Yellowstone Insider Your Complete Guide to America's First National Park
Yellowstone National Park has issued a reminder regarding permit requirements for film crews, photographers and news crews in the Park.
According to a Yellowstone press release, crews looking to take photos or shoot footage in a professional capacity must obtain a permit to cover their activities.
Indeed, Yellowstone officials have extra incentive to advertise these rules after last year’s scandal, when four men from a Canadian clothing company went walking around on Grand Prismatic Spring, uploading footage of their escapades to social media. From the press release:
Permits are required for any individual, business, or organization (including non-profit groups and educational institutions) involved with projects intended for a market audience or performed for compensation. These projects include, but are not limited to:
• Feature films or documentaries
• Student films
• Stock footage
• Advertisements (including social media posts associated with a product or service)
• Educational films
• Interviews of park staff or other visitors
• Television shows
• Commercial timelapses
• Professionally shot portraits
• Contest entries
Commercial photographers using models, props, lighting or specialized equipment may be required to secure a permit. Portrait photographers who wish to conduct business in the park must apply for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA).
Permits are not usually required for credentialed news organizations to cover park events in a timely fashion. Some news crews may require a permit if their work will impact park visitors or resources. News crews travelling through Yellowstone for business outside of the park must pay the park entrance fee.
Visitors, of course, are not required to obtain permits—as long as their photos and videos are personal use only. Nonetheless, the permit requirements include many rules that visitors should abide by.
The biggest rule to follow? No drones, ever.
