AZ BS Thread 4²0

Very tough to find dispersed camping due to all the cool sites are on the Indiana Res. You can find a few of the locals that rent little spots to set up camp on there properties?? We found a lady on airbnb and set up in her yard for a night.

 

Always down for talking photography in general but wanted to get the lowdown on what permits and insurance is required for shooting state, city and county lands…

 

It's a Jeep thing. We wouldn't understand...........

 

I did more real estate, and then graduation/family photos for awhile, but stopped as the kids have been growing and needing more time for them/actual job. So now it’s more a hobby for my own use, kids, zoo, etc.

 

No permits for any of that. Its all BLM land around here. Go do what you want. Pick up garbage, dont light any forest fires. Some offroad trails require permits to get in but for the most part its just a website to go on and request them.

 

You’d be surprised, as a photographer making money it looks like I need special use permits to do sessions in Marcopia and Coconino parks/forests and certain parks in the city of Scottsdale also require $100 permits. These locations also require I provide them with a specific insurance certificate naming them and their employees harmless to the tune of 1M$. Those are the only places I’ve checked yet…

In HI it was the same way but some locations I’d have to pull a $20 permit for every session.

TBH a LOT of photographers don’t realise they need these permits or insurance.

 

Seriously?! News to me. But then again I am no photographer . Interesting to know tho.

 

All National parks are now permits only for any professional or profit making photography. Hence why now you see less and less “influencer” with much Park videos and drone footage. Some won’t even go because they can’t film.

 

Yeah, if you’re charging money for a photo session insurance and permits are a thing. Every hotel or wedding venue requires the same insurance too.

It’s not bad though, $35k of equipment coverage and $2M liability is about $500 a year and I can do the certificates of insurance myself via a online portal.

 

National Parks are now a proper PIA, I used to do 200 sessions a year in the Rocky Mountain NP. They have changed things recently and it’s just not worth it now.

 

Oh I do like that! Hopefully see less of the articles too saying "secret hidden gem you must see" or whatever.

Yeah not to bad and makes it easy with that portal. Thats awesome its not a day worth of phone calls and emails.

 

I went down this path a few years back before shooting some engagement/wedding photos for some friends. Those permits apply to commercial use, which according to my description the person I spoke with understanding of the rules did not apply. Basically he boiled down to are you making commercials for tv/print or stills for the same reason, if not then no permit needed as long you kept to locations that were accessible to the general public ie not within any special closure areas.

 

Thats kinda how I figured it would be. But knowing the how entities work...Its all a money grab wherever possible.

 

BLM might be different than a state or federal park tho, I would assume it would be very lax in comparison...

 

I just see it no different than a family taking a photo at the grand canyon. Just different attire. The end results of photos will be used in the same exact manner for both parties.

 

The crackdown on media for profit is getting a bit interesting to watch unfold.

Don't think photographers were ever the issue, seems to be the "influencer" crowd that these rules come after, and others are getting lumped into the benefits Have noticed people that have off-roading channels in Canada are getting pressed for Visa's when coming to the States to hit trails, as an example.

 

Yeah it depends where, city of Phoenix and Goodyear no permits for weddings or family photos. City of Scottsdale depends on the location. Maricopa and Coconino require permit if event is for monetary gain regardless of subject matter.

The difference is you’re running a business on state lands and making money in a public space. Typically it’s not for them to make money off the photographer it’s about liability.

Quite often with county you can get an annual permit which makes life a lot easier.

 

At least in America it’s pretty liberal as to where you can get married… on a beach, next to a river, on top of a mountain. In England you’re not allowed to get married outside, period. Has to be under the roof of “god”. God isn’t my thing but surely on top of a mountain you couldn’t be any closer, right?
However, roof of god also includes hotels and fixed gazebos in nice gardens IF they have the right permit, but it still needs to be under a roof, dumb.

We got married in HI then went back to England and had our second ceremony outside as we were officially already married. All our friends were so jealous of our outside wedding

 

In other news...

First time homeowner here - cleaning the condenser coils and some other routine maintenance on the HVAC and was suggested a UV Filtration system.

upon digging - seems like a total sham to me and a marketing ploy to just prevent me from getting on my roof once a year and cleaning the coils, and instead a bulb change every two years with a $1600 starting tag.

Anyone have any experience with these? Are my suspicions (in)correct?

 

I'd say your suspicions are correct