koko ha satuei kinsi desu.

ここ means here, and は is the topic marker.

So ここは literally means something like as for here or speaking of this place.

In natural English, we usually would not translate the は directly. It just sets here as the topic, and then the rest of the sentence says something about it:

• ここは = as for here / here
• 撮影禁止です = photography is prohibited

So the full sentence is literally closer to:

• As for here, photography is prohibited.

That sounds unnatural in English, so we normally say:

• Photography is prohibited here.

This is one of the first unusual things learners notice in Japanese.

The character は is normally read ha, but when it is used as the topic particle, it is pronounced wa.

So in this sentence:

• ここは is pronounced koko wa

not koko ha.

This is just a standard rule of Japanese grammar and spelling. A few particles have special pronunciations like this.

撮影禁止 is a compound expression meaning photography prohibited or no photography.

It is made of:

• 撮影 = photography / photographing
• 禁止 = prohibition / forbidden

Together, they form a compact sign-style phrase:

• 撮影禁止 = photography prohibited

Japanese often combines nouns like this, especially in formal writing, notices, and signs.

You can think of it as similar to English sign language like:

• No Smoking
• Entry Prohibited
• Staff Only

It is short and efficient.

Because 撮影禁止 is a compound noun/expression, not a full verb phrase.

Japanese often puts two nouns together to create a fixed expression:

• 立入禁止 = no entry
• 使用禁止 = use prohibited
• 駐車禁止 = no parking
• 撮影禁止 = no photography

So this is not really:

• 撮影を禁止 in sentence form

Instead, it is a compact label-like expression used on signs and notices.

That is why it sounds very natural in this context.

Yes, 撮影の禁止 is grammatically possible, but it sounds more explanatory and less like a standard sign.

Compare:

• 撮影禁止 = no photography / photography prohibited
  
  • very common on signs
  • compact and fixed
• 撮影の禁止 = prohibition of photography
  
  • more descriptive
  • sounds more formal or analytical

On a sign, 撮影禁止 is much more natural.

です makes the sentence polite and complete.

Here it works like the polite copula, similar to is/it is in English, although the match is not always exact.

So:

• ここは撮影禁止です。 = polite
• ここは撮影禁止。 = more blunt, sign-like, less conversational

On signs, Japanese often omits です entirely, but when it is included, it sounds a little more formal or courteous.

Good question. Both can appear in related sentences, but they do different things.

• は marks the topic
• で marks the location where an action happens

In ここは撮影禁止です, the structure is:

• As for here, photography is prohibited.

This is a very natural way to state a rule about a place.

If you use で, you would normally need a different structure, such as:

• ここで撮影してはいけません。 = You must not take photos here.
• ここでの撮影は禁止です。 = Photography here is prohibited.

So ここで撮影禁止です by itself is less natural than ここは撮影禁止です or ここでの撮影は禁止です.

It is very natural, especially for a notice or posted rule.

Japanese signs often use short, compact expressions. This sentence is polite, but still has the concise feel of sign language.

You might also see shorter versions such as:

• 撮影禁止 = No photography
• ここでは撮影禁止です = Photography is prohibited here
• この場所は撮影禁止です = Photography is prohibited in this place

So yes, this is normal Japanese, especially in public notices, museums, stores, events, and similar places.

It is read:

• さつえいきんし

Broken down:

• 撮影 = さつえい
• 禁止 = きんし

So the full sentence is read:

• ここは さつえいきんし です。

Romanization:

• Koko wa satsuei kinshi desu.

No. Standard Japanese is usually written without spaces.

So normally this would be written as:

• ここは撮影禁止です。

Spaces are often added only in beginner materials to make reading easier.

So for learning, the spaced version is fine, but in real Japanese writing, you should expect to see it without spaces.

Yes, that is a very natural English translation.

Even though the Japanese literally focuses on photography being prohibited, English often prefers a more personal wording such as:

• You can't take pictures here.
• No photography here.
• Photography is prohibited here.

All of these are reasonable translations depending on tone and context.

The Japanese sentence itself is more formal and impersonal than You can't..., which is why Photography is prohibited here is often the closest match in style.