Local service guide
Photography and Videography in Montreal
Arrange Photography and Videography in Montreal by giving providers the same brief: what you need to show, where you want to shoot, which finished files you need and your delivery deadline. Compare portfolios that match your project, then request an itemized quote covering production, editing, usage rights and location arrangements. For a public-space, métro or Old Port concept, confirm the applicable approval process before committing to the shoot date; the city, STM and Old Port publish separate requirements. [1] [2] [3]
Choose a provider for the finished work you need
Start with the business purpose. For staff portraits, ask to see a complete set with consistent lighting and backgrounds. For product photography, request examples that show materials and detail similar to yours. For interviews or a premises tour, watch finished projects and listen to the speech recording. Ask the provider to explain which parts of those examples they shot and edited.
Describe the intended use before requesting a quote: website banners, printed materials, paid advertising or internal training. Ask for the crop options and image resolution you need. For video, specify horizontal or vertical versions, approximate running time, caption language and whether you want separate files for each use. Put the agreed usage permission in the contract.
Compare quotes with the same scope
Ask each provider to separate planning, time on location, crew, equipment, editing and location expenses. State who will arrange access and approvals. Ask whether the quoted total includes travel, parking, applicable taxes and any insurance documentation the location operator requests. Keep optional aerial footage or a second location as separate items so you can decide whether they fit your budget.
Agree on the finished image count, retouching scope, video versions, revision allowance and delivery date. Ask whether you receive raw files or only edited deliverables, how you submit feedback and what extra revisions cost. Set a deadline for your own selections and approvals. Request cancellation, rescheduling and deposit terms before paying.
The fees below concern one location expense: park filming in Outremont. They do not establish photographer rates, video-production package prices or a citywide shoot budget. Ask providers to quote their creative work and the proposed location expenses as separate items. [1]
Confirm the public-space application route
For filming that occupies a street, alley, sidewalk, park, public square or municipal building, Montréal directs applicants through its temporary public-domain occupation process. The city requires an application for each public location. Select the borough for the exact address to find the applicable route; do not assume the same submission procedure or fee applies across the city. [1]
Several borough instructions require applicants to open a file with the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision de Montréal. Verdun directs filming requests to the borough instead. Before booking crew time, ask your provider to identify the responsible office, the required documents and who will submit the application. [1]
The city lists documents such as a synopsis or storyboard, locations, vehicles, schedule and liability-insurance proof, depending on the project and borough. Public-space occupation can also require a layout sketch, while street closures can require an engineer’s traffic-signage plan. Ask the provider to confirm the requirements for your proposed setup rather than treating permission as a single standard charge. [1]
Check métro and Old Port concepts before booking
For commercial or media photography and filming in the métro, STM requires an advance request through its filming and photography form. Its page sets a minimum submission lead time of 21 days and says fees may apply. Include the proposed station, equipment and crew in the brief, and request approval before treating that location as confirmed. [2]
STM’s limited amateur or student exception requires a small team and light equipment, with no tripod, flash or fixed equipment inside métro facilities. Participants must avoid obstructing passengers and must not photograph STM staff or métro users. A business shoot should follow the commercial request route rather than rely on that exception. [2]
The Old Port asks professional film and photography applicants to submit its form and arrange an agreement with the operator. Shooting fees apply, and the operator requires civil liability insurance. Ask for the location charge and approval terms for your project. Do not treat an indoor Old Port location or a métro station as an unconfirmed rain backup. [3] [2]
Prepare the premises and approve a workable schedule
Choose one person to coordinate staff, access and feedback. Give the provider a short list of essential shots, with the most important images or interview subjects identified. Agree on whether you will close the premises, work outside customer hours or photograph one area at a time. Ask staff to remove private documents and arrange products before the crew arrives.
For interviews, arrange a quiet room and ask the provider to assess sound before recording. Confirm the language for interviews and captions. Put the outdoor backup, weather decision time and rescheduling cost in writing. Finish with a schedule that includes setup, staff availability, location changes and the person who can approve adjustments on the day.
Outremont park-filming fees by group size
Local details that affect your job
Outremont park filming has group-size fees
Montréal’s Outremont instructions list hourly park-filming fees of CAD 236 for fewer than 10 people, CAD 352.50 for 10 to 30 people and CAD 586.25 for more than 30 people, with taxes included. The instructions also call for submitting the form and documents at least 14 business days before filming. Give the provider your expected headcount, confirm with Outremont which people count toward the fee band and request the applicable park charge as a separate quote item. [1]
Verdun uses its own submission route
For filming on Verdun’s public domain, parks, green spaces and municipal properties, the city directs applicants to the borough rather than the BCTM. Applicants must complete the public-domain filming occupation form and send it to the borough. Ask the provider to confirm this route if your proposed shoot takes place in Verdun. [1]
A bus shoot needs a specific plan
STM prohibits filming or photography in an operating bus when it interferes with passenger movement or the driver’s work. It offers bus rental for filming or photography under conditions, with an advance application and project-specific fees. If your concept needs a bus interior, ask the provider to price that rental option before promising the scene. [2]
Choose the next step for your proposed shoot
| Proposed setup | Next step | Quote question |
|---|---|---|
| Your shop or office | Arrange access and a schedule with the provider. | Does the quote cover setup, lighting, sound and disruption planning? |
| Municipal public space | Check the borough instructions and application for each occupied location. | Who submits the application and pays location-related charges? |
| Commercial métro shoot | Submit the STM request at least 21 days ahead. | Which approval and any STM fees does the quote cover? |
| Professional Old Port shoot | Submit the operator’s form and arrange an agreement. | Who handles shooting fees and civil liability insurance? |
| Outremont park filming | Confirm group size, hourly park fees and the 14-business-day submission requirement. | How many chargeable hours apply, and which people does Outremont count toward the fee band? |
Your hiring checklist
- Write the business purpose, intended uses and delivery deadline.
- List exact locations, proposed dates and expected crew and participant numbers.
- Request relevant complete galleries or finished videos.
- Compare itemized quotes with matching deliverables and usage permissions.
- Assign responsibility for location applications, fees and insurance documents.
- Agree on access, staff availability, interview language and caption language.
- Confirm weather, cancellation, revision and payment terms in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I budget for a business photo or video shoot?
Request a project quote based on your deliverables, locations, crew and editing needs. The published amounts here cover Outremont park-filming fees, not creative-service prices. Compare providers using the same scope and ask for location expenses as separate items. [1]
Does a city filming permit cover the Old Port?
Confirm approvals with each location operator. The Old Port publishes its own professional-shoot submission process, requires an agreement and civil liability insurance, and charges shooting fees. Ask the provider to resolve the requirements for the exact location before booking. [3]
Can we move a commercial shoot into the métro if it rains?
Arrange that option in advance. STM requires commercial or media shoots in the métro to submit a request, with a minimum lead time of 21 days. Choose another agreed backup if you cannot secure that arrangement. [2]
What should the provider deliver after the shoot?
Specify edited image count, retouching, file formats, video lengths, captions, usage permission and delivery date in the contract. Agree on how you select images and submit revisions, and ask whether raw files are included.
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.