Photography in the Conservatory

Casual Photography

No special permit is required for casual photos of friends and family, vacation photos, etc. or other non-commercial/non-professional occasions.

Private Group Photography Sessions

Take advantage of our after-hours permit for non-professional individuals or class/club groups. You may reserve exclusive time in the Conservatory after-hours; beginning at 4:15pm. Availability is seasonal depending on daylight, or from 9:00am -10:00am on selected weekdays.

To schedule:
1. Contact the Conservatory at 206-684-4743 to check for availability for the specific dates.
2. Call the Parks Scheduling Office at 206-684-4081 to obtain your permit.

The permit fee is $75 per group, plus $15 per hour. Additional staffing costs may apply during after-hours. One week minimum advance notice required.

• Please do not sit, stand, or place props or equipment in the displays. The rockeries are not safe for sitting.
• Do not use aerosols or spray bottles such as art fixative inside the building.
• Our benches and floors are porous and easily stained by pastels, charcoal and paints. Please bring a tray or mat to hold your supplies.
• No food or drink is permitted.

Formal or Portrait Photography

The Seattle Parks Department requires a permit for professional/formal and portrait photography, and the Conservatory requires that it take place after hours – after 4:15 pm or possibly one hour from 9am – 10am on selected mornings. If after hours, you will also need to arrange for a staff member to be with you during your shoot and to lock up the premises.

To schedule a photo shoot:
1. Call the Conservatory office at 206-684-4743 or email to Giselle Blythe (giselle.blythe@seattle.gov) to discuss your plans and schedule a time for your shoot.
2. Contact the Event Management Office at 206-684-4081 to arrange for your permit and after-hours staff.

For information on permit fees contact:
Event Management Office at 206-684-4081

Commercial or Editorial Filming and Photography

Commercial filming and photography (product advertising or promotion, magazine editorial content, commercial websites), filming for corporate videos, television programming, television commercials, and feature films is permitted with a Seattle Film Permit. The fee for a Seattle Film Permit is $25 per day. You will need to first schedule a time in the Conservatory after public hours, after 4:15 pm any day that is free on the calendar. In most cases, you will need to hire a staff member to be with you during your shoot and to lock up the premises after you wrap. If the impact of the project is considered high, you may be required to pay a $500/$1,000 security deposit. Commercial filming and photography productions are required to provide a Certificate of Insurance covering the City of Seattle unless criteria in the Seattle Film Manual are met.

To schedule a commercial photo shoot:
1. Call the Conservatory office at 206-684-4743 or email to Giselle Blythe (giselle.blythe@seattle.gov) to discuss your plans and schedule a time for your shoot.
2. Contact the Office of Film + Music and the Scheduling Office to arrange for your permit and after-hours staff as listed below.

For information on Film Permit fees contact:
Seattle Office of Film + Music, Chris Swenson (chris.swenson@seattle.gov) or at 206-733-9245, www.seattle.gov/filmandmusic
For information on staffing fees and to schedule staffing contact:
Event Management Office at 206-684-4081

The Conservatory is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00am-4:00pm. Closed Mondays.

We look forward to helping you arrange your photo shoot.