Photography Etiquette in LGBTQ+ Venues in London: Consent and Respect

Walking into a London LGBTQ+ venue on a Friday night, you see someone snapping photos under the glittering lights. The music is loud, the energy is electric, and everyone’s having a good time. But here’s the thing: just because it’s a party doesn’t mean it’s okay to take someone’s picture without asking.

Why Photography in LGBTQ+ Spaces Needs Special Care

LGBTQ+ venues in London - from the historic Stonewall Inn in Soho to the underground queer bars in Dalston - aren’t just places to dance. They’re safe havens. For many, these spaces are where they first felt seen, accepted, or even safe enough to be themselves. That’s why photography here isn’t just about capturing a moment. It’s about respecting boundaries.

People show up in these spaces wearing bold makeup, gender-bending outfits, or nothing at all. Some are out to everyone. Others are still figuring it out. A photo taken without consent can expose someone in ways they didn’t choose. It can go viral. It can end up on a dating app. It can be used to mock or shame. That’s not photography. That’s risk.

London’s LGBTQ+ community has seen too many incidents where photos taken in clubs ended up online without permission. One 2023 case involved a trans woman whose image from a drag night was shared across Reddit with mocking captions. She lost her job. She didn’t go out for six months. That’s the real cost of careless snapping.

When Is It Okay to Take Photos?

There’s no universal rule, but there are clear guidelines that work in practice.

• If you’re taking a photo of the room, the lights, the dance floor - go ahead. Wide shots of the vibe? That’s fine. You’re documenting the space, not the people.
• If you’re zooming in on someone’s face, outfit, or body - stop. Ask. Even if they’re smiling, dancing, or looking at you. A smile doesn’t mean consent.
• If you’re taking a photo to post online - double ask. Ask once before you take it. Ask again before you upload it. Say: “Can I take your photo and post it?” Not “Can I take your photo?” - that’s not enough.

Some venues now have signs up: “No photos without permission.” That’s not a suggestion. It’s a policy. If you see it, respect it. If you don’t see it, assume the rule still applies.

How to Ask for Consent - The Right Way

Asking isn’t awkward if you do it right. Here’s how:

1. Get close enough to talk, but not invade their space.
2. Make eye contact. Smile. Don’t point your camera like a weapon.
3. Say: “Hey, I love your look. Would you be okay if I took a photo of you? I’d only post it if you say yes.”
4. Wait for a clear answer. Not a nod. Not a laugh. A verbal yes.
5. If they say no - thank them. Put your camera down. Don’t sulk. Don’t take it anyway.

Some people will say yes. Others will say no. Some will say, “Only if you don’t tag me.” That’s fine. Respect it. Don’t push. Don’t try to get around it. Consent isn’t a negotiation. It’s a boundary.

What Not to Do

Here are the mistakes people make - and why they hurt:

• Using a long lens from across the room. You’re not a paparazzo. You’re a guest.
• Taking photos of people who are drunk or passed out. That’s not art. That’s exploitation.
• Posting photos with location tags. Tagging “Stonewall” or “The Glory” makes it easy for strangers to find someone’s face in a place they might not want to be linked to.
• Assuming everyone’s comfortable because it’s a “queer space.” Queer doesn’t mean public. It means chosen.
• Using photos for “aesthetic” feeds. Your Instagram grid doesn’t get to decide someone else’s privacy.

There’s a difference between capturing joy and capturing vulnerability. One celebrates. The other exposes.

What Venues Are Doing About It

London’s top LGBTQ+ venues are starting to take action. The Royal Vauxhall Tavern now has a “No Photo” policy during drag performances unless you’re with the official photographer. The Joiners Arms in Islington gives out free sticker packs with “Ask Me” and “No Photos” labels. You can stick one on your bag or phone - it’s a silent signal to others.

Some clubs have started training staff to intervene if someone’s taking photos without permission. Bouncers aren’t there just to check IDs. They’re there to protect the space. If you’re asked to delete a photo, do it. No arguments. No excuses.

Even the big names like Heaven and G-A-Y have updated their terms of entry. “By entering, you consent to being photographed for promotional use by the venue.” But that’s it. No third parties. No social media. No reposts. That’s the line.

What You Can Do as a Photographer

You don’t have to stop taking photos. You just have to change how you do it.

• Shoot the vibe, not the person.
• Use your photos to show community, not individual faces.
• If you want to feature someone - ask, get written permission, and give them credit.
• Consider using your camera to highlight things: a hand holding a rainbow flag, a pair of glittery boots, a drink on the bar. These tell the story without risking someone’s safety.
• When you post, don’t tag locations unless you’re the venue. Don’t use hashtags like #LondonLGBTQ or #DragQueen unless you have permission from the person in the photo.

Some of the most powerful images from London’s queer scene aren’t of faces. They’re of hands linked in the dark. Of a single spotlight on an empty dance floor. Of a drag queen’s crown resting on a table after the show. Those photos don’t need consent. They just need heart.

What Happens When You Don’t Respect This

There are consequences. Not just moral ones. Real ones.

London’s LGBTQ+ venues can ban you. Not just from one club - from the whole scene. Word spreads fast. People talk. You’ll be known as “the guy who took photos without asking.”

Legally, you could be sued. Under UK law, if someone can prove a photo caused them distress or harm - especially if it was shared without consent - they can take civil action. In 2024, a court in Southwark awarded £8,500 to a non-binary person whose photo from a club was shared on a meme page. The judge wrote: “The right to be seen on your own terms is not optional.”

And emotionally? The damage lasts. Someone might never feel safe dancing again. They might leave the city. They might stop going out. And you’ll never know because you didn’t ask.

Be the Photographer the Community Needs

The best photographers in London’s LGBTQ+ scene aren’t the ones with the most followers. They’re the ones who show up quietly. Who wait. Who listen. Who put their camera down when someone says no.

Photography can celebrate queer joy. But it can also destroy it. The difference isn’t in your lens. It’s in your respect.

Next time you’re in a London LGBTQ+ venue, ask yourself: Are you here to capture a moment - or to protect someone’s right to have one?