What should you ask before you book a location?
- Who owns the place, and who signs off on the shoot?
- Is it public property, private property or federal land?
- Do we need a permit, and who files it?
- Where do we park, and is there a loading spot?
- What hours can we be there, including setup and wrap?
- Is there power we can use, and a room for hair, makeup and changes?
- Do you need a certificate of insurance, and who is named on it?
- Will anyone else be using the space while we’re there?
- Can we move furniture, and what has to go back the way it was?
Where can you find a location around DC?
Start with the film offices. DC, Virginia and Maryland each run a location library where owners list their homes, offices and venues, and the county and city offices know their own streets and rules. The booking sites below are for renting a space by the hour. I haven’t seen public ratings for any of these on their own pages, so none are shown.
DC film office (OCTFME), locations
What they do: DC’s film office helps with location research and scouting, film and parking permits and coordination between agencies, and links to the DC location database.
Best for: Shoots on DC public property, and finding DC locations
Where: Washington, DC
Virginia Film Office location library
What they do: Statewide location library you can browse by region, Northern Virginia included, and by theme, with a locations manager who helps with location needs.
Best for: Scouting Virginia looks
Where: Virginia (state office)
Maryland Film Office locations directory
What they do: Statewide location database you can browse by theme, including waterfront, industrial, urban, rural and “D.C. doubles”, and by region.
Best for: Maryland looks and places that can stand in for DC
Where: Maryland (state office)
Baltimore Film Office, locations
What they do: City film office page for finding and reserving film and TV locations in Baltimore, with a link to the location search.
Best for: Baltimore city shoots
Where: Baltimore, MD
Montgomery County film help
What they do: The county answers filming questions, points you to the right offices and coordinates with police, fire and transportation.
Best for: Bethesda, Silver Spring and Rockville shoots
Where: Montgomery County, MD
Filming in Arlington
What they do: Filming application and county filming agreement for shoots on Arlington County property and public spaces, with staff who help with the application.
Best for: Shoots on Arlington County property
Where: Arlington, VA
Visit Alexandria Film Office
What they do: City film office with the Alexandria Film Permit for public outdoor space, location guidelines and connections to local hotels and businesses.
Best for: Old Town streets and the waterfront
Where: Alexandria, VA
Visit Loudoun, film and video
What they do: Works with the Virginia Film Office, helps location scouts find sites and acts as a local go-between with owners and permit offices.
Best for: Wineries, farms and estates in Loudoun
Where: Loudoun County, VA
Visit Fairfax
What they do: Supports the Virginia Film Office and takes filming and location scouting requests by email.
Best for: A first call for Fairfax County shoots
Where: Fairfax County, VA
Giggster
What they do: Marketplace to search and book homes, studios and other spaces for photo and film shoots.
Best for: Booking a house or a mansion by the hour
Where: Washington, DC, with Maryland and Virginia listings
Peerspace
What they do: Marketplace to book spaces by the hour for photo and video shoots, meetings and events.
Best for: Homes, lofts and studios by the hour
Where: Washington, DC, with Maryland and Virginia listings
Tagvenue
What they do: Marketplace to search and book venues, with a list of filming locations in DC.
Best for: A smaller set of DC venues and historic rooms
Where: Washington, DC
Do you need a permit to photograph a location in DC?
It depends on whose land it is and what you’re blocking. Private property is between you and the owner. Public streets, parks and federal land each have their own office. Alexandria says still photography doesn’t need its Film Permit, though other city permits may apply, and Montgomery County only asks for a county permit when a shoot closes or blocks roads or sidewalks. See photographing in the DC area: permits for the rest.
What does a film office do for a photo shoot?
The DC film office helps with permits, research and some location scouting. The state offices keep the location libraries and can tell you who to call. Ask them early, before you’ve promised anyone a spot.
Can you list your own property as a location?
Yes. DC, Virginia and Maryland each have a form on their location pages for owners who want their place in the library.
How far ahead should you book a location?
Earlier is better, and some places set a minimum. Arlington asks for its filming application at least 10 business days before the first shoot day. Check each office’s page for its own lead time.
Double-check before you book
Rules, contacts and listings change. Look at each office’s own page, and confirm the details with the owner or the office before you book.
Briefing a photographer
To write up a shoot, see the photo shoot brief builder. For agency teams, see the Agencies page. For the rest of the day, see the production day checklist.
