Most people, even photographers, don’t realize that many of our public spaces actually need permits if you plan on taking professional photos there. Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Canon City all have different rules so it’s important to know beforehand. This can increase the cost of your session as well as increase the amount of time needed to plan.
Let’s dive in. Generally, in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and most of southern Colorado, if you are just taking photos of seniors, families, or just because, you do not need a permit. If you plan on using the images for commercial purposes, such as branding photos, headshots, and so forth, that’s when we will need a permit. They have recently required ALL photography to have a permit and need an allowance of 1 month to process the application.
I know it feels complicated, but I have your back. Here is a list of all the local areas where permits are needed, cost, and what to expect the timeline to look like. Now, fees and regulations are changing all the time so before our session, I will of course confirm the pricing and requirements but this is a great starting point!
All TOPS Properties including:
No permit required except for commercial work. Permit fees as follows for commercial work:
Application Fee: $25
Permit: $250/day
For more details here is the information sheet from the city: https://coloradosprings.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/commercial_film_policy.pdf
No permit required except for commercial work. Permit fees as follows for commercial work:
Application Fee: $25
Garden of the Gods Park: $500/day
No permit required except for commercial work. Permit fees as follows for commercial work:
Application Fee: $25
Permit: $250/day
No permit needed.
The nice thing about Pueblo is the city government is fairly lax on photography permits. I haven’t come across a place that requires one yet. Of course, we will check before your session just to be sure.
Fremont County is another great spot for avoiding photography permit fees. It also and beautiful spaces and has a small town feel with some delicious restaurants. You can easily make an entire day out of visiting! P.s. It’s where I live, so I may be a little biased.