When traveling great distances, it can be frustrating to arrive at locations that are closed. It's equally frustrating to enter a venue that isn't lit. So, during my last two photography trips I started calling ahead before visiting certain buildings.

The risk with calling ahead is that the request to photograph a location might be declined; whereas I can almost always get a few good shots before being asked to leave certain places! But, if permission is granted in advance, I can take all the time I need to get better pictures. Whenever possible, it's always better to get permission.

During my road trip to South Dakota, I called a number of places to ask permission to do some photography. Representatives from three of those locations returned my call and ultimately allowed me to photograph the interior of the buildings. I didn't receive any response from three other locations.

The first place I visited was the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa. I'm glad I called in advance. My request to photograph the interior of this beautiful theater (which opened in 1927) was promptly granted. The theater was closed on the morning of my visit, so if I hadn't called in advance I wouldn't have been able to enter the building. Instead, the representative from the theater was there right on time (9am on a Monday) to open the door for me. Not only was I granted access, but the theater was then lit for me and I was able to direct when the drapes were to be open or closed depending on what I was shooting. My visit lasted more than two hours and was one of the highlights of my trip. Please CLICK HERE to view images from my visit.

Orpheum TheatreOrpheum Theatre (1927) at 5228 Pierce Street in Sioux City, Iowa on October 26, 2015

My next location was the St. Joseph Cathedral in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The cathedral is open for visitors, so I would have been able to enter without advance permission. But, it wasn't lit. Fortunately, I made arrangements weeks in advance to meet a church representative at 3:00 pm on a Monday--and he adjusted the lighting to my satisfaction. If the interior of the church isn't lit, it's not worth photographing. With the lights on, it's a stunning subject! CLICK HERE to view more images of the Cathedral.

St. Joseph CathedralCathedral of St. Joseph (1919) at 521 N Duluth Avenue in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on October 26, 2015. This image is not for sale.

The third location that I called well in advance was the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Please CLICK HERE to view the photos from that visit. I was told that I could photograph the interior, but that the church would be open to other visitors. So, the recommendation was to visit early in the morning while the church would be relatively empty. So, I entered the church at 6:30 AM on a Monday. An order was placed to have the church lit for photography just before my photo session. I was welcomed into this church and had an enjoyable visit.

Basilica of St. MaryBasilica of St. Mary at 88 N 17th Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 20, 2015

I think there are few things that helped me gain this level of cooperation. First, I called well in advance. Then, I offered to provide the original digital images to the church/theater free of charge. They are free to use these images for anything they wish (i.e., website, programs). I also send a link to my website and pictures from other similar venues. In some cases, my portfolio was reviewed before the request was granted. While I was visiting one of the venues, the representative told me that she had heard of me and was familiar with my work. I replied that there must be another photographer out there with the same name then!

One of the churches declined my initial request on the grounds that commercial photography isn't permitted. I asked if it would help if I promised not to sell the pictures. My request was then granted. Two of the three venues have requested the digital files from me and plan to use them in publications. They were very appreciative--just as I was. Everyone wins when these requests are handled properly!