DBS Checked photographers

It’s common for clients to feel uncertain when hiring a photographer due to the lack of knowledge about the person they are considering. However, as a team, we understand the importance of peace of mind and transparency when choosing a photographer for any event or occasion. Therefore, we prioritize transparency and are always ready to share a copy of our DBS certificates with any potential client, whether they are a business, charity, organization, or individual.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is a background check that verifies an individual’s criminal record and provides information on whether the person is eligible to work with vulnerable groups, such as children or adults with disabilities. This check helps clients feel more secure when hiring a photographer, as they know that the photographer has undergone a thorough screening process and is a safe choice for their event.

As professional photographers, we understand the importance of safety and trust in our profession. Therefore, we prioritize providing clients with assurance and peace of mind by being transparent about our backgrounds and credentials. By offering our DBS certificates, we hope to establish trust with our clients and assure them that we are reliable and responsible choices for their photography needs.

DBS CHECK REQUIREMENT FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

According to guidelines from the UK Disclosure & Barring Service, photographers who frequently work in environments such as schools, nurseries, or care homes with vulnerable children and adults require a valid DBS certificate. If a photographer frequently provides services in such settings, they must have a valid DBS certificate.

However, portrait or wedding photographers who work outside of these environments are not legally required to obtain a DBS check. Nevertheless, it can be beneficial for photographers to have a DBS certificate as it adds an extra layer of trust and assurance to clients.

It is important to note that while DBS checks are not legally required for all photographers, clients may require them as part of their own safeguarding policies. This is particularly relevant for commercial clients such as schools or event venues, who may require their contractors to undergo a DBS check before hiring them.

Overall, while DBS checks are not mandatory for all photographers, it is recommended that photographers working with vulnerable groups obtain a valid certificate. Furthermore, obtaining a DBS certificate can demonstrate a photographer’s commitment to safety and professionalism to clients and may prove useful in certain circumstances.

SO WHY HAVE WE BEEN CHECKED

To ensure transparency and peace of mind for our clients, we have voluntarily undergone Standard DBS checks. As photographers who work with clients from different backgrounds and age groups, we believe it is essential to establish a relationship of trust and confidence.

Our decision to undergo the DBS checks reflects our commitment to honesty, integrity, and openness in our business practices. We have nothing to hide and believe that by providing clients with access to our DBS certificates, we can demonstrate our professionalism and commitment to safety.

The purpose of the DBS checks is to provide information on our criminal records and ensure that we are eligible to work with vulnerable groups, such as children or adults with disabilities. Even though DBS checks are not mandatory for all photographers, we believe they are a necessary step to demonstrate our commitment to safety and professionalism in our work.

In summary, the reason for obtaining the DBS certificates is to provide peace of mind and transparency to our clients, and to establish trust and confidence in our business practices. We have undergone these checks voluntarily and are willing to share our certificates with anyone who requires them.

HOW OFTEN IS IT RENEWED

We have signed up to the DBS Update Service so any business can log on and see our live certificates, correct at the time they request it. If we didn’t do this, then our certificates would only have been valid up to the point they were printed and wouldn’t cover anything since that printed date.

The DBS Update Service is an online system that allows organizations to check whether an individual’s certificate is still valid and up-to-date. By signing up for this service, we ensure that our certificates are always current and reflect any changes in our criminal record.

This service provides an additional layer of assurance to our clients, as they can be confident that our certificates are up-to-date and that we are eligible to work with vulnerable groups. It also saves time and money for businesses, as they don’t need to request new certificates each time they work with us.

In summary, we have signed up for the DBS Update Service to ensure that our certificates are always up-to-date and reflect any changes in our criminal record. This provides an additional layer of assurance to our clients and saves time and money for businesses.

HOW TO ACCESS OUR CERTIFICATE

At Couto Lucas Photography Ltd., we value transparency and understand the importance of providing our clients with peace of mind. If you are a business, charity, or organization, we welcome you to contact us via email, and we will provide you with our DBS Update Service ID and date of birth. This will enable you to access our live certificate via the DBS Update Service website, ensuring that you have the most up-to-date information on our criminal record.

Please note that if you are an individual, you are not eligible to access the DBS Update Service. However, once you have booked our photography services, we are happy to provide you with a copy of our printed certificate upon request.

At Couto Lucas Photography Ltd., we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and safety in our work. By providing access to our DBS certificate, we hope to demonstrate our dedication to transparency and establish a relationship of trust with our clients.