Photography policies ensure the best possible experience during your Duke Gardens photo session.
Duke Gardens is a beautiful backdrop for photography, and we are glad you would like to include us in your special moments.
Our photography permit is a location permit for the use of Duke Gardens as the setting for a planned photo session. A permit is required for any planned portrait or posed session that uses Duke Gardens as the chosen location, regardless of who takes the photos.
We ask all guests to help protect the beauty and integrity of the Gardens by following these policies.
Do I need a permit?
A photography permit covers specific photography sessions and includes any of the following conditions:
- Portrait: Anyone having a portrait taken at Duke Gardens, including those celebrating their quinceañera, wedding, engagement, proposals, birthday, family, maternity, graduation or any other special situation.
- Intent: Any visit to Duke Gardens where the main purpose is taking portrait, family or special occasion photography, rather than a recreational visit to the Gardens.
- A photographer: Either amateur, student or professional. Someone (or several) who are the designated photographer(s) within your party.
- Props & makeup: Flowers (real or artificial), luggage and wagons that contain props, makeup cases.
- A change of clothes: Changing in or out of outfits.
- Prom: Students from Durham Public Schools are welcome to take portraits on prom weekends with friends and family. But professional photographers must still apply for a permit.
Do I need a permit?
Photographs are a wonderful way for visitors to remember their Duke Gardens experience. For your own enjoyment, you are welcome as a visitor to take in-the-moment photographs of plants, individuals and subjects that capture the events of your visit. These are informal photographs shot spontaneously and quickly without artistic intent.
When you need a permit: Duke Gardens defines still portrait photography as all wedding, engagement, proposal, quinceañera, family, maternity, portfolio, prom, graduation and any other posed portraiture of individuals by professional photographers, as well as semi-pro, pro-am or amateur photographers, whether the photographer is being paid or not. Duke Gardens reserves the right to further define portrait photography on a case-by-case basis.
A photography permit covers specific photography sessions and includes any of the following conditions:
- Portrait: Anyone having a portrait taken at Duke Gardens, including those celebrating their quinceañera, wedding, engagement, proposals, birthday, family, maternity, graduation or any other special situation.
- Intent: Any visit to Duke Gardens where the main purpose is taking portrait, family or special occasion photography, rather than a recreational visit to the Gardens.
- A photographer: Either amateur, student or professional. Someone (or several) who are the designated photographer(s) within your party.
- Props & makeup: Flowers (real or artificial), luggage that contain props, makeup cases.
- A change of clothes: Changing in or out of outfits.
- Prom: Students from Durham Public Schools are welcome to take portraits on prom weekends with friends and family. But professional photographers must still apply for a permit.
Portrait Photography Policy
All portrait photography must be approved and scheduled in advance. To request a photo session date, you must complete the online application form.
After your request is submitted, you will be sent an email invoice from Duke Gardens. Once payment is processed, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on where to pick up your photography permit.
Please display your permit during your session. Photographers who do not display a valid permit may be approached by staff regarding scheduling and payment.
Portrait mini-sessions: In order to fulfill our mission with regard to a positive visitor experience for all, Duke Gardens prohibits photographers from scheduling more than one portrait session in one day. Mini-sessions are not permitted.
Props & Set Up
- Balloons, glitter, confetti, rice, flower petals and flying lanterns — or any other materials that leave waste or residue —are strictly prohibited.
- Props such as a table, chair, mirror, environmentally unfriendly materials that may harm wildlife, or any unusual props that may be dangerous or disruptive to other visitors, are strictly prohibited. Please contact the special events office for the full list of props that are not permitted.
- Do not hang drapes or leave items on trees, benches or walls.
- Do not climb trees or stand on walls, rails or fountains.
- Moving or removing potted plants (inside or out) or structures that are part of the Gardens—such as benches, containers, displays, plant signs, fences, etc.—is strictly prohibited.
- No photographers, assistants or subjects may step in plant beds, fountains or places other than on designated paths. Climbing or mounting equipment in trees or on buildings or other structures is not permitted. Tripods must also stay on paths.
- Do not place equipment or subjects where they will block pathways or restrict visitor access.
- All photo subjects must be fully and appropriately clothed. Swimsuit, underwear and boudoir photo shoots are not permitted.
- Please be advised that some areas of Duke Gardens may not be accessible or available at times due to restoration, programs, event rentals or unforeseen circumstances.
Rules for Photographers
- Photographers and their clients gain access to Duke Gardens only when the gardens are open to the public
- Photographers must display their permits visibly on their clothing or equipment.
- Clients must arrive camera-ready, as there are no dressing room facilities.
- The photographer is responsible for the conduct of their party. Photographers who do not abide by these guidelines (including members of their party) will be subject to permanent loss of privileges. Duke Gardens reserves the right to cancel a photography session without a refund and to remove any party from the premises for violations of any of our policies.
- You must set up your shoot in a manner that does not impact visitors or disrupt events or garden maintenance.
- Please keep your confirmation email or payment receipt (as proof of payment), your personal items and equipment with you at all times. If you do not have proof of purchase, you and your party may be asked to leave the property.
- Duke Gardens staff reserves the right to determine when a photographer and/or their party meet the requirements for purchasing a photography permit and may deny entry or remove them from the grounds if a permit is not available or acquired.
- Duke Gardens staff has the authorization to intervene in any photo shoot that is violating any stated policies.
Cancellation Policy
Duke Gardens and its facilities are subject to weather conditions and occasional temporary closures. If a photo session must be canceled due to weather or other operational needs, Duke Gardens will work with you to reschedule within six months of the original date. Photo shoot fees are non-refundable.
Rescheduled sessions must remain within the same pricing category (weekday or weekend and time of day). If you choose a date or time with a higher fee, the difference in cost will apply.
Please be advised that the Gardens remains open to the public during all scheduled photo sessions. Certain areas may experience high visitor traffic, and access to some locations may be limited at times. Refunds will not be issued due to crowding or limited access.
For assistance, please email marcia.julien@duke.edu.
Videography
Commercial or independent videographers, please see Duke University’s photo and video policies regarding filming on campus. All videography applications — including proposed Duke student video projects — must be submitted at least two weeks in advance to Duke Gardens for approval by Duke Gardens and Duke University. To submit a videography request, please email marketing & communications director Lauren Smith Hong. Please note that drones are not permitted.
Commercial Photography
Commercial photographers, please see Duke University’s photo and video policies regarding filming on campus. All commercial photo shoot applications must be submitted to Duke Gardens for approval by Duke Gardens and Duke University at least 30 days in advance of your proposed date. To submit a commercial photography request, please email marketing & communications director Lauren Smith Hong. Please note that drones are not permitted.
Drone Photography
Drone photography is prohibited, in order to ensure Gardens visitors’ safety and privacy, as well as the safety of Life Flight helicopters flying to and from Duke University Hospital. Please see Duke University’s drone policy for more information.
Artists & Nature Photographers
When visiting on their own, artists and nature photographers do not need a permit. But they must adhere to guidelines and not damage plants or disrupt other visitors or Gardens activities.
Artists or nature photographers seeking to bring a class for a field trip to the Gardens, or photo clubs seeking to visit, must register their groups in advance. Such groups may be asked to restrict their activities to certain places or times, depending on the Gardens’ schedule and the size of the group.
Artists may enter their Duke Gardens images in photography competitions, but any sales of images may be restricted, as noted in the trademarks section below.
Trademarks
The imagery, logo and name of Sarah P. Duke Gardens are registered trademarks and may not be used by outside parties without permission. If you plan to sell your work, please visit the Duke University Office of Trademark Licensing for information on the university’s trademarks and how they may or may not be used.
Wondering about photography at Duke Chapel?
View Duke Chapel’s Official Policies Here ›
Questions about photography policies?
Please email marcia.julien@duke.edu.
Feature photo by Ally & Bobby Photography. Second feature image by Joe Payne Photography.