In short
- Decide with the family which parts of the day to record and which to leave out.
- Ask the person leading the prayers whether recording them is acceptable.
- Agree areas and guests that should not be filmed, and tell guests beforehand.
- The parents decide what is shared, and with whom, after the day.
Decide what to record, and who must agree, before the day. An aqiqah is a family and faith occasion, so a respectful film begins with the family’s wishes, not the camera’s.
Which parts of the day can be recorded?
Families hold aqiqah in different ways, at home, in a hall or at a surau. The order and the details vary, so ask your own family. For religious questions, ask the person guiding the day. This guide only helps you decide what to film.
| Part of the day | Usually worth recording? | Who to ask first |
|---|---|---|
| Guests arriving and greeting | Yes | Guests who prefer not to be filmed |
| Prayers and recitation | Often, but ask | The person leading the prayers |
| The baby with parents and grandparents | Yes | The parents |
| Hair-shaving or other family rites | Ask the family | Parents and elders |
| Preparing the meal | Only if the family wants it | The family and those preparing |
| Meal, gifts and family photos | Yes | Guests, for close-ups |
Write your answers in the must-capture moments checklist so the crew has them in writing.
Which parts need separate permission?
Some parts need an extra yes before anyone films them:
- The prayers: ask the person leading them, and tell us what they say.
- Rites involving the baby: the parents decide, and the elders may have a view.
- Preparing the animal or meal: many families keep this private. Film it only if the family asks.
- Guests in separate areas: agree what may be filmed and from where. Some guests may not want to be filmed when they are not in their usual attire, so ask them first.
- Children other than your own: other parents should know their children may appear.
If the answer is not clear, leave it unfilmed. A moment you skipped can be explained to guests. A moment you filmed against someone’s wishes is harder to take back.
How do we keep guests comfortable?
Tell guests about the filming in your invitation or message, and say where the camera will be. We work quietly, stay out of the way during prayers and avoid crowding close family. If a guest asks us to stop filming near them, we do.
For a mix of children and older relatives in one room, see our guide on filming around children and older relatives.
What should the film hold?
Think about two versions. A full recording keeps the prayers and any speeches complete, for the family to keep. A short film brings together the greetings, the baby and the meal, for sharing with friends and relatives. You can ask for one or both, and ask about a full ceremony and speech recording if the words matter most.
Who decides what is shared online?
The parents decide. The baby cannot choose later, so agree who sees the full recording and whether any version goes online. The private and public version planner and our permissions and responsible publication guide cover the options.
An example of a simple split
For example, a family chooses to film the guests arriving, the prayers (after the ustaz agrees), the baby with the grandparents and the meal. They leave out the meal preparation and the women’s guest area. This is an illustration, not a rule. Each family decides for itself.
What we confirm for your event
- Prayers: we film them only when the person leading them agrees.
- Private areas: tell us which areas guests want kept private and we film around them.
- Review: you can ask to check the film before anything is shared, and we agree the review step in your quote.
- Family-only version: a version kept for the family can be agreed in your quote.
Our birthday and milestone celebration videography page explains how coverage and films are agreed for a family event.
If you know the date, the venue and which parts of the day you would like recorded, that is enough to start. Send those details and we will check whether we can film for your family.
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