Wedding Photography at City Hall

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT

1. For security and scheduling purposes, those conducting wedding photography at City Hall or adjacent City buildings must register with the Pasadena Film Office no sooner than two business days in advance of their photo shoot allowing the City to offer priority to municipal meetings, events or other activities that take precedence over personal wedding photography. Please call the Film Office at 626-744-3964 to confirm date availabilty. Dates will not be guaranteed any sooner than 48 hours.
2. In the event that there is an event scheduled at City Hall, wedding photography will not be approved.
3. Documentation and permitting requirements are listed below:

PERSONAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

1. For personal wedding photography (non-commercial), the bridal party must provide, at time of registration, the following: a copy of their wedding invitation and information confirming the wedding facility, wedding facility contact & phone number and the date and time of the wedding. Copies of identification (driver’s license or passport) of the bride, groom (if they’re on the premises) and the photographer are also required. This information may be verified by City staff to determine if the activity is commercial in nature.
2. If the photographer is a family member or a non-professional photographer such as a personal friend, a photocopy of their ID must be provided to the Film Office as well. No business license is required in this circumstance. Individuals who state this more than twice over the course of a year will be designated as a commercial photographer.
3. If the bridal party can document that they are conducting personal wedding photography, the professional photographer must provide a copy of their valid Pasadena business license and have this with them while on City premises. A Pasadena business license may be obtained at The Pasadena Business License section, located at 100 N. Garfield Av Room N106. The Business License section may be reached at 626-744-4166. The Business License staff will issue citations to any party who violates these requirements or refuses to immediately vacate the premises and will issue additional citations with higher fines to professional photographers who continue to ignore these procedures.
4. Once this documentation is verified, the registration form will be signed with an original signature by the Filming Coordinator and include the approved still photography date. A check for $71.00 payable to the City of Pasadena will be collected from the applicant at the time of registration. Please bring your approved registration with you while at City Hall along with a copy of the business license for any professional wedding photographer.
5. Anyone not providing the above documentation will be assumed to be part of a commercial photography shoot and will be asked to vacate the premises until they obtain a filming permit (see Commercial Wedding Photography) and follow the City’s filming regulations.
6. Wedding Photography permit applications may be submitted by fax at 626-396-7567 or emailed to filmoffice@cityofpasadena.net and paid by phone. Walk-ins are also welcome.

COMMERCIAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY (Fashion Layouts/ Bride Magazine/ Bridal Catalogs, etc.)

1. Must follow the standard City still photo filming guidelines and obtain a filming permit from the Film Office, provide proof of insurance, and pay the still photography permit fee ($54.23) and City Hall hourly rental fees ($68.00 an hour/ 2 hour minimum). They must adhere to standard film permit processing times. A filming violation fine ($823.00) will be issued to commercial photographers shooting without a filming permit who refuse to vacate the premises. A copy of the approved filming permit should be in the photographers possession while on City Hall premises or they will be asked to vacate the premises.
2. A copy of the Pasadena Film Permit Application can be downloaded at www.filmpasadena.com.

ENFORCEMENT

City Hall security personnel, Film Office staff, Business License staff or City event monitors can request to see the above documentation from any wedding photography contingent at City Hall at any time including a valid ID. If approved permit is not provided, wedding parties must leave the premises immediately. Anyone operating without an approved permit is subject to being fined.