Home » More About BBG » Pressroom

Commercial Photography at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

BBG welcomes requests for commercial photography. Please read our policy, fees, and charges before submitting a request to shoot or film.

If you are interested in booking a commercial photo shoot at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, please complete our Commercial Photography Request Form (pdf) and return to the Communications Coordinator via fax (718-622-7839) or email (communications@bbg.org).

Other inquiries can be made by contacting the Communications department:

Rules and Regulations

The Garden is closed on Mondays and generally, no shooting is permitted.

Specific garden areas may not be available for commercial photography. The Garden reserves final approval considering the time of year, the parameters of the individual photography shoot, and to levee fees to accommodate closing any part of the garden and/or for use of the Conservatory.

Fees

Still Photography

Fees are determined on a seasonal price structure basis and will be finalized on an individual basis. Generally speaking, photography can be conducted during hours that the Garden is open to the public, with fees of approximately $500 for the first hour and $250 for each additional hour or part of an hour. Fees before the Garden is open or after the Garden is closed are $500 an hour or any part of an hour. We encourage on-site scouting shoots prior to finalizing photo shoot arrangements and fees. There is a surcharge fee of $1,000 to shoot inside the Conservatory pavilions.

Video/Film Photography

During hours that the Garden is open to the public, fees are $500 for the first hour and $350 for each additional hour or part of an hour. Fees before the Garden is open or after the Garden is closed are $500 an hour or any part of an hour.

For film or video shoots in which the total crew exceeds 20 persons, the minimum fee for use of the Garden is $500 an hour. If shoots require additional set-up or special installations, additional fees will apply.

There is a surcharge fee of $1,000 to film inside the Conservatory pavilions.

Movie Shoots

Fees will be negotiated for use of the Garden for movie shoots.

General Regulations

Security: Included in the fee is one security guard from the Garden staff who has the responsibility of protecting Garden property and ensuring public safety. If the Garden determines that additional security is needed, the photography client will be required to pay $50 per hour per security person.

Vehicles under 9 feet high to be used only on Garden paths are charged at $50 per hour per vehicle. Vehicles listed on check list are not charged parking fees at the parking lot. If transportation is needed within the Garden, the Garden's tram, driven by Garden personnel, may be available to rent at $75 per hour. The tram seats 12 people.

No animals or plants are allowed into the Garden.

No eating or drinking is allowed on the grounds of the Garden or in the Conservatory pavilions. Food may be purchased and eaten at the Terrace Cafe. To arrange catering, please call Charles, Sally & Charles Catering at 718-398-2400.

No vehicle over 9 feet high is allowed into the Garden. Vehicle access will be determined on an individual basis.

The Garden does not have an area for dressing rooms, make-up, or green room/staging area, nor does the Garden provide exclusive use of bathrooms for photography clients.

Insurance

A Certificate of Insurance indicating a general liability coverage with specific limits as follows must be submitted prior to commencement of photography operations: $2,000,000 general aggregate, $2,000,000 products-comp/op. aggregate, $1,000,000 personal and adv. injury, $1,000,000 each occurrence, and $100,000 fire damage.