Florida 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 Florida? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Florida
For an introduction to shooting in Florida 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.
Florida Film Locations
Florida, The Sunshine State, is one of the busiest and best established production centers in the United States. Famous for Miami’s palm-lined white sand beaches, the state is a popular destination for North American and European productions looking for year-round long sunny shoot days.
Agricultural film locations include farms that produce oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, ornamental flowers, sugarcane, strawberries, watermelons, tomatoes, bell peppers, celery, sweet corn, and green beans. Florida mines phosphate, limestone, dolomite, titanium, zircon, and other important heavy minerals. Boats of all varieties are available for filming. Tourism is the economic mainstay. The space industry is an important sector of the economy. Energy locations include natural gas, nuclear, and coal fired power plants.
Florida has hosted a long list of productions including Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), Nyad (2023), The Irishman (2019), The Florida Project (2017), Moonlight (2016), Tomorrowland (2015), Iron Man 3 (2013), Dexter (2006-2013), Monster (2003), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Armageddon (1998), There’s Something About Mary (1998), Bad Boys (1995), Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Cape Fear (1991), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Days of Thunder (1990), Scarface (1983), Body Heat (1981), and The Godfather: Part II (1974).
Film locations can be divided into the following regions:
Florida Panhandle
Located in the northwest of the state, the Florida Panhandle includes the counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.
Tallahassee is the state capital. Film locations include the Florida State Capitol building, and Tallahassee Automobile Museum. Florida State University campus locations include the Westcott Building, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, and Doak Campbell Stadium.
Pensacola is known for the National Naval Aviation Museum, and Fort Pickens.
Air Force Armament Museum is located next to the Eglin Air Force Base.
Lighthouse of note include Pensacola Lighthouse, and Cape St George Lighthouse.
Florida Panhandle state parks include St Andrews State Park, Henderson Beach State Park, Grayton Beach State Park, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, and Florida Caverns State Park.
USS Oriskany is an artificial reef dive site.
North Florida
Located in the northwest of the state, North Florida includes the counties of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St John’s, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union.
Jacksonville is located on Atlantic coast. Film locations of note include Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, Kingsley Plantation, Little Talbot Island State Park, Big Talbot Island State Park, Fort Clinch State Park, Timucuan Ecological and Historical, Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, Huguenot Memorial Park, World Golf Village, Jacksonville Beach Pier, TIAA Bank Field, Autobahn Indoor Speedway, and Kona Skate Park.
University of Florida campus, located in Gainesville, locations include Century Tower, Curtis M. Phillips Center, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, and O’Connell Center.
Lighthouses of note include St Augustine Lighthouse, and Amelia Island Lighthouse.
White Oak Conservation is located in Yulee. Wildlife of note include elephants, giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, tigers, Florida panthers, and cape buffaloes.
Central Florida
Central Florida includes the counties of Brevard, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia.
Orlando is best known for its theme parks including the following:
Walt Disney World Resort comprises the following: 4 theme parks including Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 2 water parks including Disney’s Blizzard Beach, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. 31 themed resort hotels, 9 non-Disney hotels, several golf courses, a camping resort, and other entertainment venues, including the outdoor shopping center Disney Springs.
Universal Orlando Resort comprises the following: 3 theme parks including Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe. Universal Orlando Resort also includes Volcano Bay waterpark, Universal CityWalk entertainment district, and eight Loews Hotels.
SeaWorld Parks and Resorts Orlando includes SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove, and Aquatica.
Legoland Florida Resort includes the Legoland Florida Theme Park, Legoland Water Park, Peppa Pig Theme Park, and 3 on-site accommodations.
Gatorland is a theme park and wildlife preserve.
Old Town is an open-air walking district and entertainment complex located in Kissimmee.
The Wheel at ICON Park Orlando is a 400 ft tall giant ferris wheel.
Orlando museums include Orlando Museum of Art, and Orlando Science Center.
Orlando venues include Orange County Convention Center, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Camping World Stadium, Bounce House, Amway Center, and Exploria Stadium.
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club Lodge is a golf facility located in Orlando.
Florida Polytechnic University campus in Lakeland is known for the IST Building which was designed by Santiago Calatrava.
The Florida Project (2017), and Monster (2003) filmed in the Orlando area.
Last Resort Bar was filmed for Monster (2003).
Kennedy Space Center is located on located Merritt Island, next to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A featured in Tomorrowland (2015) and Armageddon (1998).
Bok Tower Gardens is a 250-acre contemplative garden and bird sanctuary located atop Iron Mountain.
Tampa is located on Tampa Bay, along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Theme parks of note include Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is an African-themed park. Other locations of note include Adventure Island, Dinosaur World, Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Manatee Viewing Center, Carole Baskin’s Big Cat Rescue, Museum of Science and Industry, SS American Victory Museum, Tampa Museum of Art, Henry B. Plant Museum, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Convention Center, Florida State Fairgrounds, Raymond James Stadium, and Amalie Arena. Edward Scissorhands (1990) suburb locations were filmed in Lutz.
St Petersburg, located between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, is known for the Salvador Dali Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Chihuly Collection, Florida Holocaust Museum, St Petersburg Pier, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center, Fort De Soto Park, Sunken Gardens, and Tropicana Field.
Daytona International Speedway featured in Monster (2003), and Days of Thunder (1990).
Lighthouses of note include Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, Egmont Key Lighthouse, and Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse.
South Florida
South Florida includes the counties of Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Sarasota, and St Lucie.
Miami is Florida’s largest city. Film locations include beautiful beaches with turquoise waters, beachfront Art Deco architecture, modern mansions, famous hotels and luxury resorts, marinas, golf courses, and sporting venues. Miami offers a diversity of neighborhoods such as the contemporary skyscrapers of Downtown Miami, Little Havana, Little Haiti, and a variety of suburban looks.
Art deco buildings of note include Señor Frog’s, Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Center, Colony Theatre, Marlin Hotel, Cadillac Hotel, Park Central Hotel, Colony Hotel, Waldorf Towers Hotel, Breakwater Hotel, Edison Hotel, Victor Hotel, Leslie Hotel, The Carlyle, Crescent Hotel, McAlpin Hotel, Haddon Hall, Miami Beach Main Post Office, Astor Hotel, and Essex House.
Modern buildings of note include 1111 Lincoln designed by Herzog & de Meuron, Pérez Art Museum Miami designed by Herzog & de Meuron, One Thousand Museum designed by Zaha Hadid, New World Center designed by Frank Gehry, Park Grove designed by Rem Koolhaas, Grove at Grand Bay designed by Bjarke Ingels, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts designed by César Pelli, and Monad Terrace designed by Jean Nouvel.
Museums of note include Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Museum of Contemporary Art, Institute of Contemporary Art, Wolfsonian-FIU museum, Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, and Coral Castle.
Other beautiful buildings of note include the Freedom Tower, Olympia Theater, Biltmore Hotel, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Delano South Beach, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, and Casa Casuarina which was the home of Gianni Versace.
Stiltsville is a group of wood stilt houses located one mile south of Cape Florida.
The Venetian Islands are a chain of artificial islands in Biscayne Bay.
Parks of note include Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, South Pointe Park, Crandon Park, Bayfront Park, Matheson Hammock Park, Haulover Park, Maurice A. Ferré Park, and Virginia Key Beach Park.
Venetian Pool is a spring water filled pool.
Miami area sport venues include Hard Rock Stadium, LoanDepot Park, FTX Arena, and FLA Live Arena.
Miami International Autodrome hosts the Miami Formula One Grand Prix.
PortMiami is the world’s largest cruise ship port.
The Miami area has hosted productions including Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), The Irishman (2019), Moonlight (2016), Iron Man 3 (2013), Dexter (2006-2013), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), There’s Something About Mary (1998), Bad Boys (1995), Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Scarface (1983), and The Godfather: Part II (1974).
Fort Lauderdale is known for its suburban homes built on boat canals, Las Olas Beach, Fort Lauderdale Beach, Pompano Beach Pier, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum, Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum, and Hard Rock which is a hotel shaped like a guitar.
Palm Beach is known for the Henry M. Flagler Mansion, Norton Museum of Art, Mar-a-Lago resort, and John D. MacArthur Beach State Park.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is located in Sarasota.
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge is located in Immokalee.
The Florida Everglades are a unique wetlands area home to alligators, snakes, turtles, and a variety of birdlife. Cape Fear (1991) filmed in the Florida Everglades.
The Florida Keys have beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, and the iconic Seven Mile Bridge which links the islands. Fort Jefferson is located in Dry Tortugas National Park. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is known for its coral reef, mangrove forest, seagrass fields, and Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg transport ship wreck artificial reef dive site.
Lighthouses of note include Cape Florida Lighthouse, Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, Sanibel Island Lighthouse, Dry Tortugas Lighthouse, and Key West Lighthouse.
St Lucie Nuclear Power Plant, and Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station are nuclear power plants in this area.
Florida Film Location Permits
Permits are required throughout Florida for anyone shooting for commercial use on public property. Miami-Dade county permits cost $100 per each 28 production days. Permits take 24hrs with more complicated shoots requiring 14 days notice. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Most of Florida has a humid subtropical climate. South Florida has a tropical climate. October through May are the dry season. June through September is the rainy season with thunderstorms and hurricanes common. Florida is one of the most tornado-prone states in the United States however these tend to be weaker than those in the Midwest and Great Plains.
Events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• Gasparilla Pirate Fest takes place in Tampa in January.
• Frog Leg Festival is held in Fellsmere in January.
• Jazz in the Gardens Music Fest takes place in Miami Gardens in March.
• Wellington Bacon and Bourbon Festival takes place in Wellington in March.
• Florida Strawberry Festival takes place in Plant City in March.
• Worm Gruntin’ Festival takes place in Sopchoppy in April.
• Flora-Bama Mullet Toss takes place in Pensacola in April.
• Sugar Sand Festival is held in Clearwater Beach in April.
• Blue Crab Festival takes place in Panacea in May.
• Florida Folk Festival takes place in White Springs in May.
• Miami Formula One Grand Prix is held in Miami in May.
• Island Hopper Songwriter Fest takes place in Captiva / Fort Myers 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.
Florida Film Crew & Talent
Crew. Florida has a large and experienced pool of creative and technical crews.
Contact us if you are looking for a Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, or Tallahassee 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 Florida.
Talent. Florida has a predominately Caucasian, Latino and African American population. Southern Florida, in particular, has a large Cuban community. Movie character stereotypes include suntanned snowbird retirees, panhandle rednecks, and gator handlers.
Florida Film Equipment
Equipment. Florida offers both Panavision and Arri equipment as well as several boutique equipment companies.
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.
Florida Studios & Post Production
Studios. Florida has many state of the art facilities to choose from including a film lab.
Florida Tax Incentives For Filming
Florida has cancelled its film incentives program. The state still offers a sales tax exemption on certain items used exclusively in film and TV productions. Miami-Dade County has an incentive program. Other local film commissions offer hotel discounts and grants to encourage filming.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation. All major cities in Florida are well serviced by domestic and international airlines so it’s easy to get to opposite season weather, quickly.
Accommodation. Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and other areas of Florida. Hotels of note include:
Final Notes
Safety. Florida is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Relax by the beach. Try some key lime pie.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Florida, please see below:
Hire Florida Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Florida, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Florida, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.
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