I visited a friend of mine a few years ago here in Australia and even though he was at a Med security prison, it was quite strict. You arrive at reception and fill out a form and hand over some ID. You are given a locker to store personal items as nothing can be taken to the visiting room. I was able to take my asthma spray and a tissue. No cigarettes or money is allowed, there are no vending machines. Each visitor is scanned by electronic systems and mothers with small children are particularly scanned as are the children. You wait in a visiting room and wait for the inmates name to be called and then move to a type of glassed in elevator before being admitted to the visiting room.
Contact is allowed but not encouraged. There are cameras everywhere but guards do not stand around gaping at the visitors. The subject of photos never came up and I never saw anyone having their photo taken.