Kentucky 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 Kentucky? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Kentucky
For an introduction to shooting in Kentucky 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.
Kentucky Film Locations
Kentucky is a southeastern state known for horse farms, bourbon distilleries, bluegrass music, and the famed Kentucky Derby horse race. It is the perfect place for car commercials looking for mountain roads through beautiful forest settings, past covered bridges, down long driveways to horse farm mansions. From the wealthy bluegrass horse farm region to the poorer coal mining towns of the Appalachian Mountains, from quiet Amish villages to the contemporary Louisville city skyline, Kentucky has a great deal to offer visiting productions.
Agricultural film locations include fields of corn, soybeans, tobacco, cattle, and horses. Industrial locations include a range of factories and coal mines.
Kentucky has hosted productions including Bones and All (2022), The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), Carol (2015), The Ides of March (2011), Secretariat (2010), Seabiscuit (2003), Demolition Man (1993), A League of Their Own (1992), Rain Man (1988), Stripes (1981), Goldfinger (1964), and the Western classic How the West Was Won (1962).
Louisville is the largest city. It is known for its modern city skyline set against the Ohio River. Film locations include the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, The Speed Art Museum, Muhammad Ali Center, Waverly Hills Sanatorium, and Cave Hill Cemetery.
Just outside of Louisville you can find Fort Knox, which houses a large portion of the United States’ official gold reserves. General George Patton Museum of Leadership is also located in Fort Knox.
Frankfort is the state capital. Locations of note include the Kentucky State Capitol, Kentucky State Capitol, and the Governor’s Mansion.
Covington is known for its pubs, bistros, hotels, Ohio river bridges, Ascent at Roebling’s Bridge designed by Daniel Libeskind, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, and views of the Cincinnati city skyline. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), The Ides of March (2011), and Rain Man (1988) filmed in Covington.
Lexington is known for Ashland plantation, Aviation Museum of Kentucky, Mary Todd Lincoln House, and Fort Boonesborough. Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm and international equestrian competition venue located in Lexington.
Bardstown is a picturesque town.
Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, featured in Secretariat (2010).
Keeneland Racetrack featured in Seabiscuit (2003).
Funtown Mountain in Cave City is an abandoned theme park.
The Creation Museum is located in Petersburg.
The Arc Encounter is a life-sized Noah’s Ark, located in Williamstown.
The National Quilt Museum is located in Paducah.
National Corvette Museum is located in Bowling Green.
Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum is located in Owensboro.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park is located near Hodgenville.
Wild Turkey Distillery is located near Lawrenceburg.
Maker’s Mark Distillery is located in Loretto.
Woodford Reserve Distillery is located in Versailles.
Black Mountain is the highest peak in the state.
Kentucky has many beautiful nature locations including Red River Gorge, Daniel Boone National Forest, Big Bone Lick State Park, Cumberland Falls State Park, Mississippi River, Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, and Mammoth Cave which is one of the longest cave systems in the world.
Kentucky Film Location Permits
There are no state-wide permits but depending on the location individual cities, counties, highways and parks may require location permits and proof of insurance. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Kentucky has a moderate, relatively humid climate, with abundant rainfall. The southern and lowland regions are slightly warmer than the uplands. Winters are snowy especially in the higher altitude eastern region. Fall has beautiful foliage. Western Kentucky experiences tornadoes.
Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in May.
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.
Kentucky Tax Incentives For Filming
Qualified productions can take advantage of a nonrefundable and nontransferable income tax credit of 30% of approved expenditures, 35% of Kentucky resident labor and 30% of non-resident labor, or; 35% incentive for approved expenditures and all labor for filming in an enhanced incentive county.
Kentucky Film Crew & Talent
Crew. Kentucky has a small pool of local crew as well as some standard grip, lighting and camera gear for hire. Cincinnati, Ohio is a larger production centre should you need additional crew or equipment. Cincinnati is just over an hour’s drive from Louisville and Lexington.
Contact us if you are looking for a Louisville or Lexington 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 Kentucky.
Talent. The state’s population is predominately Caucasian and African American. Movie character stereotypes include bluegrass musicians, farmers, horse ranchers, bourbon distillers, and coal miners.
Kentucky Film Equipment
Equipment. Kentucky has some standard grip, lighting and camera gear 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.
Kentucky Film-Friendly Accommodation
Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Louisville, Lexington and other areas of Kentucky.
Final Notes
Safety. Kentucky is a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to shoot. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Bluegrass festivals, bourbon distilleries, and if you happen to be in town, dress up and have a bet on the Kentucky Derby.
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 Kentucky, please see below:
Hire Kentucky Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Kentucky, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Kentucky, 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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