Film & Photo Shoots

Still Photography activities require a permit only when any of the following occur:

• The activity uses model(s), set(s), or prop(s) that are not part of the location’s natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities
• The cave would incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity.

DAILY one-time use above ground permit – $30. Photographers must have a permit for each individual photo session or shoot with each client. Mini shoots are considered multiple sessions and require an annual photography permit.

ANNUAL above-ground photography permit – $300 per year. The annual permit allows multiple sessions with different clients in a day or on multiple occasions for one year starting from the permit purchase date. 

• Dates and times of your photography shoot(s) must be booked in advance with Cave of the Mounds management. We are open 9-5 daily; after-hours appointments are subject to approval in advance.
• Photographers and clients must stay on trails or lawn areas at all times. No walking into garden beds, climbing rock walls, climbing trees, or going off trail.
• There is no access to buildings that are not open and available to the general public. If approved to photograph after hours, please plan accordingly as restrooms will be closed.
• You may not use props that are otherwise not allowed at Cave of the Mounds—for example, no pets in the gardens. Allowable props may only be placed on lawns and trails–not in garden beds or off-trail. Props may not be left unattended.
• Please do not trample, pick, or collect flowers, leaves, branches, or rocks anywhere on the grounds or in the gardens.
• All photographers and clients must follow guest etiquette. Guests visiting the property for the purpose of touring the Cave of the Mounds attraction are free to use any area at any time. Areas cannot be reserved, and photography does not take priority over other guest activities.
• Questions during the time of the shoot can be directed to any of our Cave of the Mounds lead team members.

Commercial filming requires a contract. Commercial filming is defined as digital or film recording of a visual image or sound recording by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience, such as for a documentary, television or feature film, advertisement, or similar project. All commercial filming requires a contract and is subject to a fee depending on location and cost to monitor the activity.

Sharing the area. A permit does not allow the permittee to restrict visitors from any location unless under contract. Normal visitor use patterns will not be interrupted for longer than three to five minutes and only as specified in the approved permit. The permittee will make every effort to complete filming or photography activities before or after normal business hours of 9 AM to 5 PM. Visitors will be allowed to watch if the activities take place during normal business hours. If it is not during typical business hours, a contract will be required.

News coverage does not require a permit, for either filming or still photography, but is subject to time, place, and manner restrictions, if warranted, to maintain order and ensure the safety of the public and the media, and protect natural and cultural resources.

Stock and commercial photography require advance arrangements. Sufficient time must be allowed for cave staff to evaluate the requested activity. We require a minimum of 10 working days to process a film permit in order to evaluate location considerations, complex logistics, or coordination with other visitor activities. Incomplete applications or non-payment of application fees will result in the request not being considered. Cave of the Mounds reserves the right to deny permits for certain dates when photography sessions could interfere with scheduled events. Projects involving commercial or stock photography and commercial filming (such as photos taken for resale or for use in publications, catalog shoots, commercials, professional videos, and the like) should contact Tate Phillip, (608) 437-3038 x107 at Cave of the Mounds to review commercial use policies and location agreements.

Yes! We do allow drone footage above our property. We do ask that if we do this, please share your footage with us at tate@caveofthemounds.com