#119 Buying New Shoes｜French Shopping Phrases
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#165 Asking Whether Photography Is Allowed for Exhibits｜French Travel Phrases
Izumi
When visiting a museum or gallery, there are many situations where you may hesitate and wonder, “Is photography allowed for this exhibit?”
Depending on the exhibition, photography may be permitted in some areas, while it may be strictly prohibited in others. For this reason, I recommend confirming the rules in advance.
In this section, I will explain useful French expressions for asking about photography permissions, following a realistic flow of conversation that you can use on site.
Contents
Dialogue
Excusez-moi, avant de prendre une photo, je voulais vérifier quelque chose.
（Excuse me, before taking a photo, I would like to check something.）
Oui, je vous écoute.
（Yes, how can I help you?）
Est-ce que la prise de photos est autorisée dans cette salle ?
（Is taking photographs permitted in this gallery?）
Oui, c’est autorisé, mais sans flash, s’il vous plaît.
（Yes, it is permitted, but please do not use flash.）
D’accord. Et est-ce que c’est également possible pour toutes les œuvres exposées ici ?
（I see. And is it also possible to photograph all of the works exhibited here?）
Pas exactement. Certaines œuvres sont soumises à des restrictions.
（Not exactly. Some works are subject to restrictions.）
Je vois, merci pour la précision.
（I understand. Thank you for the clarification.）
1. Adding a Polite Preface Before Asking
When asking about photography rules, I recommend not jumping directly into the question. Adding a brief preface creates a more polite impression.
Example
- Avant de prendre une photo, je voulais vérifier quelque chose.
（Before taking a photo, I would like to check something.）
The structure “avant de + verb” means “before doing something,” so
“avant de prendre une photo” translates as “before taking a photo.”
The phrase “je voulais vérifier…” expresses a soft, considerate intention such as “I just wanted to check.” When asking about rules or restrictions, showing respect for regulations and staff authority is particularly important.
Related Expression
- Je préfère vérifier avant de prendre des photos.
（I would prefer to check before taking photos.）
2. Asking Whether Photography Is Allowed
To confirm whether photography is permitted, I recommend using the following expression:
Example
- Est-ce que la prise de photos est autorisée ?
（Is photography permitted?）
The phrase “la prise de photos” refers to the act of taking photographs itself.
Compared to “Je peux prendre une photo ?” (May I take a photo?), this expression sounds more formal and objective. Rather than asking for personal permission, it checks whether photography is allowed under official rules.
The adjective “autorisé” is particularly suitable when confirming whether something is permitted by regulations.
Related Expression
- Est-ce que c’est possible de prendre des photos ici ?
（Is it possible to take photos here?）
This expression is commonly used in casual situations, but in formal settings such as museums, expressions using “autorisé” are generally more appropriate.
3. Confirming Conditions for Photography
In many museums, photography is allowed only under certain conditions.
Example
- Oui, c’est autorisé, mais sans flash, s’il vous plaît.
（Yes, it is permitted, but please do not use flash.）
By placing the key condition after “mais” (but), the speaker clearly indicates that photography is allowed with restrictions.
In addition to “sans flash” (no flash), you may also hear conditions such as:
Related Expressions
- sans trépied
（no tripod） - sans vidéo
（no video recording） - pour un usage personnel uniquement
（for personal use only）
When conditions are mentioned, I recommend listening carefully to the full explanation to avoid misunderstandings.
4. Asking Whether All Exhibits Are Included
Even when photography is generally allowed, not all works necessarily follow the same rules. Certain pieces may be restricted for reasons such as:
Points
- Copyright or loan conditions
→ special exhibitions or borrowed works - Preservation concerns
→ light, flash, or crowd exposure - Crowd control
→ especially around famous works
For this reason, after receiving permission, it is important to confirm whether the rule applies to all exhibits.
Example
- Est-ce que c’est également possible pour toutes les œuvres exposées ici ?
（Is it also possible to photograph all of the works exhibited here?）
Using “également” (also / as well) allows you to smoothly ask whether the same conditions apply to other exhibits.
Related Expressions
- Est-ce que je peux prendre des photos de toutes les œuvres ?
（May I take photos of all the works?） - Y a-t-il des œuvres qu’on ne peut pas photographier ?
（Are there any works that cannot be photographed?）
The latter expression is especially practical, as it directly asks about exceptions and is very useful in real situations.
Summary
Key French Phrases
- Avant de prendre une photo, je voulais vérifier quelque chose.
→ A polite way to indicate that you would like to check before taking a photo. - Est-ce que la prise de photos est autorisée ?
→ A formal expression for asking whether photography is permitted. - C’est autorisé, mais sans flash.
→ A typical response when photography is allowed with conditions.
