Photography Sessions in the Park

The Department of Recreation and Parks welcomes you to take photos during your visit to capture casual snapshots to help remember your visit. The Department defines a snapshot as a quick, spontaneous, informal photo without artistic intent. Please follow the Department’s General Photography Guidelines when taking pictures. You can share your photos on social media. If you do, please consider tagging the Department on Instagram (@recparks), X (@RecParks), and Facebook (@AARecParks).

The Department of Recreation and Parks defines planned portrait and group photography as all posed portraiture of individuals or groups (groups must be 20 or fewer). On-site park staff reserves the right to define Portrait Photography further on a case-by-case basis.

All planned portrait and group photography must have a reservation and be scheduled in advance. While there is no fee to book a reservation, standard park entrance fees still apply. All photography inquiries should be emailed to the regional park you intend to visit. Please see the list of parks and contacts at the bottom of this document. The Department of Recreation and Parks reserves the right to decline a reservation at our discretion.

A request for a photography session must be submitted at least seven days before the session. Sessions must be held during park hours (dawn to ½ hour before posted closing time). Reservations will be approved and accepted up to four days before the requested reservation time. All photographers must check in upon entering the park.

The Department of Recreation and Parks defines planned portrait and group photography as all posed portraiture of individuals or groups (groups must be 20 or less). On-site park staff reserves the right to define Portrait Photography further on a case-by-case basis.

All scheduled portrait and group photography requires prior approval, advance scheduling, and payment of session fees before arrival at the park. All photography inquiries should be emailed to the regional park you intend to visit. Please see the list of parks and contacts at the bottom of this document. The Department of Recreation and Parks reserves the right to decline a reservation at our discretion.

A request for a photography session must be submitted at least seven days before the session. Sessions must be held during park hours (dawn to ½ hour before posted closing time). Reservations will be approved and accepted up to four days before the requested reservation time. All photographers must check in upon entering the park.

For-paid services, photographers must book all photo sessions and pay the required fees.

Daily photo sessions are $50 per 2-hour block. Make a daily reservation.

Photographers who use our regional parks frequently may acquire a special membership for $250 per calendar year. Purchase an annual photography pass  
This annual pass allows photographers to forgo the $50 individual session photography fee and the daily park entry fee. Once an annual pass is submitted and approved, the Department of Recreation and Parks will email instructions on obtaining it.

Note: The photographer's clients must pay the daily park entry fee. Photographers must still abide by the policies concerning reservation and payment described above.

To hold reservations for photo sessions with a fee, a $50 non-refundable deposit is required. All fees must be paid within two weeks of receiving the confirmation and invoice, or upon receipt of the reservation, whichever is closer to the reservation date.

In inclement weather, as determined by Parks staff, the photographer may reschedule the session at no additional cost. The fees paid will apply to the new reservation.

Photography fees will be waived when renting a Department regional park facility, including pavilions and rooms, for weddings, birthday parties, and other events. Contact each park for more information.

The Department of Recreation and Parks welcomes inquiries about commercial photography & videography for film, television, advertising, and other similar shoots. The Marketing and Communications Division for Recreation and Parks reviews each request and provides the final approval. Please email inquiries to rpevents@aacounty.org.

Photographers and artists do not need to pre-register when visiting on their own. However, they must adhere to the guidelines below and avoid disrupting other visitors or Recreation and Park activities. Solo artists and photographers must pay the daily park entry fee.

Photographers or artists planning to bring a class on a field trip to one of our regional parks, or photo clubs wishing to visit, must register their groups in advance. Depending on the regional park's schedule and the size of the group, such groups may be asked to restrict their activities to certain areas of the park or times. Depending on the exact size and purpose of a photography or painting class trip to the regional park, the fee may vary (but will be at least the daily park entry fee).

A request for a photography session must be submitted at least seven days in advance. Sessions must be held during park hours (dawn to ½ hour before posted closing time). Reservations will be approved and accepted up to four days before the requested reservation time. All photographers must check in upon entering the park.