p.2 #1 · What is the purpose of all the BLM/state parks requiring permits?
Ian Ivey wrote:
I've never bothered looking into the process in detail myself, because a ranger described it to me once and it was plainly too bureaucratic for a simple e-session or wedding shoot.
The process is actually really simple, but, because what you are doing doesn't fit into the mission for the monuments (which is education, history, etc), chances are they'd turn you down. I film there from time to time for teacher workshops, etc, and I dont even need a permit because it fits within the mission of the park.
Obviously I'd bet they would bend the rules for easy money, but, unless you are running into consistent problems I'd keep taking the same approach.
p.2 #2 · What is the purpose of all the BLM/state parks requiring permits?
ckhagen wrote:
I don't know about how you run your business, but I don't generally pick the locations I shoot in, the client chooses something based on what they like or where they generally spend their time. The beach for that matter... I could care less to ever shoot on the beach again. If they started charging $1000 every time I shot on the beach, the clients would be the ones hurt the most. In the long run the county/state would run off a whole bunch of tourists due to an inhospitable atmosphere (it would have to be enforced, with what? Jail time? Lol!). If you're being disruptive, then sure, just like any other disruptive person or activity, you should be asked to stop or leave. But the client having someone snap photos of them in a non-disruptive manner, shouldn't affect the "public" status of the place. Setting up shop and yelling "photos for sale" from a kiosk is an entirely different matter. ...Show more →
why would the tourists be "run off" they'd probably like to have the park or beach to themselves, although most don;t care.
In my biz sometimes the client chooses the location, sometimes they have an idea what they want and aren't specific. I know enough places that are expensive, or reasonable or free. The "free" is decided by both the owner/manager and me, not just me deciding that since I want to do my business there then I am entitled to use someone else's property for my purposes without compensation. It's up to the client what they can afford, if they can't or don't want to pay, then go shoot in a free place.
If a city charge $1000 per location use they obviously don't want to people shooting there, but everyone has their price. And if a neighboring community wants that business they will charge $200 or they will charge nothing....There are places in CA that would often have a bunch wedding e sessions going on all day long with carloads of clients waiting their turn. Each photog had his/her car and the clients would three or four cars...it clogged up the parking lot. Now they have some sort of permit that you need to sign up for, not sure of the cost but I think it's minor.
To me it goes back to acting like a real business and not expecting a free ride.
p.2 #3 · What is the purpose of all the BLM/state parks requiring permits?
Private property vs. public property (tax payer funded) are two different things.
Down here, it's a Southern family tradition to have your family photographed on the beach... the beach you're supporting with your tax dollars (bed tax, sales tax, etc...) and your vacation spending which is the lifeblood of this economy. If you start telling people they've got to pay an extra $1000 to have someone take a decent photo of them, on a beach they're already sitting on for 7 days straight, they won't come back I can promise you that.
In fact, the most popular state park in the area actually encourages us to shoot there. They've told me several times that they actually count on the $5 regular park entrance fees of the 15 or so families that roll in an hour before closing every evening in the summer.
p.2 #4 · What is the purpose of all the BLM/state parks requiring permits?
On a related note, when do you tell the client about being responsible for extra fees? Do you have something on your website, or is it something you mention when they say, "we want to do a shoot at XXX park" and you know there is a $200 shoot fee for that park.
p.2 #5 · What is the purpose of all the BLM/state parks requiring permits?
Scott Mosher wrote:
On a related note, when do you tell the client about being responsible for extra fees? Do you have something on your website, or is it something you mention when they say, "we want to do a shoot at XXX park" and you know there is a $200 shoot fee for that park.
Once they start adding on things that out of the regular package, it would be a good time to say that you would be happy to do it but there are additional costs involved.
p.2 #6 · What is the purpose of all the BLM/state parks requiring permits?
ckhagen wrote:
Private property vs. public property (tax payer funded) are two different things.
Down here, it's a Southern family tradition to have your family photographed on the beach... the beach you're supporting with your tax dollars (bed tax, sales tax, etc...) and your vacation spending which is the lifeblood of this economy. If you start telling people they've got to pay an extra $1000 to have someone take a decent photo of them, on a beach they're already sitting on for 7 days straight, they won't come back I can promise you that.
In fact, the most popular state park in the area actually encourages us to shoot there. They've told me several times that they actually count on the $5 regular park entrance fees of the 15 or so families that roll in an hour before closing every evening in the summer. ...Show more →
Seems like they don;t want photographers there if the fee really is $1000? Or is that hyperbole? Sounds like you need to talk to the powers that be and explain the errors of their ways. Or go to another beach. In CA they charge some admin fees and other fees but the location itself is free or nominal. And in some cases if the total amount of people is less tha 5 or 10 there is no fee, you just need to tell 'em what you are up to. The state park sounds like it has the right idea, but that is still the state taking $5 from everyone.
And just because something is "taxpayer funded" doesn't mean that the taxpayer can go use it for free anytime he or she wants to for whatever reasons... We may own public property but don;t necessarily have unfettered access to it.
p.2 #8 · What is the purpose of all the BLM/state parks requiring permits?
pretty much every place owned by someone will try and profit off professional photographers if you give them the chance. that's utter nonsense about them wanting $250 to shoot in valley of fire etc.
that park is MASSIVE. people photograph it all day long. it's just the government's way of extracting more $ from people.
I say F- them. shoot there anyhow unless they're really nazis about it and patrol the place like hawks.
i dunno about you guys, but I doubt any of my clients would pay close to the cost of their engagement session just to shoot in ONE location.
why would the tourists be "run off" they'd probably like to have the park or beach to themselves, although most don;t care.