of Lee Chapel.  For the policy on personal  photography allowed in Lee Chapel, please click Personal Photography.  For wedding photography protocols and agreement, please click Wedding Photography.

Advanced Notice:

Professional filming, videotaping, recording or photographing at the Lee Chapel & Museum is permitted only with advance written approval from the Site Manager. The Museum requires at least two weeks written notice for such requests.

Written Request:

To request approval, the individual or company must submit the following written information to the museum manager, in addition to the attached Permission Request/ Agreement:

  • A detailed description of the project
  • The sponsor and/or producer for the project
  • The treatment concept and/or script for the project
  • The date of the desired on-site visit to the Lee Chapel & Museum
  • A description of the extent of the proposed photography, taping or filming, including anticipated equipment
  • The names of individuals not associated with the University who will be interviewed at Lee Chapel
  • Company's certificate of insurance

Contact:

       All requests for photographing of the Lee Chapel & Museum must be made to:

Manager, Lee Chapel & Museum
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116
Telephone: 540-458-8767 

All requests for the rights to use existing images of the collections must be made to:

Museum Collections Coordinator
University Collections
The Reeves Center
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116
Telephone: 540-458-8034

Commercial Use:

As a general policy, the University does not permit its name or any images of the Lee Chapel, its grounds or collections to be used for commercial purposes or to promote a product or service.

Credit and Acknowledgement:

The University respectfully suggests the following acknowledgement for books, videos and movies:

______________________ acknowledges the assistance of Washington and Lee University, which owns and operates the Lee Chapel and Museum.

For photographs, please provide identification using the following words: "Courtesy of Washington and Lee University."

Visitor-Related Restrictions:

It is the University's policy that any filming or recording not disturb the visiting public's experience while at the Lee Chapel & Museum.

Conservation Restrictions:

  • Food, drink, and smoking are not permitted.
  • Photographers and film crews will be monitored by a staff member from the Lee Chapel Museum, Reeves Center, and/or the University's Communications Office at all times.
  • Objects can be touched or moved only by the Lee Chapel Museum staff member designated by the University curator. Objects must never be used for sitting or holding equipment. Requests to rearrange or move furnishings and other objects must be made in advance, and evaluations will be made on a case-by-case basis.
  • All equipment, such a tripods or tacks, must use rubber tips or pads to prevent damage to floors. Equipment must be set up a reasonable distance from objects, walls, doors and other interior architectural elements. The museum manager reserves the right to relocate or remove any objects which he or she deems to be in too close proximity to lights and other equipment.
  • Because strong lights emit heat that can be damaging to objects, those required for photography should be turned off when not in use. Ultraviolet light generated by some lighting devices can cause fading or darkening of textiles, works of art on paper, and other organic materials, and therefore, must not be aimed directly at these types of objects.
  • Objects on loan to Washington and Lee University from other institutions or from private lenders may not be available for filming or photography.
  • Objects on display in the Museum must be filmed as installed inside their exhibition cases. Due to environmental considerations, cases cannot be opened. Filming of artifacts on exhibition must be done by University photographers and associated fees will apply.
  • Locations for filming objects in storage will be determined by the University curator, depending on the availability of appropriate space. Due to access restrictions on storage areas, requests of this nature must be made in advance.

Electrical Power:

Electrical power is available in the museum. Please inquire about available amperage and location of electrical circuits, if needed. Lights cannot be used if not prearranged.

Equipment:

Photographers and technicians are to take full responsibility of all their equipment and bear all risk of damage or loss of equipment used and/or brought on site.  W&L will not be liable for any equipment damage or loss of equipment.

Copies:

Washington and Lee University requests two copies of the completed project for the museum and archives.

Legal Restrictions:

The University reserves the right to remove any and all organization representatives, professional individual(s) conducting the filming, recording, or photography, and any and all crew accompanying them on site, if they fail to comply with all of the above guidelines, procedures, directives of museum staff and/or other University officials, and/or all provisions of the Permission Request/Agreement.

The organization or professional individual conducting the filming, recording or photography must agree, in writing, to hold the University harmless against any claims or expenses, of whatever nature, that result from their work at the Lee Chapel & Museum. In addition, they must agree to assume financial responsibility for any damage to University property caused by them or their agents. Prior to the visit, the organization must submit a certificate of insurance in the amount required by the Permission Request/Agreement to: Mr. Steve McAllister, Vice President for Finance, Washington Hall, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA 24450-2116.

The organization or individual professional must agree, in writing, not to use the film, videotape, still photography or recording made at the Lee Chapel & Museum at Washington and Lee University for any purpose except that described at the time approval is sought. If other use is later contemplated, it will be permitted only with written approval from the University.

The University will provide a standard agreement that outlines these legal restrictions. This signed agreement must be returned before approval for any project can be given. The University requires at least two weeks prior to the desired project date to process this paperwork.