I'm based in the San Francisco bay area and during my gorilla shoots when I'm normally jumping out of the car doing my shoot and jumping back in before being challenged by anyone. The whole permit thing keeps coming up. Apart from it just being embarrassing that the model thinks your not being professional its just such a pain in the ass to deal with an official that has the fate of your shoot in their hands.
So I've researched what needs to be done to get permits and would like some feedback from others who are dealing with the same issues. Typically my photoshoot will have myself, an assistant, model, mua and a hair stylist and I shoot with a nice camera and a bunch of hensel lighting. So even when I'm just doing something for my own pleasure, I can't do anything on a small scale, I run into the "You've got a big crew and some nice equipment for a personal shoot" speech. But to shoot in SF in the parks with a permit its a minumum of $200 for four hours. Which is a real pain in the model is late and you hit traffic. I'm not out to screw the local authorities of income even though I think its doubling billing why is it that I can't shoot some images in the park when people's annoying kids are screaming and disturbing me while I'm shooting? Didnt I already pay taxes for the park.
I noticed in the permit requirements for SF it specifically notes that wedding photographers are meant to pay for a permit as well. Is everyone just shooting and hoping they wont get busted?
Jon
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