Virginia Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Virginia? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in Virginia

For an introduction to shooting in Virginia see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.

Virginia Film Locations

The Commonwealth of Virginia is a southeastern state known for its historic and scenic locations. The Appalachian Mountains are located in the west, and the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay are located in the east. Cities of note include Richmond, Charlottesville, and Virginia Beach. Film locations include American Revolutionary War sites, American Civil War sites, museums, memorials, plantations, mansions, universities, mountains, forests, lakes, beaches, lighthouses, and government buildings.

Agricultural film locations include vineyards, and farms that produce dairy products, tobacco, peanuts, apples, and peaches. Lumber mills are available for filming. Fishing vessels are also available for filming. Virginia mines iron, manganese, gold, copper, and zinc. Energy locations include natural gas fired power plants, and nuclear power plants.

Virginia has hosted productions including Homeland (2011-2020), Captain Phillips (2014), Foxcatcher (2014), Argo (2012), Lincoln (2012), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), John Adams (2008), Evan Almighty (2007), Mission: Impossible III (2006), The New World (2005), Cold Mountain (2003), Hannibal (2001), Mission: Impossible (1996), JFK (1991), The Silence Of The Lambs (1991), and Dirty Dancing (1987).

Richmond is the state capital and one-time capital of the Confederacy. Film locations include the Virginia State Capitol building, Virginia Governor’s Mansion, Old City Hall, Supreme Court of Virginia, Main Street Station, American Civil War Museum, White House of the Confederacy, Confederate Memorial Chapel, Virginia War Memorial, Virginia War Memorial Carillon, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, Virginia Historical Society, Edgar Allan Poe Museum, Science Museum of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University Egyptian Building, Jefferson Hotel, Maymont Mansion, Agecroft Hall & Gardens, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Hollywood Cemetery, and Richmond Raceway. Homeland (2011-2020), Lincoln (2012), John Adams (2008), Mission: Impossible 3 (2006), Cold Mountain (2003), and Hannibal (2001) filmed in Richmond.

State Farm is a 3000 acre historic backlot featuring a period farm, wharf, sailing ship, paddle wheeler, battlefields, jail, and pristine landscapes, a short 30 minute drive from Richmond. The location was built for John Adams (2008).

Petersburg National Battlefield a Civil War site in Petersburg. Lincoln (2012) filmed in Petersburg.

Charlottesville film locations include the Charlottesville Downtown Mall, University of Virginia Rotunda, and Monticello which was the plantation of Thomas Jefferson.

Crozet was filmed for Evan Almighty (2007).

Montpelier was the plantation house of James Madison.

Staunton is known for Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Frontier Culture Museum, and the abandoned DeJarnette Sanitarium.

Swannanoa Mansion is located in Afton.

Chickahominy River was filmed for The New World (2005).

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is a Civil War site in Fredericksburg.

Roanoke is known for Taubman Museum of Art, Virginia Museum of Transportation, and Hotel Roanoke.

Omni Homestead Resort is located in Hot Springs.

Mountain Lake Lodge, located in Pembroke, was filmed for Dirty Dancing (1987).

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is located in Appomattox.

Abingdon is a picturesque small town. Martha Washington Inn, and William King Museum are located in Abingdon.

Looking north, the DC suburbs have several interesting film locations including Arlington National Cemetery, United States Marine Corps War Memorial, Marine Corps Base Quantico, National Museum of the Marine Corps, CIA headquarters, The Pentagon, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and Washington Dulles International Airport designed by Eero Saarinen. Quantico was filmed for The Silence Of The Lambs (1991). Arlington National Cemetery featured in JFK (1991). CIA headquarters featured in Argo (2012), and Mission: Impossible (1996).

Mount Vernon was the plantation of George Washington. The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington is located at Mount Vernon.

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center was filmed for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009).

Leesburg is known for Morven Park mansion, which featured in Foxcatcher (2014), as well as Selma Plantation Mansion.

Danville has a picturesque main street.

Manassas National Battlefield Park is a Civil War site located in Prince William County.

Heading toward the coast, Virginia Beach is the state’s largest city. It is known for its Atlantic beaches and the Oceanfront promenade. Film locations include Cavalier Hotel, Military Aviation Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Mount Trashmore Park. Captain Phillips (2014) filmed in Virginia Beach.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is an interesting location used in Mission: Impossible III (2006).

Norfolk is known for Chrysler Museum of Art, decommissioned USS Wisconsin, and Norfolk Botanical Garden.

Newport News is known for Mariner’s Museum, Virginia Living Museum, and inactive US Navy auxiliary ships of the James River Reserve Fleet. Virginia Air and Space Center is located in Hampton.

Jamestown was the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America.

Colonial Williamsburg was filmed for John Adams (2008).

Yorktown is known for Colonial National Historical Park American Revolutionary War site, and the American Revolution Museum.

Wallops Flight Facility is a rocket launch site on Wallops Island.

Lighthouses of note include Assateague Lighthouse, New Cape Henry Lighthouse, Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, New Point Comfort Lighthouse, Old Point Comfort Lighthouse, and Smith Point Lighthouse.

Mabry Mill is a picturesque location on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains is known for its beautiful mountain forest wilderness.

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is known for bald cypress trees that grow in Lake Drummond.

Luray Caverns are located near Luray.

Other nature parks of note include Prince William Forest Park, False Cape State Park, Sky Meadows State Park, Pocahontas State Park, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Douthat State Park, Breaks Interstate Park, Shenandoah River State Park, Leesylvania State Park, Hungry Mother State Park, Fairy Stone State Park, First Landing State Park, Great Falls Park, Natural Bridge State Park, Natural Tunnel State Park, Grayson Highlands State Park, Smith Mountain Lake State Park, York River State Park, Occoneechee State Park, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Amusement parks of note include Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Kings Dominion.

Nuclear power plants include North Anna Nuclear Generating Station, and Surry Nuclear Power Plant.

Virginia Film Location Permits

The permitting process varies depending upon what part of the state you are shooting in and the type of permit you require. In general, permitting is a quick, easy and inexpensive process. Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

Virginia in the eastern and southern areas tends to be milder in the winter and warmer in the summer. Mountain areas and the western side of the state have snowy winter seasons and are cooler in the summer. October / November is the best time to find fall colors.

Events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:

• Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday Commemoration takes place in Monticello, in April.
• Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase horse race takes place in Great Meadow Course, in May.
• Jamestown Landing Day, in May.
• Reenactment of Battle of New Market, in May.
• Norfolk Harborfest in June.
• Independence Day Celebrations on the 4th of July.
• Pony Swim and Auction takes place in Chincoteague, in July.
• Shenandoah Valley Music Festival takes place in Orkney Springs, from July to September.
• Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention takes place in Galax, in August.
• American Music Festival takes place in Virginia Beach, in September.
• State Fair of Virginia takes place in Richmond, in September.
• Virginia Film Festival takes place in Charlottesville, in September.

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in the United States.

Unique Local Stories

Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.

If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.

If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.

Virginia Tax Incentives For Filming

Virginia offers a refundable tax credit of 15% on qualifying local spend. If the production is filmed in an economically distressed area of the Commonwealth the base credit is increased to 20% of qualifying expenses. An additional refundable credit equal to 10% of the total aggregate payroll for Virginia residents may be earned when total production costs in Virginia are between $250,000 and $1 million. This additional credit is increased to 20% of the aggregate payroll for Virginia residents when total production costs in Virginia exceed $1 million. A production may also earn an additional 10% of payroll paid to Virginia residents employed for the first time as actors or crew members. Virginia also offers a discretionary grant program, an exemption from the state sales & use tax, currently 4%, and a lodging tax exemption on hotel or motel stays after 90 consecutive days. Visit the Virginia Film Office for up to date information.

Virginia Film Crew & Talent

Crew. Virginia has a good pool of local film.

Contact us if you are looking for a Richmond, Charlottesville, or Norfolk based director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew in Virginia.

Talent. The local population is predominately Caucasian and African American. Film characters one might associate with Virginia include gentleman farmers, Historical tour guides, navy recruits, deer hunters, and DC suburbanites.

Virginia Film Equipment

Equipment. Virginia offers standard camera, grip, and lighting equipment for hire.

Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.

Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.

For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.

Virginia Studios & Post Production