photographypolicy

Photographs are a wonderful way to remember your visit to Anderson Japanese Gardens. We encourage visitors to take casual photographs for their own personal use. The Photography Guidelines outlined here are intended for all guests, but a permit is necessary for those who wish to use the Garden‚ setting as the background for portrait or landscape photography for commercial purposes. Please take a look at the Anderson Japanese Gardens Photography Policies. People with a scheduled wedding ceremony at the Gardens are welcome to take their photographs during their rental time at no additional fee. As always, the Anderson Japanese Gardens General Photography Guidelines apply.

We are delighted that you are considering Anderson Japanese Gardens as the location for your photography. To ensure a positive experience for you, while maintaining a pleasant experience for our many visitors, please be aware of the following rules and guidelines. Anderson Japanese Gardens has been voted the highest quality Japanese Garden in North America, and your adherence to these guidelines is required. The rights of other visitors to enjoy the Gardens must always be respected. The Gardens reserve the right to ask a visitor to leave for inappropriate or offensive behavior. Visitors will be held liable for any damage to Garden property. The Gardens reserve the right to refuse admittance for photography and/or to change its Photo Policy without advance notice. Failure to comply with the General Photography Guidelines will result in the loss of user privileges.

GENERAL PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDELINES

  • The Gardens are a tobacco-free environment. No smoking is allowed on Garden property including the Visitor Center, grounds, restrooms and parking areas.
  • No alcoholic beverages are allowed inside the Gardens.
  • No food or beverages other then bottled water is allowed inside the Gardens.
  • Remain on pathways and grassy turf at all times.
  • Do not wade or swim in ponds, streams, or waterfalls.
  • Do not disturb or remove plants.
  • We do not allow pets in the Gardens. Sign-enabling guide dogs/animals are permitted.
  • Do not feed or handle the wildlife. Feeding of the koi is permitted as long as it is koi food purchased at Anderson Japanese Gardens. You may purchase the koi food at the Admissions counter in the Visitor Center.
  • Do not block access to the entrance, pathways, or Garden areas.
  • No camera tripods are allowed in the Gardens during touring hours. Monopods are allowed.
  • Please do not climb trees, enter water areas, or step into garden beds.
  • The Gardens assume no responsibility for loss, theft, or damage to equipment. Take valuables with you when you park your car.
  • We care about the environment. Please dispose of waste in recycle bins when appropriate. Do not litter.
  • Please remember that any party who has booked a private event in a particular location of the Gardens has exclusive rights to that reserved area.

For information on reserving Anderson Japanese Gardens for your own private photography session, please
contact:
Julie Pastore, Special Event Coordinator
Telephone: 815.229.9390
jpastore@AndersonGardens.

Commercial Photography

Photographs are not to be used for any commercial purposes without authorization. Professional photographers wanting to rent the facility for a private photo session must contact the Special Event office in advance before photographing of any kind. Projects will be approved on a case-by-case basis, and the Garden management reserves the right to refuse any project and reserves the right to refuse admittance for photography and/or to change its Photo Policy without advance notice.

Wedding Photography

For those of you considering Anderson Japanese Gardens as the location for your wedding, please contact the Special Event Coordinator to book your wedding. If you want to use Anderson Japanese Gardens as a backdrop for your wedding photos but the ceremony is being held elsewhere, all photography scheduling and pricing will apply to your wedding photo session. We regret that the volume of requests for photography is such that this policy must be enforced.

Scheduling

Your formal photography session will be scheduled around those that have rented the Gardens as the site for their wedding or other special occasion. In all cases, the photography session must be scheduled a maximum of two weeks in advance and begin and end within the allotted time. In the event of rain, you may reschedule your session. The photographer must make the reservation. General Photography Guidelines apply.

Time

Individuals renting out the Gardens for photography have two time slots in which they can schedule their photo session. The Gardens may be photographed between the hours of 7:00am and 9:00am and/or 5:00pm and 7:00pm, excluding Friday and Saturday evenings.

Photography Pricing

A $500 scheduling and operation fee will be assessed to each photographer for their usage of the Gardens for photography. There are no refunds for cancellations of a photography session at Anderson Japanese Gardens. No discounts, complimentary passes, coupons, or group rates may be applied to the photography fee.

Location

Photographs may be taken in any of the areas around the Gardens as long as you remain on the path and in designated areas outlined in the tour map. Please do not enter areas that have been designated as ‚”staff only”.

Admission Procedures

All photographers must check in at the admissions counter of Anderson Japanese Gardens before they begin their photography session. Using and selling photographs of the Gardens. Any photographer who uses images of Anderson Japanese Gardens for commercial, advertising, or promotional purposes is required to have expressed written consent by Anderson Japanese Gardens and is subject to a licensing fee. Without prior authorization and payment, any photographer who has photographed the Gardens is strictly forbidden to sell or use images taken of Anderson Japanese Gardens for commercial or promotional activities, which include but are not limited to: publishing, marketing, educational materials, products and retail merchandise, general and web advertising, broadcast, or any situation where the photographer is paid for the use of the image. The Gardens will not allow any implied or actual endorsement of a product, institution or ideology.

Photograph Credits

Anderson Japanese Gardens requires the location credit ‚”Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, IL ‚” in all uses of Garden photos in print, on the web, in broadcast, or in any other public medium.

Non-Professional Photographers

You are welcome to take photographs of the Garden for your own use and enjoyment. Please observe the rules in our Photography Guidelines. If you think you have taken a great shot, please let us know! We always need photos for advertising or our newsletter. Contact the Gardens at info@AndersonGardens.org or at (815) 229-9390.

Advanced Scouting

We encourage you to visit the Gardens in advance at your leisure to scout locations for your photography session. Regular admission applies.