Idaho 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 Idaho? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Idaho
For an introduction to shooting in Idaho 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.
Idaho Film Locations
Idaho is a northwestern state known for its rugged mountains, green meadows, wild flowers, evergreen forests, crystal lakes, rushing rivers, waterfalls, beautiful roads, sand dunes, hot springs, picturesque mountain towns, rustic cabins, and ghost towns. The Rocky Mountains run the length of the state.
Agricultural film locations include cattle and sheep ranches, and farms that produce potatoes, wheat, lentils, barley, and oats. Lumber yards are available for filming. Idaho mines molybdenum, silver, lead, and phosphate. Energy locations include hydroelectric plants, natural gas fired power plants, as well as wind and solar power plants.
Idaho has hosted films as wide ranging as Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Wild Wild West (1999), Dante’s Peak (1997), Kundun (1997), and Pale Rider (1985).
Boise is the largest city and state capital. Film locations include the State Capitol building, Old Idaho Penitentiary, Idaho Botanical Garden, Boise Idaho LDS Temple, Idaho Military History Museum, Boise Depot, Museum of Idaho, and Albertsons Stadium. The Black Cliffs are a popular location with rock climbers.
Lewiston is the state’s second largest city. It is known for its riverside container port.
Idaho’s mountainous landscapes have several impressive roads including Hell’s Canyon roads with the Seven Devils Mountains backdrop, Old White Bird Hill Road winding down a bare green mountain side, Balanced Rock Road through an arid landscape, and Highway 7 through Orofino. The Palouse region has infinity roads through green rolling wheat fields.
Beautiful waterfalls of note include Shoshone Falls, Upper Mesa Falls, Lower Mesa Falls, Jump Creek Falls, Perrine Coulee Falls, Fall Creek Falls, Cauldron Linn, and Niagara Springs.
Rivers of note include Big Lost River, Kootenai River, Salmon River, and Big Wood River.
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is known for its lunar-like landscape and caves.
Mammoth Cave is located in Shoshone.
Sawtooth National Recreation Area is known for its mountains, alpine forests, rivers, and glacial lakes.
City of Rocks National Reserve is known for its enormous granite rock formations.
Castle Rocks State Park is a beautiful location home to moose, cougars, coyotes, deers, and a variety of birdlife.
Bruneau Dunes State Park has the tallest freestanding sand dunes in North America.
Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area protects a diversity of raptors.
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument contains the largest concentration of Hagerman horse fossils in North America.
Other nature parks of note include Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Farragut State Park, Heyburn State Park, Ponderosa State Park, Massacre Rocks State Park, Hells Gate State Park, Henrys Lake State Park, and Lucky Peak State Park, to name a few.
Borah Peak is the state’s highest mountain.
Perrine Bridge over Snake River Canyon is an impressive location.
Blue Heart Springs is a sapphire blue cove located in the Hagerman Valley.
The state is home to many hot springs including the picturesque Goldbug Hot Springs, Kirkham Hot Springs, and Rocky Canyon Hot Springs.
Ski resorts of note include Sun Valley, Tamarack Resort, Bogus Basin, Schweitzer, Brundage Mountain, Silver Mountain, Pomerelle Mountain, Kelly Canyon, Pebble Creek, Magic Mountain, and Lookout Pass.
Ghost towns of note include Bayhorse, Burke, Bonanza, Silver City, Wickahoney, Gilmore, Chesterfield, Rocky Bar, and De Lamar.
The Dog Bark Park Motel in Cottonwood is a quirky film location.
Idaho Potato Museum is located in Blackfoot.
Warhawk Air Museum is located in Nampa.
Dams of note include Dworshak Dam, and Brownlee Dam.
Silverwood Theme Park is an amusement park located in the city of Athol.
The Ruby Ridge Standoff took place in Boundary County.
Dante’s Peak (1997) filmed in Wallace, and Enaville.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004) filmed in Preston, and Franklin.
Wild Wild West (1999) filmed in Pierce.
Pale Rider (1985) filmed in Sawtooth National Forest and Sun Valley.
Idaho Film Location Permits
Idaho does not issue state-wide permits, and most cities do not require a film permit (with the exception of Coeur d’Alene). Permits may need to be organized with one or more relevant authorities for state, federal and tribal lands. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Idaho has a diverse climate. All parts of the state receive four-seasons at various times depending on location and altitude. Southern Idaho is drier with warmer summers. Northern Idaho receives more rain. Winters are very cold and snowy. Spring brings rushing waters, wildflowers and verdant pastures. Summers are hottest on the plains and mild in the mountains. Fall brings colorful foliage.
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.
Idaho Tax Incentives For Filming
Idaho does not offer an incentive program at present.
Idaho Film Crew & Talent
Crew. Idaho has a small pool of locally based crew.
Contact us if you are looking for a Boise, Idaho Falls, or Moscow 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 Idaho.
Talent. Idaho has a predominately Caucasian population. Movie character stereotypes include potato farmers, cowboys, outdoorsmen, big buck hunters, and isolationists living off the land.
Idaho Film Equipment
Equipment. Idaho has a small pool of locally based camera, grip and lighting equipment.
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.
Idaho Film-Friendly Accommodation
Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Boise, Idaho Falls, Moscow and other areas of Idaho.
Final Notes
Safety. Idaho is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Ranch retreat, skiing, exploring Idaho’s natural wonders.
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 Idaho, please see below:
Hire Idaho Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Idaho, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Idaho, 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.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
