photographysocial-mediaplanningetiquette
Can I do paid photoshoots at splash pads?
Quick answer
Most public parks require permits for commercial photography, including splash pads. Permit costs range from $25-500 depending on city and crew size. Family portrait sessions for personal use generally don't need permits, but bringing reflectors, multiple lights, or full crews triggers commercial rules.
Public parks treat commercial photography differently from personal use. A parent shooting their own family with a phone is fine. A photographer charging clients for sessions is commercial, and most cities require a permit obtained from the parks department. Permit fees range from $25 for small portrait sessions to $500+ for full crews with lights and assistants. Failing to get a permit can result in fines and being asked to leave. Engagement, family, and senior portraits are common at splash pads — photographers should call the city in advance. The line gets blurry with influencer content; a single person on a phone shooting personal use rarely needs a permit. Bringing a reflector, an assistant, or multiple lights generally crosses into 'commercial' territory. Some cities have splash-pad-specific bans on commercial shoots due to crowding.