Photo Permits: Are They Worth It? A Niagara wedding photographers perspective
Your engaged and have booked your venue, photographer and most of your wedding professionals. You are starting to plan out more specifics for the day and are working with your vendors to capture your vision for the day.
As a photographer this is the time that we are providing you with tips and preparing you for next steps to plan your photography. A big part of a couples decision with their photography for both an engagement session and wedding day is deciding where to take your photos. This is when some couples realize that their dream photo location requires a permit and it costs a couple hundred dollars. They go from being sure of the location to unsure whether to pay for this extra expense.
What is a photo permit?
A photo permit is a special permission allowing you to take professional photographs on the property of a park, venue or private location. The fee will allow you access to the property during a specific time frame and may even include the assistance of a guide or staff at the property.
How much will a permit cost?
The price of a photo permit can really vary, we have found some to be as low as $50, all the way up to $500. Some properties will ask for a donation of your choosing or may even offer the permit free of charge if you attend only during a specific time frame and abide by the rules they have.
What is the value of a photo permit?
Paying to have access to a property that is issuing permits definitely has perks.
One of the biggest ones can be crowd control! Often times one of the reasons a property chooses to issue permits is so that they can be controlling the number of people with access to their grounds at one time. This can be really helpful as it means less time spent looking for a quiet spot or politely asking bystanders to move aside. It can also allow for more privacy for you, your families and wedding party and limit distractions so everyone keeps their eyes on the camera.
Another perk is often the uniqueness and beauty of the grounds as a backdrop for your photos. Finding a beautiful well manicured park or venue with exceptional architecture and character can really uplevel the mood of your images. Think lavender fields, estate properties and full beautiful gardens.
In some situations your photography permit may even create an experience for you which can make for some great candid photos and a memory for you and your spouse. We have seen it happen with engagements and portraits specifically where a winery will include a tasting and tour or wine cellar access with your permit.
Overall, if you are looking for a very specific look in your images and had your heart set on a property that requires a permit we absolutely think it is worth it. It works really well for all types of photography- family photos and engagement or wedding photos.
If it is not in your budget to pay for the permit then we are more than happy to work with you on finding another location that can help bring your vision to life!
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